VMI downs Sacred Heart
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Winning the first four matches of the day helped lead the Virginia Military Institute wrestling team to a nonconference road win Sunday evening as the Keydets bested host Sacred Heart University 33-9.
The VMI win at the William H. Pitt Center gave the Keydets their first nonconference win on the road since Jan. 26, 2012, when VMI topped Millersville 24-13. The win also snapped a six-match skid for the Keydets.
On the day, the Keydets (2-9) won eight of the 10 matches in the first-ever meeting on the mat with Sacred Heart. Of those wins, three were by fall, accounting for 18 of VMI’s 33 team points.
VMI got momentum early as freshman Dalton Henderson locked up six team points in the first match of the day at 125 pounds. The rookie pinned Sacred Heart’s Joe Harris just before the second period expired, sticking the Pioneer in 4:57.
Momentum stayed on the Keydets’ side of the mat as Michael Flora earned a 3-0 decision over Kyle Brady to extend VMI’s lead to 9-0. Coming back from an injury, Emmitt Kelly got his first win of the New Year with a 5-1 win over Andrew Polidore at 141 pounds.
The Keydets cashed in another three points at 149 pounds as Shabaka Johns bested Brendan Goldup 6-2, putting VMI on top 15-0. The Keydets suffered their first loss of the day at 157 pounds as Ted Gottwald was edged 2-1, sending the match into an intermission with VMI leading 15-3.
Following the break, VMI got back to its winning ways as Mark Darr used takedowns and escapes early in the match to build his six points. Those points came up big as he held off a rally by Jon Scheidegger, giving the Keydet a 6-5 win and VMI an 18-3 lead through six weights.
At 174 pounds, VMI’s Derek Thurman got his first dual-match victory of the season as he bested Johnny Vrasidas 10-4. The victory ended a seven-match slide for Thurman, whose last win came on Nov. 3 at the Clarion Open.
In the next weight class, VMI’s Hardy Hendren was pinned in the third period, opening the door for a Sacred Heart comeback bid. But at 197 pounds, Keydet Andrew Embree shut that door with a win by fall over Sam Morison in 5:16, giving VMI an insurmountable 27-9 lead heading to the heavyweight bout.
Juan Adams wasted no time ending his heavyweight match as the team’s wins leader improved to 10-5 with a first-period pin of the Nick Lupi, finishing the fall at 2:07.
VMI returns home to The Thunderdome on Jan. 17 with a Southern Conference match against Campbell University. VMI’s first action in Lexington, Va., since Dec. 4 begins in Cocke Hall at 7:30 p.m.
VMI 33, Sacred Heart 9
125: Dalton Henderson (VMI) WBF Joe Harris (SHU) 4:57 (6-0)
133: Michael Flora (VMI) DEC Kyle Brady (SHU) 3-0 (9-0)
141: Emmitt Kelly (VMI) DEC Andrew Polidore (SHU) 5-1 (12-0)
149: Shabaka Johns (VMI) DEC Brendan Goldup (SHU) 6-2 (15-0)
157: Casey Mitchell (SHU) DEC Ted Gottwald (VMI) 2-1 (15-3)
165: Mark Darr (VMI) DEC Jon Scheidegger (SHU) 6-5 (18-3)
174: Derek Thurman (VMI) DEC Johnny Vrasidas (SHU) 10-4 (21-3)
184: Zach Moran (SHU) WBF Hardy Hendren (VMI) 5:34 (21-9)
197: Andrew Embree (VMI) WBF Sam Morison (SHU) 5:16 (27-9)
285: Juan Adams (VMI) WBF Nick Lupi (SHU) 2:07 (33-9)
Gardner-Webb tops George Mason
FAIRFAX, Va. – Gardner-Webb picked up its first dual-match win of the New Year Sunday night, topping George Mason, 23-16, on the road.
The Runnin' Bulldogs (5-8) jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead, getting a major decision at 125 pounds to start the match from Cortez Starkes, who handled William Prochniewski by a 10-2 score.
Robbie Golde followed with a 5-2 decision at 133 pounds before the Patriots (4-7) ran off three consecutive wins at 141, 149 and 157 pounds.
Redshirt freshman Austin Trott, fresh off a 4-0 weekend and individual title at the Cradle Gear Invitational in Pennsylvania last week, reversed momentum quickly at 165 pounds, pinning Matthew Stull to tie the match at 13-13 and begin a major rally for the Runnin' Bulldogs.
Trott's victory was the first of four in a row for Gardner-Webb that won the match for the Runnin' Bulldogs. Brett Stein followed with a decision over Zachary Martinez at 174, Gray Jones picked up a 9-1 major decision over Seth Robertson at 184 and Terry Henderson pushed the 'Dogs in front 23-13 with a win at 197.
Justin Kozera dropped a narrow decision in the final match of the evening, a 3-2 defeat at 285 pounds, but the Runnin' Bulldogs had completed their rally for the overall win.
GWU will open its home slate on Monday, Jan. 13, against Appalachian State at 7 p.m. in a key Southern Conference bout. The event will take place in Paul Porter Arena.
Gardner-Webb 23, George Mason 16
125 – Cortez Starkes (GWU) major dec. over William Prochniewski (GMU), 10-2
133 – Robbie Golde (GWU) def. Rich Carroll-Lavorato (GMU), 5-2
141 – Sahid Kargbo (GMU) pinned Ryan Hull (GWU)
149 – Doland Takagi (GMU) def. Tyler Ziegler (GWU), 4-3
157 – Greg Flournoy (GMU) major dec. over Kyle Ash (GWU), 11-3
165 – Austin Trott (GWU) pinned Matthew Stull (GMU)
174 – Brett Stein (GWU) def. Zachary Martinez (GMU), 7-3
184 – Gray Jones (GWU) major dec. over Seth Robertson (GMU), 9-1
197 – Terry Henderson (GWU) def. Matt Meadows (GMU), 6-4
285 – Jacob Kettler (GMU) def. Justin Kozera (GWU), 3-2