Photo by: Tim Cowie/DavidsonPhotos.com
Wrestling Hits the Road for Pair of SoCon Duals
2/8/2024 3:00:00 PM | Wrestling
DAVIDSON, N.C. – The Davidson wrestling team continues SoCon action with a pair of road duals this weekend. The team will be at Gardner-Webb on Friday night and head to The Citadel on Sunday.
Match Information
Gardner-Webb
Date | Time: Feb. 9, 2024 | 7 p.m.
Location: Boiling Springs, N.C.
Site: Paul Porter Arena
Live Results: TrackWrestling
Watch: ESPN+
The Citadel
Date | Time: Feb. 11, 2024 | 2 p.m.
Location: Charleston, S.C.
Site: McAlister Field House
Live Results: TrackWrestling
Watch: ESPN+
Gardner-Webb History
Last Meeting: L, 34-4 (2/18/23)
All-Time Series: GWU leads 2-30-1
The Citadel History
Last Meeting: L, 22-15 (2/3/23)
All-Time Series: 3-58-1
ABOUT THE 'CATS
Three 'Cats are coming off wins from last Friday's dual against Bellarmine. Sophomore Tanner Peake appears to be finding his stride after winning five of his last six matches. Last year's SoCon runner-up at 157 earned a 5-2 victory over Gray Ortis and went 3-1 at the Appalachian Open at the end of January to boost his record to 11-14 on the year. He is also 2-0 in SoCon duals.
Freshman Wyatt Ferguson looks to keep his hot streak going as he enters the weekend on a four-match win streak with all coming in dual action. Last Friday, the 184-pounder gutted out a 2-1 decision to remain undefeated in conference matches, and Ferguson is also 5-3 in his last eight dual contests dating back to December 16.
"It's not an easy transition for a true freshman to come in and wrestle a full slate of matches," said assistant coach Marcus Coleman. "He's definitely been picking stuff up and getting better as the season goes on."
Also coming off a win is senior Cameo Blankenship. The fourth-year man from McRae, Georgia took down Justin Hoffer, 6-3, in the opening match against Bellarmine to pick up his first SoCon win.
"From what I've heard, he's having a much better year than he did last year," added Coleman. "He's an athletic kid that can do a few different things on the mat, so (we've) just really been focusing on getting to a little bit more offense and staying solid in a few key positions."
Blankenship is second on the team in total match points with 129 in 23 matches, and he is second on the team in takedowns with 11 on the season.
SCOUTING THE RUNNIN' BULLDOGS
Gardner-Webb enters Friday night's dual having dropped their last three duals, all to SoCon opponents. The Runnin' Bulldogs last faced No. 27 Campbell and fell, 43-3. Gardner-Webb also lost to Chattanooga (29-14) on Feb. 3 and Bellarmine (23-15) on Jan. 28.
GWU is led by reigning SoCon wrestler of the month, Jha'Quan Anderson. The 184-pounder is 20-6 on the year after going a perfect 10-0 in January. He took first place in the 184-weight class at the Southern Scuffle on January 1 and 2 and is currently ranked 30th in the country by InterMat.
Also bolstering the Gardner-Webb lineup is Zach Price at 141. Price was the SoCon runner-up last season after falling in triple overtime in the 141-pound final. He enters Friday with a 21-10 overall record and is 2-1 in SoCon matches.
SCOUTING THE CITADEL
In a weekend filled with Bulldog opponents, the Wildcats will face a The Citadel team riding a three-match win streak. The Bulldogs have most recently defeated Bellarmine, 27-3, in a dual where all ten matches were decided by four points or less. They also took down Chattanooga, 21-15, and VMI, 35-3.
The Citadel is led by 141-pounder Jacob Silka who leads the team in wins (19) and match points (228). He sports a 19-10 record and is 3-1 in SoCon action.
DAVIDSON PROBABLE LINEUP
125 – Enis Ljikovic
133 – Hale Robinson or Brady Joling
141 – Joshua Viarengo
149 – Tyler-Xavier McKnight
157 – Tanner Peake
165 – Bryce Sanderlin
174 – Jaden Hardrick or Brett Sanderlin
184 – Wyatt Ferguson
197 – Cameo Blankenship or Dylan Smith
HWT – Jake Fernicola
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will return home to face No. 29 App State on Feb. 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Match Information
Gardner-Webb
Date | Time: Feb. 9, 2024 | 7 p.m.
