November 8, 2008

Bracket Results
Printer Friendly PDF

CHARLESTON, S.C.—The St. Andrews Presbyterian College wrestling team opened up its third season by winning 13 of its 25 matches at The Citadel Open Tournament in the McAlister Field House on Saturday.

Sophomore Casey Gashaw (Laurinburg, N.C.) and red shirt freshman Justin Hoover (Virginia Beach, Va.) both made runs to the championship match of their respective weight classes to pace the Knights grapplers.

"I was real pleased with our performance at the Citadel Open in Charleston,” said SAPC third year head coach Joe Baranik. “Co-captain Casey Gashaw and Justin Hoover both placed second, which gave our program some good recognition.”

Gashaw and Hoover both won their first three matches of the season before losing in the championship round.

Gashaw opened up his sophomore campaign with a pair of pin falls including a 6:03 win over a Limestone College wrestler in the first round. Gashaw had his most impressive bout in the quarterfinals, pinning an Appalachian State grappler at the 2:00 minute mark. Gashaw advanced to the finals of the lightweight division with a 13-8 decision in the semifinals but took the runner-up trophy after losing a 10-0 major decision to another Division I wrestler from Appalachian State.

Hoover, who will redshirt in his first season with SAPC, wrestled unattached in his first collegiate competition in the heavyweight ranks. Hoover started the year off with a pair of decisions over a couple D-I entrants. Hoover edged a Duke wrestler, 5-4, in his first match and then followed by doubling up a grappler from The Citadel, 8-4. Hoover then carded a 16-7 major decision in the semifinals to earn a spot in the finals, where he finished second after being pinned in the first period.

Sophomore Greg Todd (Gloucester, Va.) also posted three wins for the Knights on Saturday. Todd recorded two straight major decision victories in the 157-pound bracket with a 14-0 shutout over a University of Central Florida wrestler and an 11-3 win over a Limestone grappler. After being knocked out of the championship bracket, Todd added his third major decision win of the day by defeating a Duke wrestler with a 15-3 scorecard. Both of Todd’s losses were by narrow 7-3 and 3-2 decisions.

“Co-caption Greg Todd also won three matches and is much improved over last year,” complimented Baranik.

Sophomore 149-pound Troy Baranik (Laurinburg, N.C.) was impressive in his season debut posting an overtime win in his first match, 7-5, over a Central Florida wrestler. Baranik lost his next two matches to Division I foes but already has as many wins as he did all of last season.

“Troy Baranik went 1-2 on the day after winning a bout in overtime and is wrestling with more confidence,” added Coach Baranik.
He has also improved from last year.”

Freshman 141-lb Dan Butcher (Westwood, N.J.) lost his first collegiate match by a narrow 4-3 margin but bounced back with a two straight wins in the wrestle back bracket. Butcher recorded his first career pin fall with a 2:40 victory over a Central Florida grappler. Butcher followed with a 9-4 decision over a Duke entrant before finally being eliminated by another decision, 9-3.

“Freshman Dan Butcher won three matches, which says a lot for his potential in his first college competition,” boasted Baranik.

Freshman lightweight Matt Fletcher (Stephens City, Va.) was victorious in his collegiate debut edging an opponent from Central Florida by a 14-9 decision but was pinned in his next two trips to the mat. Classmate Dennis Clark (Jacksonville, N.C.) also made his collegiate debut in the Royal Blue & White but lost both of his 133-pound bouts.

“Overall it was a good way to start off the season and I look for us to get better and better as the year progresses," concluded Baranik.

St. Andrews will host its first dual match of the season on Friday evening in Harris Court when they host East Region rival Anderson University at 7 p.m. The Knights defeated the Trojans 22-19 last year.