Wrestlers Fall to Citadel on Senior Night
2/11/2007 4:26:08 PM | Wrestling
Rick Bender
DAVIDSON, N.C. -- Wrestling its third match in the past two days, The Citadel Bulldogs picked up their first Southern Conference win of the season as the Davidson Wildcats could not hold its early lead in dropping a 24-14 decision on Sunday evening at Belk Arena on Senior Night. Davidson fell to 5-10 on the season and 0-5 in SoCon action, while The Citadel moved to 4-7 overall and 1-3 in league action. Earlier in the day, The Citadel wrestled at Appalachian State, dropping a 25-9 decision to the Mountaineers.
Before the match, seniors Jim Avola (Montague, N.J.) and Marcus Boyd (Durham, N.C.) were honored in their final home matches of their careers. Avola earned his 14th win at 141 pounds as the senior picked up a major decision, 10-1, over the Bulldogs' Matt Mullwinkel for four points to give the Wildcats at the time a 7-3 advantage.
Boyd took an early 2-1 lead over Darius Caldwell at 174 pounds, but Caldwell used the next two periods to pick up an 8-4 decision over the senior. Boyd dropped only his ninth match of the season as he fell to 22-9 overall and 9-3 in dual matches.
Davidson held an early 7-3 advantage thanks to Avola along with Ben Altman, who started the night off with a 7-2 decision over Tyler Sim at 125 pounds to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
The Citadel though, used a pin by Levi Duyn at 149 pounds and a 9-5 decision by Travis Piccard over the Wildcats' Ben Graham at 157 pounds to give the Bulldogs their first lead at 12-7.
Trebor Clavette brought Davidson back to within one point at 12-11 after he picked up four points with a 14-4 major decision over Zachary Filter at165 pounds. It was Clavette's third conference win of the season as he moved his overall record to 13-5 on the year.
The one-point deficit was as close as the Wildcats could get as The Citadel won the next two weight classes (174 & 184) on its way to the 24-14 victory. Kevin Cook of Davidson did bring the Wildcats within four points (18-14) with his 7-2 win at 197 pounds, but a pin by John Buck at heavyweight in the final match of the evening sealed the win for the Bulldogs.
Davidson now hits the road for its remaining schedule, starting with a dual meet at in-state foe Campbell on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. The Wildcats took a 33-13 decision against Campbell last year that started a five-match win streak.
The Citadel 24, Davidson 14
125 — Ben Altman (DAV) dec. Tyler Sim, 7-2 (DAV 3-0)
133 — Matthew Leach (CIT) dec. Chris Panfili, 9-5 (Tied 3-3)
141 — Jim Avola (DAV) major dec. Matt Mullwinkel, 10-1 (DAV 7-3)
149 — Levi Duyn (CIT) pinned Scott Matthews, 4:22 (CIT 9-7)
157 — Travis Piccard (CIT) dec. Ben Graham, 9-5 (CIT 12-7)
165 — Trebor Clavette (DAV) major dec. Zachary Filter, 14-4 (CIT 12-11)
174 — Darius Caldwell (CIT) dec. Marcus Boyd, 8-3 (CIT 15-11)
184 — John Dickerson (CIT) dec. Sam O'Hair, 6-3 (CIT 18-11)
197 — Kevin Cook (DAV) dec. Griffen Greene, 7-2 (CIT 18-14)
HWT — John Buck (CIT) pinned Mike Waters, 2:44 (CIT 24-14)
Before the match, seniors Jim Avola (Montague, N.J.) and Marcus Boyd (Durham, N.C.) were honored in their final home matches of their careers. Avola earned his 14th win at 141 pounds as the senior picked up a major decision, 10-1, over the Bulldogs' Matt Mullwinkel for four points to give the Wildcats at the time a 7-3 advantage.
Boyd took an early 2-1 lead over Darius Caldwell at 174 pounds, but Caldwell used the next two periods to pick up an 8-4 decision over the senior. Boyd dropped only his ninth match of the season as he fell to 22-9 overall and 9-3 in dual matches.
Davidson held an early 7-3 advantage thanks to Avola along with Ben Altman, who started the night off with a 7-2 decision over Tyler Sim at 125 pounds to give the Wildcats a 3-0 lead.
The Citadel though, used a pin by Levi Duyn at 149 pounds and a 9-5 decision by Travis Piccard over the Wildcats' Ben Graham at 157 pounds to give the Bulldogs their first lead at 12-7.
Trebor Clavette brought Davidson back to within one point at 12-11 after he picked up four points with a 14-4 major decision over Zachary Filter at165 pounds. It was Clavette's third conference win of the season as he moved his overall record to 13-5 on the year.
The one-point deficit was as close as the Wildcats could get as The Citadel won the next two weight classes (174 & 184) on its way to the 24-14 victory. Kevin Cook of Davidson did bring the Wildcats within four points (18-14) with his 7-2 win at 197 pounds, but a pin by John Buck at heavyweight in the final match of the evening sealed the win for the Bulldogs.
Davidson now hits the road for its remaining schedule, starting with a dual meet at in-state foe Campbell on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. The Wildcats took a 33-13 decision against Campbell last year that started a five-match win streak.
The Citadel 24, Davidson 14
125 — Ben Altman (DAV) dec. Tyler Sim, 7-2 (DAV 3-0)
133 — Matthew Leach (CIT) dec. Chris Panfili, 9-5 (Tied 3-3)
141 — Jim Avola (DAV) major dec. Matt Mullwinkel, 10-1 (DAV 7-3)
149 — Levi Duyn (CIT) pinned Scott Matthews, 4:22 (CIT 9-7)
157 — Travis Piccard (CIT) dec. Ben Graham, 9-5 (CIT 12-7)
165 — Trebor Clavette (DAV) major dec. Zachary Filter, 14-4 (CIT 12-11)
174 — Darius Caldwell (CIT) dec. Marcus Boyd, 8-3 (CIT 15-11)
184 — John Dickerson (CIT) dec. Sam O'Hair, 6-3 (CIT 18-11)
197 — Kevin Cook (DAV) dec. Griffen Greene, 7-2 (CIT 18-14)
HWT — John Buck (CIT) pinned Mike Waters, 2:44 (CIT 24-14)
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