LEXINGTON, Va. ? UNC Greensboro won its first six matches and never looked back in claiming a 35-9 win over VMI in Southern Conference wrestling action on Wednesday evening at the Thunderdome.
The Spartans (2-7, 2-0 SoCon) remained undefeated in league matches, claiming six extra-point victories among their eight wins. The Keydets (0-4, 0-1 SoCon), meanwhile, saw senior Leon Barrow claim a 3-2 decision at heavyweight to get on the scoreboard, before freshman Michael Bowman earned a pin at 133 lbs. for VMI's second win of the night.
The match began at 149 lbs., where UNCG senior Ben Wilmore scored an 11-2 major decision over Keydet freshman Joel Hutchens. That sparked a Spartan run, continued by Andrew Saunders' 6-0 decision at 157. The visitors ran the advantage out to 23-0 with Edwin Hojilla's technical fall at 165, Byron Sigmon's pin at 174 and Mikal McKee's technical fall at 184. UNCG's Jeremy Cannon put the match out of reach with his 6-0 decision against VMI sophomore Ronnie Ellsworth.
Barrow improved to 15-8 on the season while taking his first dual of the year in posting a one-point win against UNCG senior Joe Sheffield. Mitchell Johnson countered with a major decision at 125 for the Spartans, bringing the score to 30-3 with two matches remaining.
Bowman, competing in the first home dual of his career, continued his perfect dual record, moving to 4-0 with a pin at the 2:20 mark. UNCG senior Chris Bencivenga capped the night with a 23-7 technical fall against David Yost at 141.
VMI returns to action on Sunday in Blacksburg, taking on Rutgers at 1 p.m. before wrestling Virginia Tech at 5 p.m.
North Carolina-Greensboro 35, VMI 9
Individual Matches
149 Ben Wilmore (UNCG) MD Joel Hutchens (VMI), 11-2; UNCG 4-0
157 Andrew Saunders (UNCG) DEC Matthew Brock (VMI), 6-0; UNCG 7-0
165 Edwin Hojilla (UNCG) TF Jon Horne (VMI), 19-3 (6:26); UNCG 12-0
174 Byron Sigmon (UNCG) FALL Andrew Szymborski (VMI), 5:37; UNCG 18-0
184 Mikal McKee (UNCG) TF Thomas Kendzia (VMI), 26-10 (6:22); UNCG 23-0
197 Jeremy Cannon (UNCG) DEC Ronald Ellsworth (VMI), 6-0; UNCG 26-0
285 Mervin Barrow (VMI) DEC Joseph Sheffield (UNCG), 3-2; UNCG 26-3
125 Mitchell Johnson (UNCG) MD Johnathan Pope (VMI), 11-3; UNCG 30-3
133 Michael Bowman (VMI) FALL Casey Boyle (UNCG), 2:20; UNCG 30-9
141 Christopher Bencivenga (UNCG) TF David Yost (VMI), 23-7 (6:38); UNCG 35-9
