Gardner-Webb defeats Davidson in SoCon action

DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Gardner-Webb totaled six match wins Friday night to leave Davidson with a 22-18 dual match victory in Southern Conference wrestling action.

The evening began at 285 pounds, where Jeffery Linker was pinned by Davidson's Mitchell Trigg in 2:18, putting the 'Dogs in an early 6-0 hole.

GWU tied the score in the following bout, earning a forfeit win at 125 pounds.

Brandon Bright fell to Kyle Gorant by a 11-6 decision at 133 pounds to give the Wildcats a 9-6 advantage, but Blake Mulkey would give GWU a 10-9 lead after picking up a 14-6 major decision over Caleb Ziebell at 141 pounds.

Davidson would again take a lead at 12-10 after a 5-0 decision by Will Baldwin over Austin Reames at 149 pounds, but Gardner-Webb would answer with three straight wins.

Evan Schenk topped Tony Palumbo, 7-3, and 157 pounds, Tyler Marinelli earned an 8-3 decision over Hunter Costa at 165 pounds, and Kyle Homet bested Noah Satterfield by an 8-6 decision at 174 pounds to give the Runnin' Bulldogs a 19-12 lead.

The Wildcats would pull within one point at 19-18 following the 184 pound match as Davidson's Conor Fenn earned a medical forfeit over Nathaniel Kale.

The final matchup of the evening, at 197 pounds, would decide the dual match winner, where Anthony Perrine defeated Finlay Holston by a 6-3 decision to give GWU the 22-18 win.

Gardner-Webb returns to action tomorrow afternoon, hosting Ohio in the final dual of the season. Action is set to begin at 1:00 pm inside Paul Porter Arena, with live coverage on ESPN+.

Results:
285: Mitchell Trigg (DC) fall over Jeffery Linker (GWU) 2:18
125: Artur Hofer (GWU) winner by forfeit
133: Kyle Gorant (DC) dec. over Brandon Bright (GWU), 11-6
141: Blake Mulkey (GWU) maj. dec. over Caleb Ziebell (DC), 14-6
149: Will Baldwin (DC) dec. over Austin Reames (GWU), 5-0
157: Evan Schenk (GWU) dec. over Tony Palumbo (DC), 7-3
165: Tyler Marinelli (GWU) dec. over Hunter Costa (DC), 8-3
174: Kyle Homet (GWU) dec. over Noah Satterfield (DC), 8-6
184: Conor Fenn (DC) forfeit over Nathaniel Kale (GWU), 6-0
197: Anthony Perrine (GWU) dec. over Finlay Holston (DC), 6-3