BUIES CREEK, N.C. – The Campbell Fighting Camels open SoCon action with a road match against Gardner-Webb on Friday evening, followed by a Sunday matinee against Chattanooga.

MATCH INFORMATION

At Gardner-Webb

Time: Friday, Jan. 17, 7:00 PM

Location: Boiling Springs, N.C.

Watch: ESPN+

Live Stats: Track Wrestling

At Chattanooga

Time: Sunday, Jan. 19, 2:00 PM

Location: Chattanooga, Tenn.

Watch: ESPN+

Live Stats: Track Wrestling

Campbell was picked to finish first in the SoCon Preseason Coaches' Poll. Gardner-Webb was picked sixth, and Chattanooga was picked to finish third. Last year the Camels were undefeated in regular season conference action, defeating the Runnin' Bulldogs and the Mocs by a combined score of 76-9.

Anthony Molton and Wynton Denkins are slotted into the probable lineup for CU. The two wrestlers came away with first place finishes at the F&M Open last week, and Denkins was awarded the SoCon Wrestler of the Week award this past Wednesday for his performance.

Shannon Hanna and Levi Hopkins finished in second place at F&M, and they're penciled into the 141-pound spot and 197-pound spot, respectively.

Chris Earnest and Riley Augustine are set to see their first dual action of the season, but each of them competed in the Southeast Open, Southern Scuffle and F&M Open.

Below are the probable lineups for the three teams.

QUOTABLE

Anthony Molton

On what he learned from the early duals to help him be prepared for conference season:

"Going out there and getting to it, being aggressive. The duals at the beginning of the year made me build my 'grit' and finish those hard matches. Having that going into these conference duals is going to be good, making sure we dominate all the way through. If a tough match comes up, we've already built that grit up to be able to finish those matches the right way."

On how he feels his wrestling has improved throughout the year:

"I'd say I've improved in finishing out matches. The first few duals we had, I lost close matches. I'd be wrestling well; I just didn't finish them out. Now, I got to the point where I'm not just finishing them, I'm dominating, and I think that's been a big improvement for me. Just going out there, wrestling my style, being confident and getting those wins."

On the importance of getting wins in these first conference matches:

"It's very important. I want to go out there and dominate, show who I am and do what I need to do to set the tone for the rest of the year."

Follow the Camels on Facebook, X (Twitter), and Instagram for up-to-date information and content throughout the year. 

PROBABLE LINEUPS

Individual Rankings according to FloWrestling.

Campbell

125: #22 Anthony Molton -OR- Cooper Shore

133: Domenic Zaccone -OR- Logan Heil

141: #27 Shannon Hanna

149: #31 Wynton Denkins

157: Chris Earnest

165: Dom Baker

174: Riley Augustine

184: Mike Slade

197: #32 Levi Hopkins

HWT: #6 Taye Ghadiali -OR- Kaleb Wright -OR- Landon Sargent

Gardner-Webb

125: Jeffery Jacome -OR- Tyson Lane

133: TK Davis -OR- Tyler Lamon

141: #19 Todd Carter -OR- Ty Edwards

149: Joseph Giordano -OR- Sam Harris

157: Drew Pepin

165: Tyler Brignola -OR- Grant Kress

174: Andrew Wilson -OR- Jackson Potts

184: Edison Flores

197: Josh McCutchen

HWT: Mason Blue -OR- Rocky Files

Chattanooga

125: Ty Tice -OR- Elijah Lowe

133: #20 Blake Boarman -OR- Bryce Luna

141: Eli Knight -OR- Ethan Lipsey

149: Dayne Dalrymple

157: Noah Castillo -OR- Tavian Camper

165: Jackson Hurst

174: #20 Sergio Desiante

184: Kamdyn Munro

197: David Harper -OR- Logan Webster

HWT: Ethan Vergara -OR- Kendrick Curtis