HAMPTON, VA. – Campbell defeated No. 23 Maryland 21-14 and fell to No. 19 South Dakota State 39-3 on Saturday at the Hampton Coliseum, finishing out competition at the 2023 Virginia Duals.

The Camels (8-7) picked up their second win over a Big Ten opponent this season with the dual victory over Maryland (7-2). Saturday marked the fifth and sixth nationally ranked opponents for CU this season. 

Gabriel Hixenbaugh led Campbell with a 4-0 weekend, including a pair of wins on Saturday.

The 133 pounder jumpstarted Campbell against the Terrapins, notching a 15-0 tech fall (5:37) over Conner Quinn. Shannon Hanna followed with a 4-2 overtime win at 141 pounds before Maryland took three of the next four bouts for a 14-11 lead.

No. 27 Caleb Hopkins responded for CU at 184 pounds with a 9-0 major decision, and Levi Hopkins down 11^th-ranked Jaxon Smith 8-6 in extra time at 197. No. 12 Taye Ghadiali tacked on another decision to close out the 21-14 win, defeating No. 30 Jaron Smith 3-2, fighting through a scramble with 20 seconds remaining in regulation for the deciding takedown.

The Jackrabbits tallied seven bonus point wins over the Camels, including pins for No. 28 Tanner Jordan at 125 pounds and No. 18 Tanner Cook at 165. Hixenbaugh recorded CU's lone individual victory against SDSU, topping Derrick Cardinal with a 5-2 decision.

Campbell also defeated Kent State 29-12 while dropping a 22-9 dual to Oklahoma on Friday.

Next up, Campbell returns home to host the 2023 Chippewa Challenge on January 22. The Camels will entertain Central Michigan, CSU Bakersfield and American in the second year event.

Tickets for CU's remaining home dates can be found at GoCamels.com/Tickets.

CAMEL TALK
"I would give our performance this weekend a C minus," said head coach Scotti Sentes. "We saw some flashes of what our team could become in the postseason with a handful of nationally ranked wins, and pulling out a win over a top-25 program with three starters out of the lineup. But if we are going to be successful in the postseason we need to do a better job of managing our emotions from match to match and being more consistent as each day goes on," added Sentes. "There's a lot to take away and a lot to fix. We have a young team and there is a lot we can improve on in these final couple months of season."

"I am very grateful for the opportunity I was given to compete this past weekend," said Hixenbaugh. "I love representing Campbell University. I love this team. We had our ups and downs at the Virginia Duals, but I know we will learn and come back even hungrier."

"The Virginia Duals is a tough event," said Levi Hopkins. "We had guys get some good wins this weekend, but we also took some losses that we need to learn and respond from."

CAMPBELL 21, No. 23 MARYLAND 14
125: #23 Braxton Brown (Maryland) over Anthony Molton (CU) Dec 9-4
133: Gabriel Hixenbaugh (CU) over Conner Quinn (Maryland) TF 15-0 (5:37)
141: Shannon Hanna (CU) over #33 Kal Miller (Maryland) Dec 4-2 SV-1
149: #28 Ethen Miller (Maryland) over Chris Rivera (CU) MD 10-1
157: #33 Michael North (Maryland) over Hagen Heistand (CU) Dec 5-0
165: Dom Baker (CU) over John Martin Best (Maryland) Dec 2-1
174: Dom Solis (Maryland) over Brant Cracraft (CU) MD 24-10
184: #27 Caleb Hopkins (CU) over Chase Mielnik (Maryland) MD 9-0
197: Levi Hopkins (CU) over #11 Jaxon Smith (Maryland) Dec 8-6 SV-1
HWT: #12 Taye Ghadiali (CU) over #30 Jaron Smith (Maryland) Dec 3-2

No. 19 SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 39, CAMPBELL 3
125: #28 Tanner Jordan (SDSU) over Anthony Molton (CU) Fall (4:10)
133: Gabriel Hixenbaugh (CU) over Derrick Cardinal (SDSU) Dec 5-2
141: #9 Clay Carlson (SDSU) over Shannon Hanna (CU) MD 15-1
149: Alek Martin (SDSU) over Chris Rivera (CU) MD 12-2
157: #22 Cael Swensen (SDSU) over Hagen Heistand (CU) MD 14-2
165: #18 Tanner Cook (SDSU) over Dom Baker (CU) Fall (2:38)
174: #17 Cade DeVos (SDSU) over Brant Cracraft (CU) TF 18-2 (3:31)
184: #19 Cade King (SDSU) over #27 Caleb Hopkins (CU) Dec 6-3
197: #13 Tanner Sloan (SDSU) over Levi Hopkins (CU) MD 11-0
HWT: #15 AJ Nevills (SDSU) over #12 Taye Ghadiali (CU) Dec 9-3
Individual rankings according to Intermat (as of 1/10/23)