BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb will open its 2017-2018 wrestling season in a unique setting Friday, hosting Eastern Michigan outdoors at 5:00 pm on the baseball diamond at John Henry Moss Stadium.

The match, dubbed "Dual on the Diamond", will be the first outdoor bout held in Boiling Springs – with the mat positioned on the turf near the main grandstand.

The Runnin' Bulldogs and Eagles' match will air live on The Big South Network (bigsouthsports.com). Admission to the match is free.

Head coach Daniel Elliott will send a young lineup to the mat on Friday, with potentially five new starters making an appearance in the season opener.

Veteran Tyler Marinelli returns to the lineup, but will wrestle at 157 pounds in 2017-2018. The Jefferson, Ga., standout posted a 17-7 mark last season at 165 pounds and is considered a strong contender as an NCAA qualifier.

Marinelli is a combined 30-12 in two seasons with the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Upperclassmen Philip Anderson (133), Landon LoAlbo (141), Joby Armenta (149), Christian Maroni (174) and Cole Graves (184) have seen action in previous seasons in the starting lineup as well.

Fifth-year senior Brett Stein returns to the starting lineup in 2017-2018 after a redshirt season, and will wrestle at 165 pounds this season. Stein went 21-13 at 174 pounds two seasons ago, and provides a heavy dose of experience for the Runnin' Bulldogs.

Several young wrestlers will compete for spots this season, with highly regarded freshmen Denton Spencer (141) and Anthony Perrine (197) among that number. 

Spencer was a four-time NHSCA All-America wrestler during his prep career and won a NHSCA junior national title. He was also a runner up at NHSCA senior nationals and finished third at Flonationals.

He finished his senior season ranked No. 9 nationally at 145 pounds.

Perrine also earned All-America status as a high schooler and was a state champion last season for Nordonia (Ohio) High.

Brandon Bright (141) won 116 matches during his prep career in Oklahoma and was a three-time 6A state qualifier.

Redshirt freshman Keegan Duncan will start at 125 pounds and was a standout on the prep level at Trinity Catholic in Louisville, Ky. Duncan went 41-4 as a senior and was a two-time state champion. He also earned prep All-America honors with a seventh-place finish at NHSCA Senior Nationals.

Former North Gaston (N.C.) High state champion Lathan Bumgarner steps in at the heavyweight (285) slot after a redshirt season in 2016-2017. He went 58-3 as a high school senior and earned All-America honors at 220 pounds.

Following Friday's season opener, the Runnin' Bulldogs will travel to Blacksburg, Va., on Sunday for the 2017 Hokie Open.

Projected Lineup (11/3/2017)
125 – Keegan Duncan
133 – Philip Anderson or Brandon Bright
141 – Denton Spencer or Landon LoAlbo
149 – Joby Armenta
157 – Tyler Marinelli
165 – Brett Stein
174 – Christian Maroni
184 – Cole Graves
197 – Anthony Perrine
285 – Lathan Bumgarner