VMI 30, Davidson 9

LEXINGTON, Va. - The Keydets of VMI wrestling snapped a five-match losing skid on Thursday night, collecting the team's first Southern Conference win of the season, knocking off winless Davidson 30-9.

It was a packed house at The Thunderdome, filling every section of seating and the upper track ringed with cadets.

"It was a great atmosphere here tonight. First of all, I'd like to thank the Corps for coming out to the match," said VMI head man John Trudgeon, who guided his team to its third straight win over Davidson. "It's a great venue when they (the Corps) are here. I'm certainly appreciative of them coming out and support the wrestling team.

The match began at 285, but the Wildcats (0-7, 0-2 SoCon) forfeited the weight class, followed by a VMI (2-5, 1-1 SoCon) forfeit at 125 pounds. The Keydets built their lead winning four straight matches (133, 141, 149, 157) followed by wins in the final three bouts of the night.

"The last two outings we've had, we really stepped up the competition," said Trudgeon, referring to the Mat Town USA Invitational and the Pitt Duals. "It was tough, we had some good performances but some of those matches we just didn't find a way to win and we found a way to win tonight."

Things went VMI's way early and the Keydets never relented, beginning at 133 pounds with Ryan Goodsell's narrow 7-5 decision over Anthony Elias to break a 6-6 tie and put the Keydets up 9-6. Goodsell benefitted in the match from over three minutes of riding time to earn the extra point.

The Keydets continued to roll at 141 pounds as Zeb Stewart notched an 8-3 victory over Kevin Birmingham. At 149 pounds, David Yost put up the Keydets' first bonus points of the evening, controlling the Wildcats' Scott Ray 13-1. Michael Burnett kept things going at 157 pounds with his first major decision of the season with a 9-0 blanking of CT Talevi.

After dropping the 165 pound match, VMI bounced back with a surprising 11-0 victory from Matthew Brock, who logged his 20th win of the season. Of his 20 victories, 16 have been by decision, including his previous 10 wins before tonight. It is the most points Brock has scored all season, coming at the expense of Ike Crews.

VMI got another double-digit point total at 184 pounds from John Dommert, who wrestled down a weight class to replace the injured Conor Black. Dommert held his own, collecting a 10-4 win over Ian Soclz, giving Dommert his first win at 184 pounds since the season-opening Hokie Open on Nov. 6.

Stepping onto the mat for the first time for VMI, 197-pounder Urayoan Garcia got his career of with a close call. In the final 30 seconds of his match with Ed Isola, Garcia gave up an escape and a takedown, resulting in an 8-8 tie.

But the Keydet had stockpiled over three minutes of riding time and was awarded one final point and his first victory for VMI.

Reversals were crucial for VMI on Friday, logging seven throughout the match, including a pair from Dommert. The only weight classes VMI did not tally a reversal in were 149 and 174 pounds.
The Keydets have a short resting period before heading to Fairfax, Va. to clash with George Mason and Cleveland State at the Patriot Duals. VMI is slated to open with Mason at 9 a.m. and Cleveland State at 10:30 a.m. Both matches will be contested in George Mason's Recreation Athletic Complex.

Agate:
VMI (2-5, 1-1 SoCon) - 30
Davidson (0-7, 0-2 SoCon) - 9
Attendance: 562
Match Began at 285 Pounds
Bout-by-Bout Winner def. Loser Type Score - Running Score: (VMI-EMU)
285 - Andrew Embree (VMI) Wins by Forfeit (6-0)
125 - Phillip Elias (DC) Wins by Forfeit (6-6)
133 - Ryan Goodsell (VMI) def. Matt Zarth (DC) Dec. 7-5 (9-6)
141 - Zeb Stewart (VMI) def. Kevin Birmingham (DC) Dec. 8-3 (12-6)
149 - David Yost (VMI) def. Scott Ray (DC) Major Dec. 13-1 (16-6)
157 - Michael Burnett (VMI) def. CT Talevi (DC) Major Dec. 9-0 (20-6)
165 - Tyler Mullen (DC) def. Carry Joseph (VMI) Dec. 4-2 (20-9)
174 - Matthew Brock (VMI) def. Ike Crews (DC) Major Dec. 11-0 (24-9)
184 - John Dommert (VMI) def. Ian Soclz (DC) Dec. 10-4 (27-9)
197 - Urayoan Garcia (VMI) def. Ed Isola (DC) Dec. 9-8 (30-9)

 

SIUE 33, Central Missouri 12

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Dillon Pousson's first-period pin was SIUE's biggest win on the mat as the Cougars dominated Central Missouri 33-12 in college wrestling at the Vadalabene Center.

SIUE Head Coach David Ray said momentum carried the Cougars.

"It really starts with Logun Taylor in the exhibition match," said Ray. Taylor was a 10-8 winner in an exhibition match before the official meet. Ray said it sets up a mentality that no one wants to be the first to lose.

SIUE and Central Missouri each forfeited two weight classes. The Cougars would go on to win all six of the contested matches.

Brendan Murphy picked up SIUE early with a 6-2 win over Paul Vitersi at 141 pounds. Pousson, who had run up a 10-1 lead, followed with his pin in 2 minutes, 27 seconds over David Nicolaescu.

Steve Ross kept the momentum going at 157 pounds with a convincing 13-6 win over Russell Naylor. Gabe Hocum and Deshoun White also added victories at 174 and 184 pounds, respectively. White is now on a five-match winning streak.

"Honestly, we did a lot better than I expected. I didn't think we would win all of the matches we were going to wrestle. Most every match I though we controlled the tempo of the match," Ray said.

The Cougars now travel to the Central Missouri Denker Open. The tournament begins Sunday in Warrensburg, Mo.

"It was a good confidence builder for us," Ray said of Thursday's match.

SIUE 33 Central Missouri 12
285 - Cole Rogers (SIUE) won by forfeit
125 - Ty Balty (Central Missouri) won by forfeit
133 - Eric Mateo (Central Missouri) won by forfeit
141 - Brendan Murphy (SIUE) won by decision over Paul Viterisi (Central Missouri) 6-2
149 - Dillon Pousson (SIUE) won by pin over David Nicolaescu (Central Missouri) 2:27
157 - Steven Ross (SIUE) won by decision over Russell Naylor (Central Missouri) 13-6
165 - Alex Davis (SIUE) won by forfeit
174 - Gabe Hocum (SIUE) won by decision over William Ressel (Central Missouri) 3-2
184 - Deshoun White (SIUE) won by decision over Travis Miller (Central Missouri) 7-1
197 - Cole Brandt (SIUE) won by decision over Derick Sanders (Central Missouri) 6-1