VMI rallies past Franklin & Marshall
LANCASTER, Pa. – Trailing 19-18 heading into the heavyweight bout, the Virginia Military Institute wrestling team got a well-timed win by fall from Juan Adams that launched the Keydets past Franklin & Marshall College 24-19 in nonconference action Friday night.
Adams, who picked up his 11th win this season, completed the rally at the Mayser Center by sticking Alex Henry in the second period, finishing the match in 4:54.
VMI (2-3) started the evening with a fall at 125 pounds, as Dalton Henderson finished off Dan Martoccio midway through the first period, stopping the clock at 2:17.
The Diplomats (1-3) answered back at 133 pounds as Patrick Quinlan stuck VMI's Hunter Starter in 1:37 to deadlock the match 6-6.
The Keydets, who first clashed with F&M in 1927, took a narrow 9-6 lead as Emmitt Kelly edged Jason Bing for a 5-2 decision at 141 pounds.
Franklin & Marshall reeled off two straight matches with bonus points as Sharron Townsend won 16-6 and Rob King won by fall to put the Diplomats up 16-9.
The Keydets started a run of their own as Shabaka Johns nabbed a 3-0 win over Andy Francos at 165 pounds, followed by a 174-pound win by Mark Darr, going to 10-3 over Gordon Bolig. Derek Thurman capped the run with an 8-4 decision over Anthony Mancini. The Thurman win put VMI up by two points, 18-16 with two weights to go.
F&M regained the lead by a single point, 19-18 after Charles Kerkesner edged Jake Tomlinson 6-3 at 197 pounds.
But Adams gave the Keydets their first true road win over the season with his win by fall in the final bout of the night.
The dual match in Lancaster was the final action for VMI in 2014, but the Keydets open their home slate on Jan. 7 for a tri-match with Southern Virginia University and Sacred Heart. VMI and SVU square off at 4:30 p.m., followed by SVU and Sacred Heart at 6 p.m. VMI and Sacred Heart finish the day at 7:30 p.m. All three matches will be held at The Thunderdome at Cocke Hall.
VMI 24, Franklin & Marshall 19
125: Dalton Henderson (VMI) over Dan Martoccio (F&M) (Fall 2:17)
133: Patrick Quinlan (F&M) over Hunter Starner (VMI) (Fall 1:37)
141: Emmitt Kelly (VMI) over Jason Bing (F&M) (Dec 5-2)
149: Sharron Townsend (F&M) over Jack Krall (VMI) (MD 16-6)
157: Rob King (F&M) over BJ Crozier (VMI) (Fall 2:14)
165: Shabaka Johns (VMI) over Andy Francos (F&M) (Dec 3-0)
174: Mark Darr (VMI) over Gordon Bolig (F&M) (Dec 10-3)
184: Derek Thurman (VMI) over Anthony Mancini (F&M) (Dec 8-4)
197: Charles Kerkesner (F&M) over Jake Tomlinson (VMI) (Dec 6-3)
285: Juan Adams (VMI) over Alex Henry (F&M) (Fall 4:54)
No. 20 Chattanooga falls to Purdue
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga dropped a 19-16 match to Purdue in Maclellan Gym on Friday. The 20th-ranked Mocs won five matches but could not overcome an early pin in the loss.
UTC fell to 3-1 overall, while the Boilermakers improved to 6-2.
UTC opened with a 9-1 major decision by 19th-ranked senior Sean Boyle at 125. The Michigan transfer put the Mocs up 4-0 with his win over Aaron Assad.
Purdue took the lead at 133 with a surprise pin by Danny Sabatello. He caught the Mocs’ 14th-ranked Nick Soto at the 5:22 mark for the 6-4 advantage. Another win by the Boilermakers at 141 extended the lead to 9-4.
Senior Shawn Greevy scored a nice 13-7 decision over Brandon Nelsen at 149, closing the gap to 9-7. Purdue built its largest lead with wins in the next three bouts, including a major decision at 165.
Trailing 19-7, the Mocs scored wins in the last three matches. McCoy Newberg posted a 9-6 decision over Tanner Lynde. Scottie Boykin had the biggest win of the day. He defeated No. 8 Brandon Atwood 6-4 with a takedown in overtime. Sophomore Jared Johnson closed the match with a 5-1 decision over Tyler Kral at heavyweight.
The Mocs are back in action on Sunday, Dec. 14, when they take on North Carolina in Atlanta, Ga. Match time is set for 2 p.m. at Mountain View High School.
UTC hosts the 2015 Defense Soap and Flips Wrestling Southern Scuffle on Jan. 1-2. Action takes place in McKenzie Arena and tickets are on sale now on GoMocs.com or by calling the UTC Ticket Office at (423) 266-MOCS (6627).
Purdue 19, No. 20 Chattanooga 16
125: No. 19 Sean Boyle (UTC) – MD 9-1 – Aaron Assad (Purdue) – UTC 4-0
133: Danny Sabatello (Purdue) – Fall (5:22) - No. 14 Nick Soto (UTC) – Purdue 6-4
141: No. 20 Nick Lawrence (Purdue) – Dec. 8-6 (SV1) - Michael Pongracz (UTC) – Purdue 9-4
149: Shawn Greevy (UTC) – Dec. 13-7 - Brandon Nelsen (Purdue) – Purdue 9-7
157: Doug Welch (Purdue) – Dec. 4-1 - Austin Sams (UTC) – Purdue 12-7
165: Pat Robinson (Purdue) – MD 10-0 – Jared Presley (UTC) – Purdue 16-7
174: Chad Welch (Purdue) – Dec. 9-3 - Levi Clemons (UTC) – Purdue 19-7
184: McCoy Newberg (UTC) – Dec. 9-6 - Tanner Lynde (Purdue) – Purdue 19-10
197: Scottie Boykin (UTC) – Dec. 6-4 (OT) - No. 8 Braden Atwood (Purdue) – Purdue 19-13
285: Jared Johnson (UTC) – Dec. 5-1 - Tyler Kral (So. - 7-8) – Purdue 19-16