CHARLESTON, S.C. – Competing in its final road match of the regular season, Bellarmine wrestling fell to The Citadel 22-13 on Sunday afternoon in McAlister Field House.

The Knights (7-7, 4-3 SoCon) got off to a hot start, winning each of the first three bouts. Redshirt junior Trayce Eckman got the dual started with a 4-1 decision at 133, followed by a 10-2 major decision from redshirt sophomore AJ Rallo at 141.

Redshirt senior Nate Higley had the highlight of the match for Bellarmine when he scored six points in the final 45 seconds of the third period to steal a 7-4 decision over No. 28-ranked Carson DesRosier at 149. Higley has won three Southern Conference matches in a row for the Knights.

From there, The Citadel claimed the next six bouts to jump ahead 19-10.

At the heavyweight division, redshirt sophomore Evan Grazzini got the nod for the Knights and started off with a flurry of points, scoring a takedown and four near fall points in the first period. He would go on to an 8-2 decision, giving Bellarmine a chance at forcing extra time but The Citadel sealed the match with a final decision win at 125.

Up next, Bellarmine will close out its regular season and celebrate senior day on Sunday, February 22, hosting Chattanooga.

Bellarmine 13, The Citadel 22
133 – Trayce Eckman (BU) def. Teegan Vasquez (CIT) by DEC, 4-1
141 – AJ Rallo (BU) def. Presley Johnson (CIT) by MD, 10-2
149 – Nate Higley (BU) def. #28 Carson DesRosier (CIT) by DEC, 7-4
157 – #26 Kyrel Leavell (CIT) def. Gray Ortis (BU) by MD, 20-7
165 – #21 Thomas Snipes (CIT) def. Noah Hall (BU) by DEC, 2-1
174 – Jacob Silka (CIT) def. Grant O'Dell (BU) by DEC (TB-2), 2-1
184 – Brodie Porter (CIT) def. Keenan Wyatt (BU) by Fall, 6:10
197 – Adam Ortega (CIT) def. Andrew Liber (BU) by DEC, 9-5
285 – Evan Grazzini (BU) def. Roy Price (CIT) by DEC, 8-2
125 – Gylon Sims (CIT) def. Joe Calvin (BU) by DEC, 5-3

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