Location: Boiling Springs, N.C.
Site: Paul Porter Arena
Live Results: TrackWrestling
Watch: ESPN+
The Citadel
Date | Time: Feb. 11, 2024 | 2 p.m.
Location: Charleston, S.C.
Site: McAlister Field House
Live Results: TrackWrestling
Watch: ESPN+
Gardner-Webb History
Last Meeting: L, 34-4 (2/18/23)
All-Time Series: GWU leads 2-30-1
The Citadel History
Last Meeting: L, 22-15 (2/3/23)
All-Time Series: 3-58-1
ABOUT THE 'CATS
Three 'Cats are coming off wins from last Friday's dual against Bellarmine. Sophomore Tanner Peake appears to be finding his stride after winning five of his last six matches. Last year's SoCon runner-up at 157 earned a 5-2 victory over Gray Ortis and went 3-1 at the Appalachian Open at the end of January to boost his record to 11-14 on the year. He is also 2-0 in SoCon duals.
Freshman Wyatt Ferguson looks to keep his hot streak going as he enters the weekend on a four-match win streak with all coming in dual action. Last Friday, the 184-pounder gutted out a 2-1 decision to remain undefeated in conference matches, and Ferguson is also 5-3 in his last eight dual contests dating back to December 16.
"It's not an easy transition for a true freshman to come in and wrestle a full slate of matches," said assistant coach Marcus Coleman. "He's definitely been picking stuff up and getting better as the season goes on."
Also coming off a win is senior Cameo Blankenship. The fourth-year man from McRae, Georgia took down Justin Hoffer, 6-3, in the opening match against Bellarmine to pick up his first SoCon win.
"From what I've heard, he's having a much better year than he did last year," added Coleman. "He's an athletic kid that can do a few different things on the mat, so (we've) just really been focusing on getting to a little bit more offense and staying solid in a few key positions."
Blankenship is second on the team in total match points with 129 in 23 matches, and he is second on the team in takedowns with 11 on the season.
SCOUTING THE RUNNIN' BULLDOGS
Gardner-Webb enters Friday night's dual having dropped their last three duals, all to SoCon opponents. The Runnin' Bulldogs last faced No. 27 Campbell and fell, 43-3. Gardner-Webb also lost to Chattanooga (29-14) on Feb. 3 and Bellarmine (23-15) on Jan. 28.
GWU is led by reigning SoCon wrestler of the month, Jha'Quan Anderson. The 184-pounder is 20-6 on the year after going a perfect 10-0 in January. He took first place in the 184-weight class at the Southern Scuffle on January 1 and 2 and is currently ranked 30th in the country by InterMat.
Also bolstering the Gardner-Webb lineup is Zach Price at 141. Price was the SoCon runner-up last season after falling in triple overtime in the 141-pound final. He enters Friday with a 21-10 overall record and is 2-1 in SoCon matches.
SCOUTING THE CITADEL
In a weekend filled with Bulldog opponents, the Wildcats will face a The Citadel team riding a three-match win streak. The Bulldogs have most recently defeated Bellarmine, 27-3, in a dual where all ten matches were decided by four points or less. They also took down Chattanooga, 21-15, and VMI, 35-3.
The Citadel is led by 141-pounder Jacob Silka who leads the team in wins (19) and match points (228). He sports a 19-10 record and is 3-1 in SoCon action.
DAVIDSON PROBABLE LINEUP
125 – Enis Ljikovic
133 – Hale Robinson or Brady Joling
141 – Joshua Viarengo
149 – Tyler-Xavier McKnight
157 – Tanner Peake
165 – Bryce Sanderlin
174 – Jaden Hardrick or Brett Sanderlin
184 – Wyatt Ferguson
197 – Cameo Blankenship or Dylan Smith
HWT – Jake Fernicola
UP NEXT
The Wildcats will return home to face No. 29 App State on Feb. 15 at 7:00 p.m.
Players Mentioned
184
/ Wrestling
184
/ Wrestling
285
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling
149
/ Wrestling
157
/ Wrestling
125
/ Wrestling
174
/ Wrestling
165
/ Wrestling
184/197
/ Wrestling
141
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