BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Bellarmine wrestling competed in its first SoCon in 2023 and fell at Gardner-Webb by a final score of 22-13.

Four Knights won their bouts on Friday night but it was not enough to push past a Runnin' Bulldogs team that was picked to finish fourth in the SoCon this season.

Bellarmine's first points came from Zac Cowan, who bested Corbin Dion 13-12 at 149.  Grant O'Dell followed the victory with a win of his own (SV-1, 3-1) at 157 versus Tyler Brignola.  Devan Hendricks claimed BU's third win of the night at 174, besting Andrew Wilson 12-3 by major decision.  The Hendricks win pulled Bellarmine within 15-10 on the team scoreboard, but Gardner-Webb churned out victories at 184 and 197 to pull away for good.  Thadd Huff added extra points for Bellarmine with a 4-1 win by decision at 285.

"I felt like our guys wrestled hard and have continued to show growth," Bellarmine Head Coach Ned Shuck said.  "They are real strong at some weights, and I like that our guys wrestled hard and didn't give them too much credit.  More skill work is needed to keep learning and building on.  We have a quick turn-around for another tough SoCon opponent on the road, so we'll see how quickly these guys can respond."

Bellarmine stays in North Carolina this weekend as they prepare for their third SoCon dual of the year at Davidson.  The action begins at 1:00 p.m. ET.

Gardner-Webb 22 – Bellarmine 13
125:     Drew West (Gardner-Webb) over Jack Parker (Bellarmine) (Dec 7-4)        
133:     Todd Carter (Gardner-Webb) over Michael Schiffhauer (Bellarmine) (Dec 14-9)    
141:     Zach Price (Gardner-Webb) over Chase Hall (Bellarmine) (Fall 4:17)         
149:     Zac Cowan (Bellarmine) over Corbin Dion (Gardner-Webb) (Dec 13-12)   
157:     Grant O'Dell (Bellarmine) over Tyler Brignola (Gardner-Webb) (SV-1 3-1)  
165:     Rodrick Mosley (Gardner-Webb) over Cole Nance (Bellarmine) (Dec 5-2) 
174:     Devan Hendricks (Bellarmine) over Andrew Wilson (Gardner-Webb) (MD 12-3)    
184:     Jha`Quan Anderson (Gardner-Webb) over Kennedy Wyatt (Bellarmine) (Dec 4-0)
197:     Sam Mora (Gardner-Webb) over Royce Hall (Bellarmine) (MD 13-4)         
285:     Thadd Huff (Bellarmine) over Abraham Preston (Gardner-Webb) (Dec 4-1) 
 
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