BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Campbell wrestling team put forth a strong showing on Sunday afternoon, defeating Gardner-Webb 43-3 at Gore Arena. The Camels defeated both ranked wrestlers from GWU in the victory.
 
The Fighting Camels improved to 9-3 (3-0 SoCon), and the Runnin' Bulldogs now sit at 4-7 and 0-3 in conference matches.
 
Campbell recorded seven bonus-point victories in the match, beginning at 125 pounds. #25 Anthony Molton earned the tech fall against Drew West in 5:45.
 
#20 Domenic Zaccone followed that up with a tech of his own at 133 pounds. He defeated Tyson Lane in 3:44.
 
At 149 pounds, Justin Rivera defeated #31 Zach Price with a takedown in the sudden victory period. Each wrestler scored an escape in regulation.
 
Chris Earnest got back in the win column with a pin (3:34) against Parker Corwin. #28 Dom Baker followed that up with a tech fall against Andrew Wilson (5:43).
 
#19 Austin Murphy earned a tech fall of his own by defeating Samuel Mora in 3:58.
 
It was a defensive battle at 184 pounds between Caleb Hopkins and #27 Jha'Quan Anderson. Hopkins recorded an escape at the beginning of the second period, and both wrestlers prevented the other from scoring any more points in a 1-0 decision.
 
#16 Levi Hopkins got the Camels back in bonus-point territory with a tech fall victory over Josh McCutchen in 5:35 at 197 pounds. That was followed by a pin from #8 Taye Ghadiali over Peyton McComas (1:34). The pin was Ghadiali's second of the week.
 
 
CAMPBELL 43, GARDNER-WEBB 3
125 | #25 Anthony Molton (CAM) def. Drew West (GWU), TF (5:45)
133 | #20 Domenic Zaccone (CAM) def. Tyson Lane (GWU), TF (3 :44)
141 | Todd Carter (GWU) def. Wynton Denkins (CAM), Dec. 9-6
149 | Justin Rivera (CAM) def. #31 Zach Price (GWU), Dec. 4-1, SV-1
157 | Chris Earnest (CAM) def. Parker Corwin (GWU), Fall (3:34)
165 | #28 Dom Baker (CAM) def. Andrew Wilson (GWU), TF (5:43)
174 | #19 Austin Murphy (CAM) def. Samuel Mora (GWU), TF (3:58)
184 | Caleb Hopkins (CAM) def. #27 Jha'Quan Anderson (GWU), Dec. 1-0
197 | #16 Levi Hopkins (CAM) def. Josh McCutchen (GWU), TF (5:35)
HWT | #8 Taye Ghadiali (CAM) def. Peyton McComas (GWU), Fall (1:34)
Individual rankings according to NCAA Coaches' Ranking
 
QUOTABLE
149 Justin Rivera
On his approach going into the match against a ranked opponent:
"Coming in, we just had App State and I lost that one, but what the coaches teach is to have short-term memory. There was nothing I could do to change it, so the next thing was to focus on the task at hand, and that was Gardner-Webb. I knew the guy was going to be tough. Him and Shannon [Hanna] had a close match last year. The coaches told me to stick to my pressure, I was the one that kept the pace. I knew keeping that pace that I would get the takedown."
 
On how his approach changes in Sudden Victory:
"I did not want to go to ride-offs, so I wanted to get the takedown. I knew I had to keep that pressure. He wasn't really shooting, and that's what I was hoping the pressure would do. He shot, and I countered him right away. Something that the coaches have been working with me, usually when people shoot I would get the under hook and just stay there, but they've been helping me to get a drag to get to my attacks, and it paid off."
 
184 Caleb Hopkins
On how he made sure he didn't have a letdown after the emotions of App State:
"Going into the week, I really had my eyes more set on this match than the App State match. Obviously, I still had to show up for that match. But I've wrestled this guy two times in the SoCon Finals, and it's always a close match. I wanted to put my best foot forward wrestling this guy. Hats off to him, he gave me a really good match."
 
On if he planned to keep it a low-scoring match:
"That's how the match presented itself, was low-scoring. I wanted to get past his hands, and he has a really good sprawl. When he's jumping back, he's loaded on his toes and ready to re-attack. So, I'm very wary of that because if I can't get in on his leg, I try to stay down and not let him get to my legs as much as possible."
 
Follow the Camels on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram for up-to-date information and content throughout the year.