VMI 21, Appalachian State 17
LEXINGTON, Va.- It seems like whenever VMI and Appalachian State meet in a Southern Conference dual on the mats, a classic match ensues. Thursday night’s clash was no different, as overtime was needed in the final match of the night before VMI claimed the 21-17 victory on Senior night at the Thunderdome.
Appalachian State (4-14, 0-2 SoCon) managed a pin and a technical fall in back-to-back matches to take a 17-9 victory with three matches remaining, but the Keydets (3-5, 1-1 SoCon) won each of the final three contests to claim their first Conference victory of the season.
The night began at 125 lbs., where ASU’s Brody Essick claimed a 10-3 decision to give the Mountaineers the early 3-0 advantage. VMI’s Tyler Anthony squared the match at three at 133 lbs., scoring a 7-2 decision over Frank Celorrio, who was wrestling up a weight.
The Keydets took a brief 6-3 lead with a win by Brandon Franklin at 141 lbs. against ASU’s Clinton Swango. After a hard-fought, though scoreless first period, Franklin took a 1-0 lead thanks to an escape 20 seconds into the second period. Franklin went up 3-0 with 45 seconds remaining in the second with a takedown. Swango could only manage an escape in the third, as the match ended at 3-1.
The most-hyped match of the evening did not disappoint, as it matched VMI senior Sam Alvarenga against ASU’s #15 ranked junior Scott Ervin at 149 lbs. Ervin took a 1-0 advantage 15 seconds into the second period, and advanced the margin to 3-0 just past midway in the second period thanks to a takedown. That is how they began the third period, with both wrestlers in the neutral position. Alvarenga cut the advantage to 3-2 just 30 seconds in with a takedown, then gave Ervin a free escape to push the margin to 4-2. Needing a takedown to tie the match as time wound down, Alvarenga was unable to generate any offense, as Ervin was awarded a late two to provide the final margin at 6-2, knotting the match at six.
Tommy Cunningham again put the Keydets up three with his 6-0 decision at 157 over Eddie Hutchinson. But the match turned at 165, as Eddie Hutchinson scored the lone pin of the match, earning the six with just one second remaining in the first period to put the visitors up 12-9.
The Mountaineers grabbed their largest lead of the night one match later, with Neal Martin improving to 22-13 with his technical fall victory at 174 against Randy Phillips. Martin, who had a 13-pound advantage on Phillips, was unable to secure a pin, as Phillips kept fighting until the 6:17 mark, when Martin led 20-2.
The Keydets got the ball rolling from there. Dustin McCabe cut the score to 17-12 with an 8-3 decision against Dan Carrasco, while Corry Murray, wrestling his final match at the Thunderdome, came out gunning in his 197 lb. match against Brandon Brothers. Murray led 7-2 going to the second period, but pinned Brothers at the 3:32 mark to give the Keydets the lead at 18-17 headed to the finale.
There, VMI senior Scott Buhman faced off with ASU senior Dave Hazell. After a scoreless first period, Hazell moved on top 1-0 in the second period, while Buhman returned the favor to tie the match three seconds into the third period. Neither wrestler netted more points in regulation, as the match went to overtime. No points were scored in the one-minute, sudden-death period, so the match went to dual, 30 second periods. Buhman began on top in the first session, and though Hazell nearly managed to break free 15 seconds in, Buhman managed to hang on to an ankle and not allow the escape. Buhman then escaped only three seconds into the final session, and avoided giving up the takedown to send the jubilant Thunderdome crowd into a frenzy, securing the 21-17 victory for the Keydets.
VMI returns to action on Sunday afternoon, as they continue their SoCon slate at Davidson at 1 p.m. The Mountaineers also hit the mats again on Sunday afternoon, hosting Chattanooga at 2 p.m.
VMI 21, Appalachian State, 17
125- Brody Essick (ASU) dec. Jonathan Pope (VMI),10-3 ; ASU 3-0
133- Tyler Anthony (VMI) dec. Frank Celorrio (ASU),7-2 ; Tied 3-3
141- Brandon Franklin (VMI) dec. Clinton Swango (ASU), 3-1; VMI 6-3
149- Scott Ervin (ASU) dec. Sam Alvarenga (VMI), 6-2; Tied 6-6
157- Tommy Cunningham (VMI) dec. Eddie Hutchinson (ASU), 6-0 ; VMI 9-6
165- Tommy Hutchinson (ASU) pins John Burton (VMI), 2:59; ASU 12-9
174- Neal Martin (ASU) tech. fall Randy Phillips (VMI), 20-2 (6:17); ASU 17-9
184- Dustin McCabe (VMI) dec. Dan Carrasco (ASU), 8-3; ASU 17-12
197- Corry Murray (VMI) pins Brandon Brothers (ASU),3:32 ; VMI 18-17
285- Scott Buhman (VMI) dec. Dave Hazell (ASU), 2-1 (OT1); VMI 21-17