Conference SoCon Nickname Runnin' Bulldogs | Location Boiling Springs, NC | |
University Gardner-Webb University Head Coach Daniel Elliott (3rd year) Arena Paul Porter Arena
(Capacity: 3,500) | ||
The Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs wrestling team represents Gardner-Webb University as an Associate Member of the Southern Conference of NCAA Division I wrestling (GWU's primary conference, the Big South Conference, does not sponsor wrestling).
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History
The Gardner-Webb wrestling program was started as an NAIA program in 1989-90 by Richard Wince, who headed the program through 2007 and again from 2009 through 2012, moving to the NCAA's Division I in 1990. In 2012, as the program joined the Southern Conference, Wince was succeeded by his associate head coach and former student, Daniel Elliott. Elliott was named the 2015 SoCon Co-Coach of the Year.
Since moving to Division I, fourteen GWU wrestlers have qualified for twenty appearances in the NCAA National Tournament.
In 2016, the Runnin' Bulldogs finished in a tie for first in the Southern Conference, sending 3 wrestlers to the NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships.