BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb wrestling team is set to open its 2021 schedule Sunday afternoon, hosting nationally ranked N.C. State in dual action.
 
Gardner-Webb enters the season after being tabbed to finish fourth in the Southern Conference wrestling preseason coaches poll.  The Runnin' Bulldogs finished last season with a 5-9 record in dual meets, including 3-4 against SoCon foes.
 
GWU has six starters from last season among its projected starters, including redshirt sophomore RJ Mosley, who placed fourth at the 2020 SoCon Championships, and was 22-15 overall exclusively at 165 pounds, earning a spot on the SoCon's All-Freshman team.
 
Other returners who placed at last year's SoCon Championships include Brandon Bright at 141 pounds and Samuel Mora at 147 pounds
 
N.C. State opens the season ranked fourth nationally in the NWCA Coaches Poll after going 15-0 in dual matches last season en route to the program's second straight ACC title.  The Wolfpack start the season with 17 straight dual match wins, the longest streak in the nation.
 
NCSU has eight of its ten starters ranked in the preseason InterMat rankings, including No. 2 Hayden Hidlay at 157 pounds.
 
In addition to the dual, non-starters from Gardner-Webb and N.C. State will see action on an additional mat while the dual is taking place.  Following the GWU-NCSU bouts, there will also be select matches between the Runnin' Bulldogs and Campbell.
 
Per COVID-19 regulations, fans are not permitted to attend Sunday's match.  Action is set to begin at 1:00 pm with live coverage on ESPN+ (WatchESPN.com / ESPN App).