Wrestling Southern Conference

VMI Wrestling Falls to North Carolina

No. 24 North Carolina 28, VMI

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The Virginia Military Institute traveled to Chapel Hill, N.C., to face the Tar Heels of the University of North Carolina Friday night at Carmichael Auditorium. UNC, currently ranked 24th in the country, defeated VMI 28-9.

A trio of Keydets claimed victory, helping VMI grab a 6-5 advantage through three matches in. But the Tar Heels (6-6) won six of the next seven bouts, including four by major decision or technical fall.

After dropping the 184-pound match by tech fall, VMI (1-12) surged and won the next bouts by decision. Urayoan Garcia, the Keydets’ 197-pounder, edged UNC’s Frank Abbondanza 9-3, thanks in part to three near fall points late in the goings.

In the heavyweight division, Michael LaPrade logged his second win in three matches with a 3-1 decision, giving the Keydets another three team points and a narrow 6-5 lead. After a scoreless first period, LaPrade found himself down 1-0 as Cody Klempay opted for the down position and escaped.

In the third period, LaPrade, down a point, chose down and likewise managed an escape. Deadlocked at 1-1, LaPrade scored a late takedown for the win.

But the match soon shifted back to the Tar Heels’ side of the mat as North Carolina ran off two wins by major decision at 125 and 133 pounds.

Down but not out, VMI’s surging 141-pound grappler, Ryan Goodsell, who has won seven matches since the new year began, picked up the Keydets’ final win of the night. After UNC’s Pat Owen and Goodsell and were tied 1-1, each scoring an escape in the second and third periods, respectively, Goodsell used a takedown in the first sudden victory stanza to collect the win.

UNC won the final four bouts of the night, including a pair that included bonus points.

The Keydets are idle the rest of the weekend but return to the friendly confines of Cocke Hall for a Southern Conference battle with heated rival The Citadel next Friday at 7:30 p.m.

No. 24 North Carolina 28, VMI 9
184: Alex Utley (UNC) TECH FALL Hardy Hendren (VMI) 17-2 3:00 (5-0)
197: Urayoan Garcia (VMI) DEC Frank Abbondanza (UNC) 9-3 (5-3)
285: Michael LaPrade (VMI) DEC Cody Klemplay (UNC) 3-1 (5-6)
125: Brian Bokoski (UNC) MAJ DEC Armando Herrera (VMI) 13-5 (9-6)
133: Joey Ward (UNC) MAJ DEC Andriy Onufriyenko (VMI) 17-4 (13-6)
141: Ryan Goodsell (VMI) SV-1 Pat Owens (UNC) 3-1 (13-9)
149: Christian Barber (UNC) DEC Zeb Stewart (VMI) 6-0 (16-9)
157: Chris Mears (UNC) MAJ DEC Ted Gottwald (VMI) 14-6 (20-9)
165: John Staudenmayer (UNC) TECH FALL Mark Darr (VMI) 17-2 (25-9)
174: Tanner Eitel (UNC) DEC John Dommert (VMI) 10-3 (28-9