The Citadel goes 0-3
Hampton, Va. ? The Citadel wrestling team competed in the Virginia Duals on Friday at Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Va. and went 0-3 in three dual matches in the tournament. Senior Travis Piccard and junior Darius Caldwell paced the Bulldogs as they each recorded two victories on the day.
The Bulldogs dropped into the consolation bracket after being defeated 40-6 by third-seed Kent State, who is 22nd in the nation according to the latest USA Today/InterMat/National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) rankings. The Citadel got a victory from Caldwell as he won by forfeit at 174 pounds.
In the first round of consolations, The Citadel lost a close match to Liberty 24-21. Junior Levi Duyn notched a fall in 3:59 against Aaron Kelley at 149 pounds, while Caldwell picked up his second victory of the day at 174 as he pinned Johnathan Campbell in 2:12. Piccard, currently ranked 18th in the nation at 157 pounds, won a 2-0 decision against Shaun Smith and senior John Dickerson won by forfeit at 184 to give the Bulldogs a 21-18 edge. However, Josh Moore was able to claim a 10-5 decision over freshman Griffen Greene at 197 pounds to tie the match at 21 and Patrick Walker won a 5-0 bout against junior John Buck in the heavyweight class to give the Flames the victory.
The Citadel went on to face Wyoming in their final match of the event and lost by a final of 26-13. Piccard picked up his second victory in as many tries in the match as he earned a 15-3 major decision against Alex Reider at 157 pounds. Dickerson recorded his second forfeit victory of the day at 184 pounds while Buck notched a 6-2 decision over Jason Still at 285.
The Bulldogs will travel to Durham, N.C. to compete against Duke and Campbell on Jan. 24. All of the latest news from The Citadel wrestling team can be found at www.CitadelSports.com.
Kent State 40 The Citadel 6
125 ? Sportelli (KSU) maj. dec. Sim, 9-0 (4-0)
133 ? Mitcheff (KSU) dec. Leach, 7-4 (7-0)
141 ? Sponseller (KSU) maj. dec. Bullwinkel, 12-2 (11-0)
149 ? McGee (KSU) maj. dec. Duyn, 13-2 (15-0)
157 ? Gross (KSU) fft. (21-0)
165 ? Bostelman (KSU) maj. dec. Filter, 12-0 (25-0)
174 ? Caldwell (CIT) fft. (25-6)
184 ? Chine (KSU) dec. Dickerson, 5-1 (28-6)
197 ? Ramadani (KSU) fft. (34-6)
285 ? Porter (KSU) fall Buck; 2:31 (40-6)
Liberty 24 The Citadel 21
125 ? Smith (LIB) dec. Sim, 6-4 (3-0)
133 ? Walters (LIB) dec. Leach, 3-2 (6-0)
141 ? Harner (LIB) fall Bullwinkel; 1:56 (12-0)
149 ? Duyn (CIT) fall Kelley; 3:59 (12-6)
157 ? Piccard (CIT) dec. Smith, 2-0 (12-9)
165 ? Porter (LIB) fall Filter; 4:35 (18-9)
174 ? Caldwell (CIT) fall Campbell; 2:12 (18-15)
184 ? Dickerson (CIT) fft. (18-21)
197 ? Moore (LIB) dec. Greene, 10-5 (21-21)
285 ? Walker (LIB) dec. Buck, 5-0 (24-21)
Wyoming 26 The Citadel 13
125 ? Ramirez (WYO) dec. Sim, 8-2 (3-0)
133 ? VomBaur (WYO) dec. Leach, 4-1 (6-0)
141 ? Desmond (WYO) maj. dec. Bullwinkel, 14-4 (10-0)
149 ? Downing (WYO) maj. dec. Duyn, 14-5 (14-0)
157 ? Piccard (CIT) maj. dec. Reider, 15-3 (14-4)
165 ? Morrow (WYO) maj. dec. Filter, 11-3 (18-4)
174 ? Bernal (WYO) maj. dec. Caldwell, 8-0 (22-4)
184 ? Dickerson (CIT) fft. (22-10)
197 ? Pavich (WYO) maj. dec. Greene, 10-2 (26-10)
285 ? Buck (CIT) dec. Still, 6-2 (26-13)
VMI 1-2
HAMPTON, Va.- After dropping their first two matches of the day while participating at the 27th Annual Virginia Duals, the VMI Wrestling team got back on the right track by posting a 34-15 win over Duquesne on Friday at the Hampton Coliseum. The win brings the Keydets’ record to 2-4 on the dual season.
After opening the tournament on Friday morning with a 37-6 loss to Rider, the Keydets faced a familiar foe in Virginia. Facing the Cavaliers for the sixth consecutive season, the Keydets took a 28-9 loss, sending them into a match with Duquesne, who had previously lost to Bloomsburg and North Dakota State.
Against Duquesne (2-8), the Keydets won seven of the ten matches, including three pins and a forfeit for their most convincing win of the season. In the match, junior Tommy Cunningham won his seventh consecutive bout, posting a 4-1 decision against Cody Midlam as he was the only Keydet to win each of his three matches on the day.
