Gardner-Webb 29, VMI 12

LEXINGTON, Va. – Gardner-Webb picked up three major decisions, a technical fall and a pin Wednesday night to key a 29-12 win at VMI in the season’s Southern Conference opener.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs (4-7, 1-0 SoCon) got off to a strong start, getting back-to-back wins at 133 pounds from Robbie Golde (6-2) and at 141 pounds from Ryan Mosley (14-5) – with Mosley’s win coming via major decision.

The Keydets rebounded with a 6-1 win by Shabaka Johns over Cole Graves at 149, but Kyle Ash took a 10-6 win at 157 pounds over Edward Gottwald to spark a three-match streak that put the ‘Dogs up 21-3 in team scoring after Brett Stein capped the run with a pin of Tim Davison (2:54).

Boyce Cornwell took a 20-8 major decision over Andrew Embree at 197 pounds and Cortez Stokes wrapped up the win with a 9-1 major decision victory over Dalton Henderson in the night’s final individual bout.

Gardner-Webb will continue SoCon action after exams, traveling to face Chattanooga on Monday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m.

VMI will head to Indiana University’s Hoosier Duals this weekend. The Keydets face five opponents from all stretches of the country, kicking things off with conference foe SIUE at 10 a.m. on Saturday. VMI will also face West Virginia (12 p.m.) and Indiana (2 p.m.) on Saturday. Action rounds out on Sunday with Northern Colorado (11 a.m.) and Drexel (1 p.m.).

Gardner-Webb 29, VMI 12
133: Robbie Golde (GWU) DEC Mike Flora (VMI) 6-2 (0-3)
141: Ryan Mosley (GWU) MAJ DEC Joe Jarrells (VMI)14-5 (0-7)
149: Shabaka Johns (VMI) DEC Cole Graves (GWU) 6-1 (3-7)
157: Kyle Ash (GWU) SV-1 DEC Ted Gottwald (VMI) 10-6 (3-10)
165: Austin Trott (GWU) TECH FALL Mark Darr (VMI) 17-0 (3:35) (3-15)
174: Brett Stein (GWU) WBF Timmy Davison (VMI) 2:54 (3-21)
184: Hardy Hendren (VMI) DEC Aaron Rabin (GWU) 3-2 (6-21)
197: Boyce Cornwell (GWU) MAJ DEC Andrew Embree (VMI) 20-8 (6-25)
285: Juan Adams (VMI) Wins by FORFEIT (12-25)
125: Cortez Starkes (GWU) MAJ DEC Dalton Henderson (VMI) 9-1 (12-29)