Wrestling Southern Conference

Chattanooga and VMI Picked Up SoCon Victories on Sunday

VMI 25, Davidson 19

DAVIDSON, N.C. -- VMI heavyweight Scott Buhman scored the deciding victory for the second straight match, helping the visiting Keydets (4-5, 2-1 Southern Conference) to a thrilling 25-19 victory over Davidson (3-8, 0-3) on Sunday afternoon at Belk Arena.

 

The Wildcats entered the final bout trailing by two points, 21-19, when they sent sophomore Wil Carter, who had not wrestled all season due to an injury, to the mats at heavyweight. His task was to subdue Buhman, who had 20 wins already this season and in his last bout earned an overtime victory against Appalachian State to finish a four-point win. Buhman built up a 4-0 lead in the second period when Carter, giving at least 25 pounds, pulled off a reversal. But that was as close as it would get as Buhman pulled away for a major decision, 11-2, finishing the match.

 

The afternoon began well for Davidson as freshman Ben Altman scored a technical fall at 125. Following a VMI major decision at 133, senior Jim Avola registered his sixth pin of the season at 141, giving the 'Cats an 11-4 lead.

 

The Keydets came right back at 149 with a pin of their own by Sam Alvarenga for his 25th win of the season. Tommy Cunningham then recorded a major decision at 157, 10-2, against Davidson's Ben Graham, also taking the mat for the first time this year.

 

Facing their first deficit of the day at 14-11, the Wildcats turned to junior Trebor Clavette at 165. He came one point shy of a technical fall in his 15-1 major decision, helping Davidson retake the lead, 15-14.

 

VMI came up with a major decision at 174 before Wildcat sophomore Sam O'Hair returned the favor at 184, 13-0. But the Keydets got a 9-3 decision at 197 by Corry Murray, setting up the bout between Buhman and Carter.

 

Although the Wildcats wrestled at every weight class for the first time this year, they were without the services of their leading wrestler, 174-pounder Marcus Boyd, for the third straight match. Coach Bob Patnesky expects to have him back for Davidson's next meet on Saturday, Feb. 3 at Anderson (S.C.) against the host school and Belmont Abbey at 2 p.m.

 

"Having Marcus could have been the difference in the match," Coach Patnesky stated afterwards. "But we knew what we needed to do only to come up just short. Our guys wrestled their tails off today, and being able to wrestle at every weight again bodes well for the rest of the season."

VMI wrestles again next Saturday as well, but in Colorado Springs as the Keydets participate in the All-Academy Championships, starting at 11 a.m.

 

VMI 25, Davidson 19

125 ? Ben Altman (DAV) tech. fall over Jonathan Pope, 17-1 (5:00);
DAV 5, VMI 0
133 ? Tyler Anthony (VMI) major dec. Chris Panfili (DAV), 10-2;
DAV 5, VMI 4
141 ? Jim Avola (DAV) pinned Brandon Franklin (VMI), 2:13;
DAV 11, VMI 4
149 ? Sam Alvarenga (VMI) pinned Scott Matthews (DAV), 1:08;
DAV 11, VMI 10
157 ? Tommy Cunningham (VMI) major dec. Ben Graham (DAV), 10-2;
DAV 11, VMI 14
165 ? Trebor Clavette (DAV) major dec. Vince Cole (VMI), 15-1;
DAV 15, VMI 14
174 ? Dustin McCabe (VMI) major dec. Kevin Cook (DAV), 11-3;
DAV 15, VMI 18
184 ? Sam O’Hair (DAV) major dec. Kyle Elgert (VMI), 13-0;
DAV 19, VMI 18
197 ? Corry Murray (VMI) dec. Mike Waters (DAV), 9-3;
DAV 19, VMI 21
HWT ? Scott Buhman (VMI) major dec. Wil Carter (DAV), 11-2;
DAV 19, VMI 25

 

 

 

Chattanooga 35, Appalachian State 3

BOONE--Appalachian State fell to 4-15 and 0-3 in the Southern Conference with a 35-3 home loss to No. 18 Chattanooga, the defending conference champions.

Neal Martin (174 pounds) scored the only win for the Mountaineers with a 6-0 decision over No. 16 Lloyd Rogers, who entered the day with a 24-8 record and 11-2 dual mark. Martin’s two-point near fall in the second period propelled him to the victory in the match. Martin improves to 23-13 on the season and 2-1 in conference.

In the most anticipated matchup of the day, the Mocs’ Aaron Martin eked out a 5-4 overtime victory over ASU’s Scott Ervin at 149 pounds. Martin and Ervin came into the match ranked No. 14 and No. 15 respectively in the most recent NWCA/Intermat poll and were deadlocked at three points each heading into overtime. In the extra period, Martin scored a two-point reversal to take the lead, and Ervin could only muster a one-point escape as the Moc took the battle of the aces. The loss snapped Ervin's 14-match dual winning streak dating back to last year and spoiled his perfect dual season. Ervin is 19-3 overall and 12-1 in duals.

ASU had two other matches where they had a chance to earn points but lost by slim margins. In the first match of the afternoon, Dave Hazell lost on riding time to No. 20 Matt Koz, 2-1. Eddie Hutchinson fell to Jake Yost, 3-2, and UTC’s T.J. Sayers was able to use a third-period escape and riding time to defeat Tommy Hutchinson, 2-0.

Appalachian continues the SoCon schedule on Feb. 7. The Mountaineers will travel to Davidson to take on the Wildcats at 7 p.m.

Chattanooga 35, Appalachian State 3
Jan. 28, 2007
HWT Matt Koz (UTC) dec. Dave Hazell (ASU) 2-1, 3-0 UTC
125 Javier Maldonado (UTC) tech. fall Brody Essick (ASU) 17-2, 8-0
133 Matt Keller (UTC) tech. fall Frank Celorrio (ASU) 15-0, 13-0
141 Josh Keefe (UTC) dec. Clinton Swango (ASU) 6-1, 16-0
149 Aaron Martin (UTC) dec. Scott Ervin (ASU) 5-4 OT, 19-0
157 Jake Yost (UTC) dec. Eddie Hutchinson (ASU) 3-2, 22-0
165 T.J. Sayers (UTC) dec. Tommy Hutchinson (ASU) 2-0, 25-0
174 Neal Martin (ASU) dec. Lloyd Rogers (UTC) 6-0, 25-3
184 Josh Edmondson (UTC) maj. dec. Dan Carrasco (ASU) 15-3, 29-3
197 Nick Lorenzano (UTC) pinned Brandon Brothers (ASU) 1:28, 35-3