CHARLESTON, S.C. – In what was a tightly contested match from start to finish, the Bellarmine University wrestling team dropped its first duals match of the season, 27-3 to The Citadel on Sunday afternoon.

"The men battled, but we just didn't make it happen today," said head coach Ned Shuck. "Hats off to The Citadel and their coaching staff for wrestling a great dual."
 
Despite the lopsided final score, the Knights were in every bout to the end, taking three matches to overtime (125, 149 and 165) while losing by two points or fewer in six of the ten matches.

"We lost all but one of the close ones," Shuck said. "With as young as our team is, having the consistency we've had this season with our fight has been impressive. We will keep building and learn from these matches."
 
Redshirt freshman Trayce Eckman (133) was the only Bellarmine wrestler to tally team points after earning a 3-2 decision.
 
The loss ends the team's 13-dual win streak as the Knights move to 13-1 on the season, 3-1 in Southern Conference competition.
 
Bellarmine will finish out its four-match road trip next Friday, February 9, when the Knights travel to Lexington, VA to take on Long Island University and Virginia Military Institute at 3 pm and 5 pm E.T., respectively. Both matches will take place at Cormack Hall on the VMI campus.
 
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Bellarmine vs. The Citadel
125: Malik Hardy (TC) def. Damion Ryan (BU) by TB-1, 5-1
133: Trayce Eckman (BU) def. George Rosas (TC) by DEC, 3-2
141: Jacob Silka (TC) def. AJ Rallo (BU) by DEC, 6-4
149: Jacob Boyd (TC) def. Zac Cowan (BU) by SV1, 7-4
157: Hayden Watson (TC) def. Gray Ortis (BU) by DEC, 2-0
165: Ben Haubert (TC) def. Grant O'Dell (BU) by SV1, 3-2
174: Brodie Porter (TC) def. Cole Nance (BU) by DEC, 9-8
184: Adam Ortega (TC) def. Sam Schroeder (BU) by DEC, 8-5
197: Patrick Brophy (TC) def. Andrew Liber (BU) by DEC, 6-4
285: Ben Stemmet (TC) def. Thadd Huff (BU) by DEC, 5-2