BOONE, N.C. -- VMI senior 157 lb. wrestler Adam Britt (Mechanicsville, Va./ Atlee) broke the VMI record for career victories (119), capturing his third straight Southern Conference title, leading the Keydets to their second straight second place finish at the SoCon Championships at Appalachian State's Holmes Convocation Center. Britt was named the conference's most outstanding wrestler.
VMI finished with 80 team points, 17.5 behind champion and host Appalachian State. The Keydets boasted four second place finishers on the day as well as four third place finishers and one fourth place finisher. No Keydet finished lower than fourth place.
On his way to his record-breaking championship, Britt defeated UNC Greensboro's Ryan Tripp in the semifinals and The Citadel's Travis Piccard, 8-2 in the championship match. In doing so, Britt automatically qualified for the NCAA Championships to be held at Kansas City's Kemper Arena March 20-22.
Senior Matt Erwin (South Vienna, Ohio/ St. Paris Graham) placed second in the 174 lb. bracket. He defeated Jason Dickerson of Davidson in the semifinals before losing to ASU's Mark Fee in the finals, 4-0. Erwin's win give him 108 for his career and put him two away from sole possession of third place on the all-time school record. He received a wild card bid from the conference to particpate in the NCAA Championships.
Freshman Chris Seta (Reading, Ohio/ Reading) was named the conference's freshman of the year. He placed second in the 141 lb. bracket, defeating Matt Leonard of Davidson in the first round and Eric Burns in the semifinals. In the championship, Seta dropped a 2-1 decision to Jared Sullivan of Chattanooga.
Sophomore Mike Parsons (Loudonville, Ohio/ Lakeville) posted his second straight second place finish, this year at 165 lbs. He defeated Craig Johnson in the semifinals before losing a 5-1 match to ASU's Lee Roper in the finals.
Freshman Scott Buhman (Portage, Ind./ Portage) placed second in the heavyweight bracket of his first SoCon Championships. Buhman defeated David Hazel of ASU in the semifinals, before falling to Billy Linane of The Citadel, 5-3 in the championship.
Junior Juan Sanchez (Alexandria, Va./ Hayfield) posted a third place finish in the 125 lb. bracket. Sanchez defeated Patrick Coleman of Davidson in the first round and lost to eventual champion Rich Caisse of ASU in the semis. He then came back to beat Chattanooga's Matt Pitts in the consolation championship.
Freshman Micah Amrozowicz (Virginia Beach, Va./ Kellam) placed third in the 133 lb. bracket. He defeated Chattanooga's B.J. Malone in the first round before falling to David Johnson of UNCG in the semis. Amrozowicz then came back to beat Davidson's Henry Blue and Johnson again in the consolation bracket to claim third place.
Junior Jason Cox (Amherst, Va./ Amherst) placed third in the 184 lb. bracket. Cox beat Alex Pierce in the first round before falling to ASU's Sean McIntosh in the semis. Cox then came back to beat Quantal Langford of Chattanooga in the consolation championship.
Junior David Walker (Chesapeake, Va./ Great Bridge) placed third for the second straight year, this season at 197 lbs. He lost to The Citadel's Jordan Everett in the semis, but came back to defeat UNCG's Steve McClarmock and Chattanooga's Chris Bird in the consolation bracket.
Southern Conference Wrestling Championships
Team Results
1. Appalachian St. 97.5
2. VMI 80
3. The Citadel 76
4. Chattanooga 51.5
5. UNC Greensoboro 20
6. Davidson 4.5
