The Citadel @ Gardner-Webb

The Citadel edged Gardner-Webb 19-14 in Boiling Springs, North Carolina on February 16, 2024, coming away with a five-point road win in this SoCon dual meet. The final margin was small, and the result came down to bonus-point wrestling in a handful of decisive bouts.

Benjy Haubert’s 13-1 major decision at 165 pounds was the biggest single swing for The Citadel. That major added four team points and supplied the cushion the visitors needed; Haubert’s technical superiority in that bout stood out as the pivotal moment that separated the teams on the scoreboard.

Gardner-Webb answered with two major decisions of its own. Drew West collected a 9-0 major at 125 pounds and Jha’Quan Anderson posted a 12-1 major at 184 pounds, each worth four team points. Those bonus wins kept Gardner-Webb within reach and underscored that the home side was able to produce dominant individual performances even in a loss.

With the three bonus-point bouts accounting for a large share of the scoring, the dual ultimately hinged on which team could piece together that extra offensive output. The Citadel did enough beyond the majors to finish with 19 points, while Gardner-Webb’s trio of big victories, including two majors, resulted in a respectable 14. In a matchup decided by bonus points, The Citadel left Boiling Springs with the narrow road victory.