CHARLESTON, S.C. – Tyler Marinelli earned a bid to the 2018 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, rolling to an individual title at 157 pounds Saturday at the 2018 Arby's SoCon Wrestling Championship.

Gardner-Webb finished sixth in the final team standings, scoring 21 team points for the day.

Marinelli had little trouble with his bracket and continued with a quick start in the finals vs. top seeded Angel Najar of Appalachian State. Marinelli came out with a quick takedown to put Najar on the defensive, and followed with a two-point near fall to go up 4-0. Najar pulled off an escape to cut the lead to 4-1 by the end of the first period.

Marinelli recorded another takedown for a 6-2 lead and held more than three minutes of riding time by the third period. He went on to finish with a 9-3 lead – and added the riding time point for a 10-3 decision and a trip to Cleveland, Ohio, for the Division I Wrestling Championships later this month.

Marinelli advanced to the SoCon finals for the first time in his career, rolling two a pair of easy wins early on. The Jefferson, Ga., redshirt junior picked up his second pin of the season in the quarterfinals, putting VMI wrestler Steve Midkiff's shoulders to the mat in 3:36 to advance.

Marinelli followed by avenging his lone Southern Conference loss of the season, outworking Campbell's Austin Kraisser for a comfortable 9-3 win in the semifinals. Marinelli jumped out to an early advantage, and compiled more than 2:30 in riding time through the first two periods.

In addition to Marinelli, three other Gardner-Webb wrestlers took wins in their quarterfinal bouts before falling in the semifinals and again in the consolation semifinals. Brett Stein took an 11-5 decision at 165 pounds to advance to the semifinals, Christian Maroni won 12-7 at 174 pounds and Cole Graves won a 3-2 decision at 184 pounds.

The Runnin' Bulldogs had two starters named to the Southern Conference All-Freshman Team, with Denton Spencer (141) and Anthony Perrine (197) wrapping up their first collegiate seasons with those honors.

Spencer posted a 16-11 record overall and had six pins during his freshman campaign at 141 pounds. He added five tech falls and earned an early SoCon Wrestler of the Week award after capturing the individual title at the 2017 Cleveland State Open.

Perrine won 12 matches as a first year performer with the Runnin' Bulldogs, which included two pins at 197 pounds. The former Ohio state champion, along with Spencer, will be an integral part of Gardner-Webb's quest for a Southern Conference title going forward.


INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
133: Philip Anderson (1-2)
Nathan Boston (CAM) dec. Philip Anderson (GWU); 6-4
Philip Anderson (GWU) pinned Zamir Ode (DAV); 4:10
Chris Debien (UTC) dec. Philip Anderson (GWU); 4-1 

141: Denton Spencer (0-2)
Jonathan Ryan (CAM) dec. Denton Spencer (GWU); 15-13 (SV-1)
Dustin Runzo (DAV) dec. Denton Spencer (GWU); 6-1 (TB-1)

149: Joby Armenta (0-2)
Tyshawn Williams (SIUE) dec. Joby Armenta (GWU); 11-4
Aiden Conroy (DAV) dec. Joby Armenta (GWU); 10-5

157: Tyler Marinelli (2-0)
Tyler Marinelli (GWU) pinned Steve Midkiff (VMI); 3:36
Tyler Marinelli (GWU) dec. Austin Kraisser (CAM); 9-3

165: Brett Stein (1-2)
Brett Stein (GWU) dec. Blake Hohman (VMI); 11-5
Nate Higgins (SIUE) dec. Brett Stein (GWU); 11-7
Laken Cook (APP) dec. Brett Stein (GWU); 8-4

174: Christian Maroni (1-2)
Christian Maroni (GWU) dec. Bryce Shewan (SIUE); 12-7
Forrest Przybysz (APP) dec. Christian Maroni (GWU); 5-1
Cade Keily (VMI) dec. Christian Maroni (GWU); 11-7

184: Cole Graves (1-2)
Cole Graves (GWU) dec. Jake Godinez (SIUE); 3-2
Alan Clothier (APP) major dec. Cole Graves (GWU); 10-1
Conor Fenn (DAV) major dec. Cole Graves (GWU); 18-6

197: Anthony Perrine (1-2)
Sawyer Root (CIT) dec. Anthony Perrine (GWU); 5-2
Anthony Perrine (GWU) tech fall Jake Koch (VMI); 18-0 (6:35)
Chris Kobert (CAM) dec. Anthony Perrine (GWU); 4-2

285: Lathan Bumgarner (1-2)
Michael McAleavey (CIT) dec. Lathan Bumgarner (GWU); 7-4
Lathan Bumgarner (GWU) dec. Will Cooley (DAV); 6-3
Connor Tolley (UTC) dec. Lathan Bumgarner (GWU); 5-3