Gardner-Webb Wrestling Suffers Narrow 24-22 Defeat to Duke
BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – A tightly contested dual meet ended in heartbreak for Gardner-Webb wrestling on Friday night, as the Runnin’ Bulldogs fell to Duke by a score of 24-22. The match, held at Paul Porter Arena on December 5th, saw victories from both sides, ultimately decided by a handful of pivotal bouts.
The loss marks a challenging result for Gardner-Webb (3-2), who where looking to continue a strong start to their season. The outcome underscores the competitive landscape of collegiate wrestling and the importance of every match in shaping postseason opportunities. The Runnin’ Bulldogs will need to regroup quickly as they prepare for their next challenge.
The evening began with a dominant performance from Gardner-Webb at 125 pounds, where Tyson Lane secured a fall over Duke’s Riley Rowan in just 37 seconds. T.K. Davis followed with a technical fall at 133 pounds, defeating John King 19-3 in 3:20, extending Gardner-Webb’s early lead.Dominic Ditullio continued the momentum with an 8-1 decision over Raymond Adams at 141 pounds.
Duke began to rally with a 4-0 decision by Dylan Ross over Drew Pepin at 149 pounds. Mikey Boulanger added to Duke’s comeback with a narrow 6-5 decision against Joseph Giordano at 157 pounds. Aurelius Dunbar then secured a fall over Tucker Cell at 165 pounds in 2:48, shifting the overall lead to Duke. Aidan Wallace extended Duke’s advantage with a fall over Andrew Wilson at 174 pounds in 2:50.
Gardner-webb refused to concede, as Hadyn Danals delivered a major decision, defeating David Hussey 10-1 at 184 pounds. Josh McCutchen followed with a major decision of his own, winning 9-1 against Owen McGrory at 197 pounds, narrowing the gap.However,the final bout of the night saw Connor Barket secure a fall over Rocky Files at 285 pounds in 2:54,sealing the victory for Duke.
