Hey SC wrestling fans it has been some exciting past few weeks here in the SC
College wrestling world. I have not idea if anyone else in the state keeps up
with college wrestling other than me but if you do your about to hear some
news that you probably wont believe. THE CITADEL that little division one
program down in Charleston had a big upset two weeks ago and that little
Baptist school up in Anderson took part in one of the most storied
tournaments around the country. If I have got you interested in this article
just keep reading to find out all about what great things are going on in our
state with the college wrestling programs.

       First off how bout them BULLDOGS? The Citadel beat for what is
believed to be the first time ever North Carolina State University in a dual
up in Raleigh North Carolina. Now I am sure a lot of you nonbelievers out
there are saying "oh it was probably a bad NC State team" or something to
that effect. Folks they had 4 studs that have been nationally ranked and are
returning ACC CHAMPS. Not to mention North Carolina State are the returning
2x ACC Team Champs. Well anyway The Citadel wrestled its heart out and had
some big wins and big pins that out distanced themselves from the Wolfpack.
Final Score was The Citadel 24 NC State 15! Also on the day The Citadel
defeated East Stroudsburg and Duke University. The big match about East
Stroudsburg was at the time they were leading Duals in the EIWA and had
defeated Army. Army is the only defeat The Citadel has suffered this year.
They now stand at 7-1. After the NC State duals The Citadel Defeated Carson
Newman in Charleston by a score of 28-9 with wins coming from former SC Stars
Ryan McClester @ 125, Vince Bartges @149 and Troy Bartges lost a close dec. @
197. However Tough competition started this past weekend in the Southern
Conference and The Citadel was narrowly defeated by Appalachian State
University 20-17. Wrestling in the dual for the bulldogs was McClester who
lost to the returning 2x Southern Conference Champ from Appy State 3-0 and
John Bohren who lost a close dec. up in Boone in the dual. The big match up of
the night was at 133 lbs where former 4x state finalist and high school all
American Travis Drake of Appy State was taking on The Citadel's Nationally
ranked Sean Markey. The match was as expected with both wrestlers trading
takedowns and battling the entire match. The final score however Travis would
prevail and tie the season head to head match ups at 1-1. They met in the
quarterfinals of the Carolina Open earlier this year with Markey defeating
Drake and many expect to seem them both scrapping it out in the SoCon
Tournament in March. The Citadel now stands at 7-2 in second place in the
Southern Conference standings. Their next match is Wed. Jan 22, 2003 at Dutch
Fork High School where they will be taking on Anderson College in a dual.

       Anderson College took part in the Va. Duals not to long ago and if you
are unaware this is one of the premier wrestling events around the nation for
sometime. It has top-notch collegiate action with 3 separate divisions as
well as 3 separate high school divisions. Since the start of the new NWCA
National Duals that take place every year some competition has been lost in
the collegiate division because the top 10 or 16 teams are invited to compete
there. However at the Va. Duals The High School division always draws great
teams that have traditionally done well in national rankings as well as
current up and coming programs. This year Anderson College participated in
the American College Division and wrestled tough but fell to Cumberland 41-12
and Maryland.  In the matches SC had many wrestlers featured in the Anderson
College lineup. Versus Cumberland at 125 Clyde Pollock lost by fall, 141
Steve Valponi received a Forfeit, and at 174 Careef Robertson lost a close
dec. 4-3. In the next match with Maryland Pollock lost 11-6, Valponi won
10-9, Brent Poynter at 165 lost a close dec. 3-2, and at 174 Robertson won
5-2. Anderson College may be taking their lumps this year wrestling such
tough competition but it is only going to prepare them for the end of the
year when it comes national tournament time as well as preparing their young
wrestlers for the next 3 or 4 years. They are on the right track wrestling
good competition and it’s going to help them and introduce the young'ns to
college wrestling preparing them to step it up when its their time.
**TRIVIA** The Va. Duals first started off as a duals tournament for Va. High
Schools to come and compete against each other. However it soon grew and
wanted more competition from outside of the state. What year did the first
out of state team enter and who was it? (What high school and state?)-Answer
at bottom of article.

Also competing at the Va. Duals was none other than The Apprentice School and
their top-notch wrestler former SC state champ Andy King. Andy competed at
141 lbs and ran through his two opponents. Versus Old Dominion he won 12-3
and against Grand Valley State he won 12-5. Andy really is dominating his
opponents and if he keeps this up look for him to stand at the top of the
podium at the NWCA championships at the end of the year. Great Job Andy.

IF YOUR LOOKING TO SEE SOME GOOD WRESTLING THEN YOU NEED TO GO WATCH THE CITADEL TAKE ON ANDERSON COLLEGE WED. NIGHT JANUARY 22 VS. THE ONLY OTHER SOUTH CAROLINA WRESTLING SCHOOL ANDERSON COLLEGE. THE MATCH IS GOING TO TAKE PLACE AT 6pm AT DUTCH FORK HIGH SCHOOL AND ALL HIGH SCHOOL TEAMS ARE ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND.

You will get a first hand look at our former south Carolina stars wrestling in college now at our only two state supported college wrestling programs. Stars like former 2x State champ Steve Valponi
and 2xer Careef Robertson both from Dutch Fork High School as well as
Freshmen Phenom Brent Poynter who was a 2xer from Eastside High School. Also
wrestling for the Bulldogs of The Citadel will be former High School National
Runner-up Ryan McClester, and state champs from Stratford Vince, Troy Bartges
as well as John Bohren. It’s going to be a great night for college wrestling
and a chance for all to see our two state teams duke it out for the South
Carolina College State Championship. Hope to see all there, The Hillcrest
Wrestling team will be there.

**TRIVIA ANSWER**
1985, Rock Hill High School