BOILING SPRINGS – SIU Edwardsville jumped out to an early 15-0 lead Friday night and held on to nip Gardner-Webb, 21-20, in a Southern Conference wrestling matchup in Paul Porter Arena.

Gardner-Webb (1-7, 1-3 SoCon) forfeited at 125 and 141 due to illness and injuries, and SIU Edwardsville (4-11, 2-2 SoCon) picked up a decision at 133 poundds from John Muldoon for its early 15-0 edge.

Joby Armenta came through with a high-scoring decision at 149 pounds, winning 11-6 over Tyshawn Williams. 

Tyler Marinelli rolled to a 17-0 tech fall at 157 pounds, cutting the match short with 11 seconds on the third period clock to trim the Cougars' edge to 15-8. SIU Edwarsville stunted the rally with a decision at 165, but Christian Maroni won at 174 pounds by forfeit to pull Gardner-Webb within 18-14.

Cole Graves pulled the Runnin' Bulldogs within a single point, holding on for an 8-6 decision at 184 pounds, but Edwardsville won 9-6 at 197 to go up 21-17.

Gardner-Webb's Lathan Bumgarner needed at least a major decision at 285 to pull the 'Dogs even, but Tommy Helton was able to defend well enough to keep the bout low scoring – and Bumgarner took a 4-3 decision for a win and the final team score margin.

The Runnin' Bulldogs will step out of conference next week, wrestling at Duke on Thursday night (February 1) at 7:00 pm.


TEAM SCORE: SIU EDWARDSVILLE (4-11, 2-2 SoCon) 21, GARDNER-WEBB (1-7, 1-3 SoCon) 20
125    Zachary Gentzler (SIU Edwardsville) win by forfeit 
133    John Muldoon (SIU Edwardsville) over Philip Anderson (Gardner-Webb) (Dec 10-4)
141    Angelo Silvestro (SIU Edwardsville) win by forfeit
149    Joby Armenta (Gardner-Webb) over Tyshawn Williams (SIU Edwardsville) (Dec 11-6)
157    Tyler Marinelli (Gardner-Webb) over Karsten Van Velsor (SIU Edwardsville) (TF 17-0 6:49)
165    Nate Higgins (SIU Edwardsville) over Brett Stein (Gardner-Webb) (Dec 6-4)
174    Christian Maroni (Gardner-Webb) win by forfeit
184    Cole Graves (Gardner-Webb) over Bryce Shewan (SIU Edwardsville) (Dec 8-6)
197    Christian Dulaney (SIU Edwardsville) over Anthony Perrine (Gardner-Webb) (Dec 9-6)
285    Lathan Bumgarner (Gardner-Webb) over Tommy Helton (SIU Edwardsville) (Dec 4-3)