VMI 21, Davidson 20
LEXINGTON, Va. – The Virginia Military Institute’s wrestling team took a 21-20 win against Davidson on Friday, getting a major decision in the final bout to rally for the win.
After a late rally by Davidson Wildcats, it all came down to the heavyweights. VMI’s Juan Adams was pitted against Davidson’s Ed Isola and tasked with not just getting a win, but a major decision.
And the Keydet came through in the clutch.
With VMI trailing its longtime Southern Conference nemesis Davidson 20-17 headed into the 10th and final bout Friday night at The Thunderdome, the Keydets needed at least a major decision from its heavyweight, and Adams, who improved to 12-6 on the season, did so in dominant fashion, getting a 14-2 win over Isola to secure VMI’s 69th win over the Wildcats in program history.
Adams, who weighed in near the 285 pound limit, scored four takedowns against Isola, who gave up more than 50 pounds to Adams. The Keydet picked up three nearfall points at the end of the match to secure the major decision, in addition to nearly three minutes of riding time.
Both teams won five matches during the night, with the first five bouts going back and forth as VMI (3-11, 1-2 SoCon) won the first, third and fifth matches before a 10-minute intermission after 157 pounds. The Keydets won at 165 pounds as well, the first time a team won back-to-back matches at The Thunderdome Friday night. Through six matches, VMI held a 17-6 edge on Davidson.
But the Wildcats (4-8, 0-2 SoCon) reeled off three straight wins at 174, 184 and 197 pounds to surge past VMI and grab a 20-17 lead, winning 174 pounds by fall and getting a technical fall at 197 pounds, added to a sudden victory at 184 pounds.
VMI got its night off to a strong start as Dalton Henderson notched a takedown of Philip Elias just five seconds into the 125 pound bout. After Elias hit a reversal, Henderson scored one of his own, setting up a first-period pin for the Keydet, his second straight win by fall, giving VMI a 6-0 edge.
Davidson got justice from Elias’ brother, Anthony, at 133 pounds, as the Wildcat bested Michael Flora 9-2, scoring six of his eight points in the third period with an escape, takedown and three nearfall points.
Emmitt Kelly helped the Keydets bounce back with a major decision at 141 pounds, scoring four takedowns in the seven-minute match, with two coming in the final two minutes. His opponent, James McCord, got an escape, but Kelly had also amassed nearly two minutes of riding time to get the eight-point difference and four team points on the board.
Once again, Davidson bounced back with the first of two sudden victories during the dual. VMI’s Shabaka Johns was down 6-3 at the end of the first period after his opponent, Kevin Birmingham, scored a takedown, two nearfall points and a reversal with five seconds left, compared to Johns’ escape and takedown.
Johns started the second period on top as Birmingham earned an escape 15 seconds into the stanza to go up 7-3. After a minute and a half of scoreless wrestling, Johns logged a takedown with 16 seconds left to pull within two points of Birmingham’s lead, 7-5, headed into the third. The final period of regulation started neutral, and a minute later, Johns scored a takedown to tie the bout 7-7. Birmingham scored a takedown later in the first sudden-victory period to get the 9-7 win and three team points.
VMI got the final win before the intermission, during which the team honored several of the programs alumni, as Ted Gottwald posted a 4-3 win over Nick Pappayliou. The Wildcat took Gottwald to the mat midway through the first period, but Gottwald escaped to make it a 2-1 at the end of the opening period. VMI’s Three-Legged Stool award winner got a quick escape in the second period to level the bout 2-2, ending the second period.
Pappayliou started the third stanza on bottom and got an escape nine seconds later to go up 3-2 on Gottwald. But once in neutral, the Keydet got a takedown with 1:10 left in the period to go up 4-3. Toward the end of the match, Gottwald was nearly reversed but held on to stay neutral and secure the win.
After the intermission, VMI got back to its winning ways as Mark Darr utilized nine takedowns of Patrick Devlin en route to a 19-8 major decision. Darr’s bonus points would prove to be crucial down the stretch for the Keydets.
Davidson started its rally with a win by fall at 174 pounds as Nathaniel Powers pinned VMI’s Derek Thurman in 1:56. The 184-pound bout was another close affair, as Davidson’s Ian Solcz topped Hardy Hendren 3-1 in sudden victory.
After a scoreless first period, Solcz kicked of the second on bottom, earning the escape seven seconds in to take a 1-0 lead and score the only point of the period. Likewise, Hendren started the third on bottom, getting his escape 14 seconds in to tie the match 1-1. But Solcz used a takedown with 22 seconds left in sudden victory to earn the 3-1 win and set up his 197-pound teammate.
