Richards Earns SoCon Wrestler of the Week for the Fifth Time
SPARTANBURG, S.C. – VMI red-shirt junior Neal Richards was named the Southern Conference Wrestler of the Week Wednesday, an honor that he earns for the fifth time this season. He is the sixth wrestler in SoCon history to be named wrestler of the week five times in his career and the first wrestler in SoCon history to be named wrestler of the week five times in a single season.
Richards continued his winning streak last week, defeating two SoCon opponents. He beat #17th-ranked Andrew Morgan of Campbell University Saturday by a decisive 14-7 margin and pinned Kyle Homet of Gardner-Webb in 5:28 on Tuesday. He has now won 18-straight matches and is 25-3 on the season, with nine pins, five technical falls and five major decisions - and is 5-0 in conference action.
Richards is ranked #17 this week at 174 pounds by InterMat and #19 by WIN Magazine.
VMI hosts The Citadel Saturday at 2 p.m.
2018-19 SoCon Wrestlers of the Week
Nov. 7 Fabian Gutierrez, Chattanooga
Nov. 14 Angel Najar, Appalachian State
Nov. 21 Andrew Morgan, Campbell
Nov. 27 Randall Diabe, Appalachian State
Dec. 5 Sawyer Root, The Citadel
Dec. 12 Neal Richards, VMI
Dec. 19 Michael Elliott, Appalachian State
Dec. 26 Jake Huffine, Chattanooga
Jan. 2 Randall Diabe, Appalachian State
Jan. 9 Alonzo Allen, Chattanooga
Jan. 16 Neal Richards, VMI
Jan. 23 Neal Richards, VMI
Jan. 30 Neal Richards, VMI
Feb. 6 Tyler Marinelli, Gardner-Webb
Feb. 13 Connor Tolley, Chattanooga
Feb. 20 Neal Richards, VMI
