LOUISVILLE, Ky. – For the first time in program history, the Bellarmine University wrestling team has won a dual over Southern Conference foe Campbell, defeating the Camels 31-9 on Friday night in Knights Hall.

An annually tough match on the Knights schedule, Bellarmine finally put together the winning recipe to take down Campbell. The victory is a nice bounce back for BU after falling to Appalachian State 30-6 on Monday. At 4-1 in SoCon matches, Bellarmine is one win away from tying the program record for most conference wins in a season in the Division I era (5, 2024-25).

"I'm proud of the team as a whole on the way they wrestled tonight, aggressive and pushing the pace," said head coach Ned Shuck. "We had some hard-fought wins and that's what it's going to take to finish the season. I'm excited for us to get back in action at home again for military appreciation day on Sunday! Let's Go Knights!"

Redshirt sophomore Gavin Ricketts got the ball rolling at 184 pounds. Ricketts used a 10-point first period to propel himself to an 11-2 major decision win.

From there, the Knights kept picking up win after win, accumulating seven consecutive victories for a 25-0 lead.

Fellow redshirt sophomore Andrew Liber (197) forced overtime with an escape in the third period before spinning his way around Conor Maslanek for a takedown to win 4-1 in SV-1.
Grad student Daulton Mayer battled through a third period injury for a 5-3 decision win in the heavyweight bout.

Redshirt junior Damion Ryan was aggressive for three full periods, and it paid off with a late second stalling call on Colby Crouch to tie the match and force overtime. In sudden victory, it was Ryan's patience that paid off as he worked against a Crouch shot to take his own, securing the clinching takedown for a 4-1 victory.

The next two bouts were battles of will as redshirt junior Trayce Eckman (133) and redshirt sophomore AJ Rallo (141) went wire to wire in tight decision wins.

Nate Higley, a redshirt senior, turned in the defining performance of the match at 149. Higley got after Jonathan Chang in a hurry and earned the lone Bellarmine pin in 1:32.

Campbell finally got on the board at 157 with a decision before forfeiting the 165-pound weight class, giving Bellarmine six free points. The Camels ended the night on a high note however, getting a pin at 174, the final match of the dual.

Up next, Bellarmine will close out the home weekend on Sunday, February 8, hosting Gardner-Webb.

Bellarmine 31, Campbell 9
184 – Gavin Ricketts (BU) def. Brant Cracraft (CU) by MD, 11-2
197 – Andrew Liber (BU) def. Conor Maslanek (CU) by SV-1, 4-1
285 – Daulton Mayer (BU) def. Sawyer VanRider (CU) by DEC, 5-3
125 – Damion Ryan (BU) def. Colby Crouch (CU) by SV-1, 4-1
133 – Trayce Eckman (BU) def. Logan Heil (CU) by DEC, 7-3
141 – AJ Rallo (BU) def. Zander Phaturos (CU) by DEC, 4-0
149 – Nate Higley (BU) def. Jonathan Chang (CU) by Fall, 1:32
157 – Kendrick Hodge (CU) def. Jeb Prechtel (BU) by DEC, 9-8
165 – Noah Hall (BU) win by forfeit
174 – Ryan Bolletino (CU) def. Tyler Martinez (BU) by Fall, 2:48

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