Wrestling looks strong at Citadel Open

CHARLESTON, SC., Jackie Hughes led the Pioneers in their season opening match on Sunday at the Citadel Open. Hughes (Laurens, SC/Laurens High ), a sophomore, advanced to the semi-finals. The Pioneers showed their strengths with two other wrestlers, Marvin Galette (125), and Maurice Williams (133) advancing the furthest than any other wrestler for Spartanburg Methodist College. In the 133lb bracket 30 different wrestlers were entered in the tournament, making it one of the largest brackets. "We are a very young team, however, we definitely saw where we are the strongest and where we need a little more experience at," says Head Coach Matt Oliver. 

Jackie Hughes (197) ended up 3-2 on the day winning his first three in a row. His first round was against Hayden Cook of Shorter, where he won by decision. Then, in the next round, he easily defeated Chandler Sambets of The Citadel 9-3. In his quarterfinal match, Hughes pinned Limestones' David Kieta in 4:31. Hughes then lost a close decision to Davidson University, Brian Capps in the semifinals in the first sudden victory period 4-2, barely missing out on the finals and ultimately placing. Hughes then dropped another hard fought battle to Andersons' Austin Price 3-2. Although the tournament only placed the top four wrestlers, Hughes advanced to the consolation semifinals putting him in the top eight of his respective bracket.

Maurice Williams (133) wrestled the most matches on the day and ended up with a 5-2 record. After winning his first match, he lost his second round match to Division I opponent from Campbell 8-2. Following that, he rallied back winning his next four matches over two Division I opponents and two Division II opponents. Williams (Orlando, FL/Edgewater High) made his way back to the consolation semifinals before losing to Ethan Wampler of Brewton-Parker making him the second Spartanburg Methodist College wrestlers to place in the top eight of his brackets. 

Marvin Galette (125) advanced to the consolation quarterfinals finishing in the top 12 out of 20 wrestlers in his weight class. Galette (Rock Hill, SC/South Pointe High) won his first three matches in a row wrestling to the championship quarterfinals before losing to Division I opponent from Gardner-Webb. Galette then won his following match by decision against another Division I opponent. In Marvin's consolation quarterfinals match he lost by major decision.

Other wrestlers picking up wins for the Spartanburg Methodist College Wrestling team were Onassis Williams (285) who went 2-2, Brady Whiteside (133) went 1-2, James Chambers (174).

The Pioneers move forward as they take on Belmont Abbey at home, Thursday, November 5 at 7:00pm. The Pioneers then hit the road as they travel to the UNCP Braves Open on Saturday November 7 in Pembroke, NC.

 Individual Results

125 Pounds | Marvin Galette

- Champ. Round 1 - Marvin Galette (SMC) over William Pryor (Campbell) (MD 17-5)

- Champ. Round 2 - Marvin Galette (SMC) over Jase Stone (Brewton-Parker) (Dec 7-4)

- Quarterfinals - Landon LoAlbo (Gardner-Webb) over Marvin Galette (SMC) (MD 15-3)

- Cons. Round 3 - Marvin Galette (SMC) over Collin Stewart (Campbell) (Dec 14-8)

- Cons. Quarters - Timothy Sakow (University Of Central Florida) over Marvin Galette (SMC) (MD 13-2)

133 Pounds | Brady Whiteside

- Champ. Round 1 - Dustin Smith (UNC Pembroke) over Brady Whiteside (SMC) (Dec 4-0)

- Cons. Round 1 - Brady Whiteside (SMC) over Dakota Dahabi (Unattached) (Fall 6:04)

- Cons. Round 2 - William Howard (Appalachian State) over Brady Whiteside (SMC) (Fall 2:26)

133 Pounds | Maurice Williams

- Champ. Round 1 - Maurice Williams (SMC) over David Richards (University Of Central Florida) (MD 10-0)

- Champ. Round 2 - Jonathan Ryan (Campbell) over Maurice Williams (SMC) (Dec 8-2)

- Cons. Round 2 - Maurice Williams (SMC) over Omar Ruiz (Brewton-Parker) (MD 13-4)

- Cons. Round 3 - Maurice Williams (SMC) over William Howard (Appalachian State) (Dec 2-1)

