I gotta hand it to Gardner-Webb. For a small school, a little over 3,600 students in the small community of Boling Springs, North Carolina they have been consistent in sending at least one wrestler to the NCAA championships every season. Matter of fact, ever since going NCAA Division I in the 2002-2003 season, the only year the Bulldogs didn't send someone to the national tournament was in 2011. This season, I see two heading for nationals, one that will contend for a SOCON title.
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| 165 R.J. Mosley Sophomore Record: 48-28 NCAA: 21'NQ SOCON: 21'4th |
165 lbs is the most exciting weight class in the SOCON with a ton of parity amongst four individuals fighting to win the conference championship. Oddly enough, Mosley is 3-1 overall Vs 2021 SOCON champion Drew Nicholson of Chattanooga. He is 1-2 Vs Dazjon Casto of the Citadel. Those matches have been rather weird. Whoever wins, seems to completely shut out the other. Then he is 1-3 Vs Appalachian State's Will Formato. With that said, I guess I'd give Mosley a 25% chance at winning the SOCON title this season.
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| 184 Jha'Quan Anderson Freshman Record: 17-14 NCAA: 21'NQ SOCON: 21'3rd |
With both Caleb Hopkins of Campbell and Matthew Waddell of Chattanooga returning, I think Anderson is looking at another 3rd place finish in the SOCON.
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165 - NQ
184 - NQ
Two NCAA qualifiers might not seem like anything to be excited about, but in the over all picture it is. Since going NCAA Division I in what will be 20 years ago, the program has only had one four time NCAA Division I qualifier. Dustin Porter. Mosley does have the benefit of the extra year of eligibility, but he has the opportunity to become the program's second four time NCAA qualifier. Anderson, still technically only a freshman, could make history by becoming the Bulldog's only 5 time NCAA qualifier. Those milestones are huge for a small program like Gardner-Webb.
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