Citadel wrestling will showdown on the Yorktown with match on famous historic landmark in Charleston

Ben Haubert is going to do his best to treat The Citadel s dual match against Army like any other wrestling event.

The Bucks County, Penn., native isnt about to change his routine or his preparation for Friday nights matchup against the Black Knights or later on in the evening when the Bulldogs will face Virginia.

Thats just not a part of Hauberts DNA.

You have to come with the same mentality every match, said Haubert, who is four-year starter for the Bulldogs.

Doesnt matter if its a tournament or a dual, you have to come with the same mentality every single time.

That wont be easy this time.

The Citadel's Ben Haubert has been a three-year starter for the Bulldogs.

Michael Wiser/The Citadel Athletics.

This isnt just any dual meet, and it isnt taking place at the Bulldogs normal home - McAlister Field House .

Nope.

The Bulldogs will face Army and Virginia on Nov.

8 on one of the most iconic World War II naval vessels in the world the USS Yorktown in Charleston harbor as part of the Showdown on the Yorktown .

Eight teams The Citadel, Army, Virginia, Gardner-Webb, Lander, Newberry, Presbyterian College and Campbell will be taking part in the event beginning at 5 p.m.

Women's teams from Presbyterian and Campbell will be taking part in the three-mat event.

If theres inclement weather, the meet will be held inside the Yorktown.

The event is the brainchild of wrestling official Neal Collins, who also serves as a representative in the S.C.

state house.

With NIL, the transfer portal and collectives, The Citadel athletics department is at a crossroads Neal brought this idea for an event on the Yorktown three years ago when I first took the job, said The Citadel head wrestling coach Ryan LeBlanc.

It took a couple of years for the idea to come to fruition, but Neal really spearheaded the project.

We think its going to be a really cool event.

A sentiment echoed by Haubert.

When the coaching staff was telling us about this, everyone got super excited about it, said Haubert, who has never visited the World War II aircraft carrier.

Its going to be such a cool experience, super unique.

Itll be a completely different environment, but the one thing that doesnt change is the dimensions of the circle you are stepping into.

That never changes.

Haubert, who competes in the 174-pound weight class, was a part of LeBlancs first recruiting class when he took over the program in 2021.

Ben was one of the first kids that committed to the program, LeBlanc said.

We had to recruit him virtually because of the pandemic, so he took a huge risk on us, and hes come through for us in the last three years.

Its a testament to his work ethic and the kind of person that Ben is.

Hes been a tremendous leader and helped us rebuild kind of a down-and-out program.

Hes definitely helped recharged this thing and helped get it up and running.

Basketball season previews: How The Citadel landed one of college basketball's top scorers Haubert has wrestled at three different weight classes from 165 pounds to 184 pounds during his career.

He was 17-14 overall last season at 165 pounds, including a 6-2 mark in the Southern Conference.

Last year he made the cut and dropped down to from 174 pounds to 165 pounds, and he did that for the team, LeBlanc said.

We had two really good guys at 174 pounds, but he made the drop, which speaks to his character and why hes one of our captains.

Its a major reason why the Bulldogs went 14-4 in dual meets and beat Chattanooga for the first time in two decades last season.

At The Citadel, active duty Marine living a football dream That was a huge sacrifice for Ben, but it allowed us to be more competitive in other weight classes, LeBlanc said.

The Bulldogs are coming off a second-place finish at last weekends Battle at The Citadel where Haubert captured the 174-pound class.

I think the first weekend is where you learn the most about your team, LeBlanc said.

I thought our effort was super high, but we need to clean up some of our tactics..

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