BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – The Gardner-Webb wrestling unit split matches for its home opener on Saturday, December 2 with a win over Kent State University, 28-11, and a down-to-the-wire loss to the University at Buffalo, 20-17.
 
Competing at 197 pounds, sophomore Josh McCutchen continued his early success this season with an intense 31-23 major decision over Kent State's Blake Schaffer. Redshirt senior Jha'Quan Anderson highlighted the Buffalo match with a sudden victory over Chase Kranitz (SV-1 4-1). The 'Dawgs saw graduate students Drew West and Sam Mora, junior Peyton McComas, and Anderson all secure undefeated days on the mat.
 
Gardner-Webb will take a break from competition until Thursday, Dec. 21 inside the Paul Porter Arena facing George Mason University at 1:00 p.m. and then hitting the mat at 5:00 p.m. against Ohio University.
 
125 – Drew West (2-0)
Drew West (GWU) major dec. Adan Benavidez (KSU), 14-3
Drew West (GWU) tech fall Max Elton (UB), 17-1
 
133 – Tyson Lane (1-1)
Tyson Lane (GWU) major dec. Matt Ellis (KSU) – 11-0
Tommy Maddox (UB) fall Tyson Lane (GWU), 3:42
 
141 – Todd Carter (1-1)
Billy Meiszner (KSU) dec. Todd Carter (GWU), 8-5
Todd Carter (GWU) dec. Andy Lucinsky (UB), 11-4
 
149 – Zach Price (1-1)
Zach Price (GWU) major dec. Michael Lewarchick, 14-5
Nick Stampoulos (UB) dec. Zach Price (GWU), 6-2
 
157 – Drew Pepin (0-1)
Keegan Knapp (KSU) major dec. Drew Pepin (GWU), 20-9
 
157 – Tyler Brignola (0-1)
Ty Raines (UB) dec. Tyler Brignola (GWU), 5-2
 
165 – Andrew Wilson (0-2)
Aaron Ferguson (KSU) major dec. Andrew Wilson (GWU), 8-0
Hunter Shaut (UB) tech fall Andrew Wilson (GWU), 21-5 5:03
 
174 – Samuel Mora (2-0)
Samuel Mora (GWU) dec. Waylon Wehler (KSU) – 6-2
Samuel Mora (GWU) dec. Marcus Petite (UB), 12-8
 
184 – Jha'Quan Anderson (2-0)
Jha'Quan Anderson (GWU) dec. Kyle Snider (KSU), 5-0
Jha'Quan Anderson (UB) SV-1 Chase Kranitz (GWU), 4-1
 
197 – Josh McCutchen (1-1)
Josh McCutchen (GWU) major dec. Blake Schaffer (GWU), 31-23
Sam Mitchell (UB) dec. Josh McCutchen (GWU), 9-4
 
285 – Peyton McComas (2-0)
Peyton McComas (GWU) fall Josh Boggan (KSU), 2:43
Peyton McComas (GWU) dec. Lonnell Owens-Pabon (UB), 6-1