LEXINGTON, Va. – The Citadel wrestling team out-matched VMI 19-16 on Friday night.
While the Keydets (1-10, 0-4) won close bouts at 133, 165, 174 and 184, the Bulldogs (2-7, 1-2) won tight matches at 141, 157 and the heavyweight class to come out on top by the slim margin. The teams split the match at five bouts apiece.
After VMI's Dalton Henderson won by a major decision at 125 and Keydet Michael Hulcher earned a decision at 133 to put VMI up 7-0, The Citadel struck back with three points at 141 as Douglas Gudenburr used a last-minute surge to prevail over VMI's John Reed.
The Citadel’s Ty Buckiso picked up a pin in 3 minutes, 27 seconds over Alex Rinehart before a close 11-10 decision by graduate student Aaron Walker in the 157-pound weight class over Neal Richards pulled the Bulldogs ahead 12-7.
VMI recovered nicely to win three consecutive decisions as Cade Kiely (165), Shabaka Johns (174) and Chris Beck (184) all came out on top to put the Keydets back up, 16-12, with two bouts remaining.
Citadel sophomore Sawyer Root earned an 8-0 major decision over VMI’s 197-pound Taylor Thomas, and senior heavyweight Joe Bexley closed out the night with a 5-1 decision over Thomas Shea-Roop to secure the win for the Bulldogs.
VMI and The Citadel resume action quickly as both schools head to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, for the All-Academy Championships on Sunday. The tournament is slated for a 10 a.m. start.
The Citadel 19, VMI 16
125: Dalton Henderson (VMI) maj. dec. Charles Kearney (CIT), 10-1
133: Michael Hulcher (VMI) dec. Andrew Szalwinski (CIT), 4-3
141: Douglas Gudenburr (CIT) dec. John Reed (VMI), 10-6
149: Tyler Buckiso (CIT) pinned Alex Rinehart (VMI), 3:27
157: Aaron Walker (CIT) dec. Neal Richards (VMI), 11-10
165: Cade Kiely (VMI) dec. Ruston Hill II (CIT), 4-0
174: Shabaka Johns (VMI) dec. Martin Duane (CIT), 4-2
184: Christopher Beck (VMI) dec. Chandler Sambets (CIT), 3-0
197: Sawyer Root (CIT) maj. dec. Taylor Thomas (VMI), 8-0
285: Joe Bexley (CIT) dec. Thomas Shea-Roop (VMI), 5-1