In the penultimate bout, Scott Patrick logged a 22-4 technical fall against VMI’s Andrew Embree to push the Davidson lead to 20-17, setting up the drama for the final match of the night.
VMI returns to action Wednesday night in Durham, N.C., as the Keydets take on Duke University. Action is set for 7 p.m. at Car Gymnasium.
Davidson will return to Belk Arena on Sunday afternoon to host SoCon foe The Citadel at 1 p.m., followed by a dual with Franklin & Marshall.
VMI 21, Davidson 20
125: Dalton Henderson (VMI) WBF Philip Elias (DC) 2:13 (6-0)
133: Anthony Elias (DC) DEC Michael Flora (VMI) 9-2 (6-3)
141: Emmitt Kelly (VMI) MAJ DEC James McCord (DC) 9-1 (10-3)
149: Kevin Birmingham (DC) SV-1 Shabaka Johns (VMI) 9-7 (10-6)
157: Ted Gottwald (VMI) DEC Nick Pappayliou (DC) 4-3 (13-6)
165: Mark Darr (VMI) MAJ DEC Patrick Devlin (DC) 19-8 (17-6)
174: Nathaniel Powers (DC) WBF Derek Thurman (VMI) 1:56 (17-12)
184: Ian Solcz (DC) SV-1 Hardy Hendren (VMI) 3-1 (17-15)
197: Scott Patrick (DC) TECH FALL Andrew Embree (VMI) 22-4 (7:00) (17-20)
285: Juan Adams (VMI) MAJ DEC Ed Isola (DC) 14-2 (21-20)
NC State 34, Campbell 10
RALEIGH, N.C. – Campbell suffered its first loss of the season, 34-10 to NC State on Friday night in Reynolds Coliseum. Paul Duggan registered a major decision at 165 pounds to lead the Camels, who moved to 3-1 on the year.
The competition started at 141 pounds, as three ranked Wolfpack grapplers registered wins to start 15-0.
No. 25 Sam Speno defeated Michael Dahlstrom 17-6 at 141 pounds to give NC State the six-point advantage. At the 149-pound spot, No. 26 Brian Hamann earned the first Wolfpack pin of the night, over Collin Munson in 1:54. No. 18 Tommy Gantt followed with a 17-1 tech fall over Grant Blumenthal at 157 pounds.
Paul Duggan notched the first Camel win of the night, earning four points with a 10-2 major decision over Max Rohskopf at 165 pounds.
The Wolfpack answered with a win at 174, as No. 20 Pete Renda pinned Cody Ryba in 3:56.
Ville Heino remained perfect on the year, moving to 4-0 after edging Shayne Brady 8-7 at 187 pounds. He is the only Camel with four wins to date.
In the heavyweight bout, No. 5 Nick Gwiazdowski earned a 14-6 major decision over CU's only ranked wrestler, Eloheim Palma.
Tyler Walker picked up his third win and kept an unblemished record at 125 pounds after grabbing the 11-8 decision over Micha Perez, for the final Camel win of the night.
In the final bout, Chris Wilkes pinned Drew Walker in 6:59 at 133 pounds.
The Camels return to Buies Creek for a four-match homestand beginning Saturday, Feb. 1, at 5:30 p.m. against SoCon foe Davidson.
NC State 34, Campbell 10
141: #25 Sam Speno (NCSU) major dec. Michael Dahlstrom; 17-6 (4-0)
149: #26 Brian Hamann (NCSU) fall Collin Munson; 1:54 (10-0)
157: #18 Tommy Gantt (NCSU) technical fall Grant Blumenthal; 17-1 (15-0)
165: Paul Duggan (Campbell) major dec. Max Rohskopf; 10-2 (15-4)
174: #20 Pete Renda (NCSU) fall Cody Ryba; 3:57 (21-4)
184: Ville Heino (Campebell) dec. Shayne Brady; 8-7 (21-7)
197: KaRonne Jones (NCSU) dec. Taylor McGiffen; 5-3 (SV1) (24-7)
285: #5 Nick Gwiazdowski (NCSU) major dec. #27 Eloheim Palma; 14-6 (28-7)
125: Tyler Walker (Campbell) dec. Micah Perez; 11-8 (28-10)
133: Chris Wilkes (NCSU) fall Drew Walker; 6:59 (34-10)