A forfeit at 125 lbs. gave the Keydets an early 6-0 advantage, but the Dukes cut into that lead with a 3-1 decision at 133 lbs., courtesy of Brad Cipriani. But VMI rebounded to win the next three matches, as freshman Brandon Franklin won a 15-5 major decision at 141, 20th-ranked senior Sam Alvarenga pinned his opponent in 1:18 at 149, and Cunningham won at 157. After a pin for Duquesne’s Rob Dempsey at 165, junior Dustin McCabe made the score 22-9 with a 5-3 decision at 174 over Scott Black. The team’s traded pins at 184 & 197, with Duquesne earning six points from Jared Ricotta at 184, and VMI senior Corry Murray turning the trick at 197. A pin by junior Erik Olson at heavyweight provided the final margin for the Keydets.
The Keydets kicked off the day by facing fourth-seeded Rider in the first round. After freshman Jonathan Pope dropped an 11-8 decision at 125, junior Tyler Anthony knotted the score at three by posting an 8-3 decision over Matt Bradley. But the Broncs went took control of the match by scoring a major decision at 141, as Don Fisch defeated Franklin 14-2, before Michael Kessler stunned Alvarenga at 149, defeating the VMI senior 7-0 in a rematch of the third-place match at this year’s Keystone Classic, where Alvarenga posted a 7-3 win over Kessler.
Cunningham made the score 10-6 in favor of Rider with his 11-6 decision at 157 against Rob Morrison, but the Broncs went on to win the final five matches, including three pins, a forfeit and a decision, to make the final score 37-6.
In the day’s second bout, the Keydets fell behind early to Virginia when freshman Lance Long was forced to retire due to an injury at 125 lbs, before Anthony fell 7-0 to Eric Albright at 133, where he is ranked tenth nationally. But the team rallied to take the next three matches, as Franklin, Alvarenga and Cunningham each won decisions to knot the score at nine midway through the match. Again, the Keydets could do no further damage in the upper weight classes, as the Cavaliers won the final five matches, including two major decisions, a technical fall and two decisions, to bring the tally to 28-9.
Rider 37, VMI 6
125 - Thomas Lorenzo (Rider) over Jonathan Pope (VMI) Dec 11-8
133 - Tyler Anthony (VMI) over Matt Bradley (Rider) Dec 8-3
141 - Don Fisch (Rider) over Brandon Franklin (VMI) Maj 14-2
149 - Michael Kessler (Rider) over Sam Alvarenga (VMI) Dec 7-0
157 - Tommy Cunningham (VMI) over Rob Morrison (Rider) Dec 11-6
165 - Dave Miller (Rider) over Vince Cole (VMI) Pin 3:40
174 - Doug Umbehauer (Rider) over Dustin McCabe (VMI) Dec 8-5
184 - Mike Miller (Rider) over Corry Murray (VMI) Pin 1:30
197 - T.J. Morrison (Rider) wins by forfeit
HWT - Peter Reid (Rider) over Eric Olson (VMI) Pin 1:28
Virginia 28, VMI 9
125 - Ross Gitomer (Virginia) over Lance Long (VMI) Inj
133 - Eric Albright (Virginia) over Tyler Anthony (VMI) Dec 7-0
141 - Brandon Franklin (VMI) over Kellon Balum (Virginia) Dec 8-5
149 - Sam Alvarenga (VMI) over Drew DiPasquale (Virginia) Dec 5-1
157 - Tommy Cunningham (VMI) over Beau Fisher (Virginia) Dec 3-0
165 - Mike Sewell (Virginia) over Vince Cole (VMI) Maj 11-3
174 - Mike Grogan (Virginia) over Dustin McCabe (VMI) Dec 3-1
184 - Rocco Caponi (Virginia) over Kyle Elgert (VMI) TF 15-0
197 - Kyle Narkiewicz (Virginia) over Corry Murray (VMI) Dec 8-7
HWT - Scott Smith (Virginia) over Eric Olson (VMI) Maj 12-0
VMI 34, Duquesne 15
125 - Jonathan Pope (VMI) wins by forfeit
133 - Brad Cipriani (Duquesne) over Tyler Anthony (VMI) Dec 3-1
141 - Brandon Franklin (VMI) over Jayk Cobbs (Duquesne) Maj 15-5
149 ? Sam Alvarenga (VMI) over Brandon Baldini (Duquesne) Pin 1:18
157 ? Tommy Cunningham (VMI) over Cody Midlam (Duquesne) Dec 4-1
165 ? Rob Dempsey (Duquesne) over Vince Cole (VMI) Pin 2:55
174 ? Dustin McCabe (VMI) over Scott Black (Duquesne) Dec 5-3
184 ? Jared Ricotta (Duquesne) over Kyle Elgert (VMI) Pin 2:26
197 ? Corry Murray (VMI) over Tim Frank (Duquesne) Pin 5:39
HWT ? Erik Olson (VMI) over Joseph D’orsie (Duquesne) Pin 2:49
Davidson Finishes 1-2 at Virginia Duals
HAMPTON, Va. - The Davidson Wildcats wrestling team concluded tournament action at the Virginia Duals with a 29-22 triumph over Anderson College on Saturday afternoon in Hampton, Va.
