GWU announces wrestling recruits

BOILING SPRINGS — Gardner-Webb wrestling coach Richard Wince announced the seven-man recruiting class of Matthew Beebe, Darius Wass, Travis Chesla, Lucas Dutch, Robert Golde, Jacob Mitchell and Erin O’Dell on Monday.

All seven will begin their time with the Bulldogs in the fall.

It is one of the largest classes the GWU wrestling program has brought in over the last few years and along with the new wrestling building set to open up sometime this fall, the Bulldog wrestling program is continuing to make strides of improvement.

Beebe, who comes to Gardner-Webb by way of Swan Valley High School in Saginaw, Mich., posted an overall high school record of 207-48, picking up 54 wins or more three different years. This past year as a senior, Beebe placed third at the regional meet and fifth in the state. Beebe finished his high school career with the third-most career wins in Swan Valley High School history with 207.

Wass, a teammate of Beebe at Swan Valley, posted a four-year record of 193-9, picking up 129 pin fall wins along the way.

Chesla, who comes to GWU by way of Towanda High School in Towanda, Penn., was a multi-sport athlete who posted a record of 114-18 on the mat for the Black Knights. Chesla posted a 40-2 overall record this past year as a senior, finishing second at the state tournament at 189 pounds.

Dutch, who wrestled at nearby Northwest Cabarrus High in Concord, posted an overall record of 190-44 in his four-year high school career, setting a new school record in wins. Dutch, who posted 52 wins or more in each of the last three years, was the South Piedmont Conference Champion and tournament most outstanding wrestler this past year as a senior. This past year, Dutch was the NCHSSA 3A Midwest regional champion and a 3A state runner-up.

Golde, a teammate of Dutch at Northwest Cabarrus, posted an overall record of 186-40 and broke the previous school record of 170 career wins. This past year in his senior season, Golde finished second at the regional meet and third at the state tournament, garnering All-County and All-Conference recognition for the fourth straight year. He was a Wendy’s High School Heisman winner.

Mitchell comes to Gardner-Webb by way of South Pointe High School in Rock Hill, S.C. Mitchell posted an overall high school record of 147-13, including a stellar 40-1 record last season as a senior. The two-time All-State selection finished first overall in the Upper State and first in the regional this past year as a senior.

O’Dell, who comes to GWU from Oviedo High School in Oviedo, Fla., posted an overall high school record of 141-21, picking up 81 pin fall victories along the way. O’Dell finished second in the state this past year as a senior.

Courtesy of GWU sports information