BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Bellarmine wrestling continued to make history on Friday night, defeating Presbyterian 49-0 and Gardner-Webb 23-12 in Paul Porter Arena on the campus of Gardner-Webb University.
 
The Knights (6-3, 5-2 SoCon) have set a new program record for most Southern Conference wins in a single season, topping the previous mark of four set in the 2022-23 season. Bellarmine has also won five consecutive SoCon duals, another first in program history. Before this season, BU had never won more than three SoCon duals in a row.
 
"Our guys just keep battling and growing! I'm really excited about our continued direction," head coach Ned Shuck said. "In all our matches, we are fighting hard and giving us chances to score."
 
In the first match of the day against Presbyterian, Bellarmine put the pedal to the metal. The Knights went 10-0 in the dual, earning their first shutout victory of the season. Nine of ten Knights earned bonus point victories with six coming by tech fall, two by fall and one by major decision.
 
Bellarmine had a little more of challenge on its hands in the second half of the day. Gardner-Webb came out of the gates ready to wrestle, winning each of the first three bouts by decision to take am early 9-0 lead.
 
Zac Cowan finally got Bellarmine on the board with a 15-2 major decision win at the 149-pound weight class, cutting the deficit to five, down 9-4.
 
The Runnin' Bulldogs answered immediately at 157, taking another win by decision to increase the lead to 12-4.
 
From there however, it was all Bellarmine for the rest of the night. Cole Nance got the ball rolling with another major decision, winning 21-7 at 165. Grant O'Dell (174), Devan Hendricks (184) and Andrew Liber (197) all followed with wins by decision as the Knights built up a slim lead, up 17-12 with one match left.
 
Enter Daulton Mayer. One of the most electric wrestlers in Bellarmine's lineup, Mayer got right to work and got into position for his second pin of the day, 15^th of the year, as he took down Rocky Files in 2:08. The fall secured the win for Bellarmine as it moved past Gardner-Webb 23-12. Mayer's two pins on the day move him into a tie for most wins by fall in the NCAA this season with Lehigh's Kelvin Griffin.
 
Bellarmine's two dual wins on the day vaulted them into third place in the SoCon standings.
 
"I'm excited to get back in the room to keep making adjustments," Shuck added. "We have another tough battle ahead against UTC for our last dual of the season. Cant Wait!"
 
Up next, the Knights will close out the regular season next weekend, traveling to Chattanooga, TN to faceoff with University of Tennessee at Chattanooga on Sunday, February 23.
 
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Bellarmine 49 vs. Presbyterian 0
125: Jack Parker (BELL) def. Brayden Adams (PC) by TF, 19-4
133: Trayce Eckman (BELL) def. TJ Rodier (PC) by TF, 20-3
141: #25 AJ Rallo (BELL) def. Ryan Luna (PC) by Dec, 4-3
149: Zac Cowan (BELL) def. Elijah Holiday by MD, 8-0
157: Jeb Prechtel (BELL) def. Jamison Colongione (PC) by Fall, 0:58
165: Cole Nance (BELL) def. Joshua Roe (PC) by TF, 16-1
174: Grant O'Dell (BELL) def. Brandon Jacoby by TF, 17-2
184: Devan Hendricks (BELL) def. Caleb Roe (PC) by TF, 22-6
197: Andrew Liber (BELL) def. George Hopkins (PC) by TF, 19-2
285: Daulton Mayer (BELL) def. Morvens Saint-Jean by Fall, 0:55
 
Bellarmine 23 vs. Gardner-Webb 12
125: Tyson Lane (GWU) def. Jack Parker (BELL) by Dec, 8-1
133: #26 TK Davis (GWU) def. Trayce Eckman (BELL) by Dec, 8-2
141: #22Todd Carter (GWU) def. #25 AJ Rallo (BELL) by Dec, 7-0
149: Zac Cowan (BELL) def. Joseph Giordano (GWU) by MD, 15-2
157: Drew Pepin (GWU) def. Jeb Prechtel (BELL) by Dec, 8-1
165: Cole Nance (BELL) def. Grant Kress (GWU) by MD, 21-7
174: Grant O'Dell (BELL) def. Andrew Wilson (GWU) by Dec, 7-2
184: Devan Hendricks (BELL) def. Jackson Potts (GWU) by Dec, 12-5
197: Andrew Liber (BELL) def. Josh McCutchen (GWU) by Dec, 3-0
285: Daulton Mayer (BELL) def. Rocky Files (GWU) by Fall, 2:08