- Cons. Round 4 - Maurice Williams (SMC) over Luke Tiscareno (The Citadel) (Fall 4:38)

- Cons. Quarters - Maurice Williams (SMC) over Derek Bohle (Anderson University) (Dec 7-4)

- Cons. Semis - Ethan Wampler (Brewton-Parker) over Maurice Williams (SMC) (Dec 6-0)

141 Pounds | Efrain Tello

- Champ. Round 1 - Joby Armenta (Gardner-Webb) over Efrain Tello (SMC) (TF 17-0 5:40)

- Cons. Round 2 - Alfred Shavers (Shorter) over Efrain Tello (SMC) (Dec 15-10)

141 Pounds | Lontay Greene

- Champ. Round 1 - Kendrich Portorreal (Limestone) over Lontay Greene (SMC) (MD 9-0)

- Cons. Round 1 - Joel Madak (The Citadel) over Lontay Greene (SMC) (TF 17-2 6:10)

149 Pounds | Jordan Hodge

- Champ. Round 1 - Kaleb Warner (Campbell) over Jordan Hodge (SMC) (Fall 6:14)

- Cons. Round 2 - Deonte Mitchell (Shorter) over Jordan Hodge (SMC) (MD 11-3)

157 Pounds | Derek Scotland

- Champ. Round 1 - Zach Wood (Southeastern) over Derek Scotland (SMC) (MD 12-3)

- Cons. Round 2 - Michael Meyerink (Limestone) over Derek Scotland (SMC) (MD 13-5)

165 Pounds | Bradley Mewhorter

- Champ. Round 1 - Hayden Smith (UNC Pembroke) over Bradley Mewhorter (SMC) (TF 18-1 6:17)

- Cons. Round 1 - Bradley Mewhorter (SMC) over Jared Costa (Anderson University) (M. For.)

- Cons. Round 2 - Alex Bennett (Gardner-Webb) over Bradley Mewhorter (SMC) (Fall 1:00)

The Citadel Open November 1, 2015 Charleston, SC | McAlister Field House Host: The Citadel

174 Pounds | James Chambers

- Champ. Round 1 - Timothy Knipl (The Citadel) over James Chambers (SMC) (Dec 8-3)

- Cons. Round 2 - James Chambers (SMC) over Tyler Blasko (Limestone) (Fall 2:47)

- Cons. Round 3 - Muhammal Ansari (Brewton-Parker) over James Chambers (SMC) (Dec 3-2)

174 Pounds | Antoine Hammond

- Champ. Round 2 - Michael Seymour (University Of Central Florida) over Antoine Hammond (SMC) (Dec 6-5)

- Cons. Round 2 - Jason Carr (The Citadel) over Antoine Hammond (SMC) (Dec 4-1)

184 Pounds | Nicholas Siniard

- Champ. Round 2 - Sawyer Root (The Citadel) over Nicholas Siniard (SMC) (Fall 3:33)

- Cons. Round 2 - Marlon Morales (Shorter) over Nicholas Siniard (SMC) (Fall 1:18)

197 Pounds | Jackie Hughes

- Champ. Round 1 - Jackie Hughes (SMC) over Hayden Cook (Shorter) (Dec 5-4)

- Champ. Round 2 - Jackie Hughes (SMC) over Chandler Sambets (The Citadel) (Dec 9-3)

- Quarterfinals - Jackie Hughes (SMC) over David Kieta (Limestone) (Fall 4:31)

- Semifinals - Brian Capps (Davidson) over Jackie Hughes (SMC) (SV-1 4-2)

- Cons. Semis - Austin Price (Anderson University) over Jackie Hughes (SMC) (Dec 3-2)

285 Pounds | Onassis Williams

- Champ. Round 1 - Jeffery Keyton (Campbell) over Onassis Williams (SMC) (Fall 1:12)

- Cons. Round 1 - Onassis Williams (SMC) over Chris Diaz (Shorter) (Dec 2-1)

- Cons. Round 2 - Onassis Williams (SMC) over Vincent Wilson (Greensboro) (Dec 5-3)

- Cons. Round 3 - Cody Vandeline (Limestone) over Onassis Williams (SMC) (Dec 7-3)