The Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs wrestling team represents
Gardner–Webb University
Gardner–Webb University (Gardner–Webb, GWU, or GW) is a private Baptist university in Boiling Springs, North Carolina. It is affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina ( Southern Baptist Convention). It was founded as Boi ...
of
Boiling Springs, North Carolina
Boiling Springs is a town in Cleveland County, North Carolina, United States and is located in the westernmost part of the Charlotte metropolitan area, located approximately 50 miles away from the city. As of the 2010 census, the town's popula ...
. The Runnin' Bulldogs are full members of the non-wrestling
Big South Conference, with the wrestling team competing as an associate member of the
Southern Conference
The Southern Conference (SoCon) is a collegiate athletic conference affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I. Southern Conference football teams compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (formerly k ...
(SoCon).
History
The Gardner–Webb wrestling program started in 1989–90 season, by Coach Richard Wince. Wince headed the program from 1989–2007, and again from 2009–2012. During Wince's tenure, the Bulldogs had two wrestlers earn All-America honors at the
NCAA Division II
NCAA Division II (D-II) is an intermediate-level division of competition in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It offers an alternative to both the larger and better-funded Division I and to the scholarship-free environmen ...
championships. In 2000, James Short, an All-American wrestler for the Runnin' Bulldogs, became the first Gardner-Webb student athlete to compete at the U.S. Olympic trials in
Greco-Roman wrestling.
In 2001, Gardner–Webb transitioned to
NCAA Division I
NCAA Division I (D-I) is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) in the United States, which accepts players globally. D-I schools include the major collegiate athletic ...
. In 2012, as the program joined the Southern Conference, Wince was succeeded by his associate head coach and former Gardner–Webb wrestler, Daniel Elliott.
In 2015, Elliott was named the SoCon Co-Coach of the Year.
In 2016, the Runnin' Bulldogs finished as co-champions in the Southern Conference regular season standings, sending 3 wrestlers to the
NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships
The NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships have been held annually since 1928, except for a hiatus in 1943–45 during World War II and in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
In 1928 and from 1931–1933, there was only an unofficial team tit ...
.
NCAA Division I Wrestling Individual Conference Champions
East Region:
*2004 Joshua Pniewski, 133 lbs.
*2005 Joshua Pniewski, 133 lbs.
*2005 Daniel Elliott, 149 lbs.
*2006 Joshua Pniewski, 133 lbs.
*2006 Daniel Elliott, 149 lbs.
*2006 Adam Glaser, 157 lbs.
*2006 Brent Blackwell, 197 lbs.
*2007 Rob Tate, 133 lbs.
*2007 Dustin Porter, 197 lbs.
*2008 Dustin Porter, 197 lbs.
*2009 Dustin Porter, 285 lbs.
*2010 Dustin Porter, 285 lbs.
*2012 Ryan Medved, 149 lbs.
*2012 Alex Medved , 157 lbs.
*2012 Jonathan Velazquez, 184 lbs.
*2012 Travis Porter, 197 lbs.
Southern Conference:
*2013 Hunter Gamble, 174 lbs.
*2016 Austin Trott, 165 lbs.
*2017 Ryan Mosley, 157 lbs. (Most Outstanding Wrestler)
*2018 Tyler Marinelli, 157 lbs.
*2019 Tyler Marinelli, 165 lbs.
*2022 RJ Mosley, 165 lbs.
*2023 RJ Mosley, 165 lbs.
NCAA Division I Wrestling Championship Qualifiers
*2003 Eric Wince, 174 lbs.
*2004 Joshua Pniewski, 133 lbs.
*2005 Joshua Pniewski, 133 lbs.
*2005 Daniel Elliott, 149 lbs.
*2006 Joshua Pniewski, 133 lbs.
*2006 Adam Glaser, 157 lbs.
*2006 Daniel Elliott, 149 lbs.
*2006 Brent Blackwell, 197 lbs.
*2007 Rob Tate, 133 lbs.
*2007 Dustin Porter, 197 lbs.
*2008 Dustin Porter, 197 lbs.
*2008 Eddie McCray, 149 lbs.
*2009 Dustin Porter, 285 lbs.
*2010 Dustin Porter, 285 lbs.
*2012 Jonathan Velazquez, 184 lbs.
*2012 Travis Porter, 197 lbs.
*2012 Ryan Medved, 149 lbs.
*2012 Alex Medved, 157 lbs.
*2013 Hunter Gamble, 174 lbs.
*2014 Austin Trott, 165 lbs.
*2015 Ryan Mosley, 149 lbs.
*2016 Chris Vassar, 149 lbs.
*2016 Austin Trott, 165 lbs.
*2016 Boyce Cornwell, 285 lbs.
*2017 Ryan Mosley, 157 lbs.
*2017 Austin Trott, 174 lbs.
*2017 Hunter Gamble, 184 lbs.
*2018 Tyler Marinelli, 157 lbs.
*2019 Tyler Marinelli, 165 lbs.
*2021 RJ Mosley, 165 lbs.
*2021 Jha'Quan Anderson, 184 lbs.
*2022 RJ Mosley, 165 lbs.
*2023 RJ Mosley, 165 lbs.
References
External links
Runnin' Bulldogs athletic website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs
1989 establishments in North Carolina
Sports clubs and teams established in 1989