The Wildcats went 1-2 in the tournament over the weekend and now stand at 3-4 overall on the season.
Freshman Ben Altman opened the match for Davidson with a win by forfeit in the 125, and sophomore Chris Panfili followed at 133 pounds, needing just 41 seconds for the 'Cats first pin of the match.
Sandwiched between a couple of Anderson triumphs, senior Jim Avola earned a narrow 10-9 decision over Todd Selke at 149 pounds.
The Wildcats were forced to forfeit in the 165, but took the next three bouts. Reigning Southern Conference Player of the Week Marcus Boyd kept a perfect 3-0 record in tourney action with a 20-4 win by technical foul at 174 pounds.
Sophomore Kevin Cook got the 'Cats second pin of the match in the 184, before Freshman Mike Waters earned an 11-7 decision over Jared Skinner at 197.
The Wildcats return to action, hosting UNC Greensboro in conference action on Wed., Jan. 24 at 7 p.m.
Chattanooga 28, American 12
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- American University had defeated its last two wrestling opponents by a combined score of 103-0 Wednesday, but the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga wrestlers opened Friday’s dual with five straight victories and 16 consecutive points. The 17th-ranked Mocs won all but two matches for a 28-12 victory over the Eagles to move to 8-0 on the season.
The middle of UTC’s lineup came through for Head Coach Chris Bono. With the match beginning at 149 pounds, Aaron Martin started a run of five straight wins for the Mocs with his 4-0 victory over Damian Swietlik at 149. Martin, ranked 13th nationally, has not allowed an opponent point in his last three dual matches.
Jake Yost pushed the Mocs’ lead to 8-0 with a 17-2 technical fall over Jimmy Pepper at 157. Yost led 10-1 after one period and scored the tech fall at the 4:33 mark.
Wrestling in his first dual of the season, T.J. Sayers pulled off a 6-5 win over 17th-ranked Mike Cannon at 165. With the scored tied at 5-5, Sayers earned a point at the final buzzer with an escape. After a team point deduction, UTC held a 10-0 edge.
“We didn’t dominate tonight, and that is what we try to preach,” Bono said. “We are glad to be 8-0, but we will move on and focus on our next event. American wrestled tough. We certainly have some room for improvement.
“T.J. has a lot of heart. He was challenged before the match, and he came out and beat a ranked wrestler.”
The Mocs’ cushion increased to 16-0 after a 6-3 win by 18th-ranked Lloyd Rogers at 174 and an 11-7 decision from Josh Edmondson at 184.
The Eagles, 6-6, got on the scoreboard at the two heaviest weights, and both came by falls within the last 35 seconds of each match. Ninth-ranked Josh Glenn, on the verge of scoring a major decision over Mike Marable at 197, recorded the pin with two seconds left in the match. In perhaps the match of the dual, UTC’s Mat Koz and American’s Adam LoPiccolo, ranked sixth nationally, were knotted at 7-7 in the final period of the 285-pound match. LoPiccolo picked up his 27th victory of the season after pinning Koz at 6:26 and cutting UTC’s lead to 16-12.
The Mocs closed out the match with victories at 125, 133 and 141. Javier Maldonado, ranked 15th, defeated Jasen Borshoff at 125, 6-2 and sixth-ranked Matt Keller registered a 10-4 win over Jordan Lipp for a 22-12 UTC lead. American’s Kyle Borshoff was unable to wrestle Michael Keefe at 141 because of an injury, handing the Mocs their final six points of the dual.
UTC will travel to Mount Pleasant, Mich., next Sunday to participate in the Central Michigan Tournament at Central Michigan University.
No. 17 Chattanooga 28, American University 12
149 ? No. 13 Aaron Martin (UTC) dec. Damian Swietlik (AU), 4-0 3-0
157 ? Jake Yost (UTC) tech. fall Jimmy Pepper (AU), 17-2 4:33 8-0
165 ? T.J. Sayers (UTC) dec. No. 17 Mike Cannon (AU), 6-5 10-0*
174 ? No. 18 Lloyd Rogers (UTC) dec. Rudy Rueda (AU), 6-3 13-0
184 ? Josh Edmondson (UTC) dec. Anthony Fuschino (AU), 11-7 16-0
197 ? No. 9 Josh Glenn (AU) pinned Mike Marable (UTC), 6:58 16-6
285 ? No. 6 Adam LoPiccolo (AU) pinned Mat Koz (UTC), 6:26 16-12
125 ? No. 15 Javier Maldonado (UTC) dec. Jasen Borshoff (AU), 6-2 19-12
133 ? No. 6 Matt Keller (UTC) dec. Jordan Lipp (AU), 10-4 22-12
141 ? No. 14 Michael Keefe (UTC) by forfeit Kyle Borshoff (AU) 28-12
(*one team point deduction)