DOVER, Del. ? The VMI wrestling team began a busy stretch by falling to South Dakota State and Delaware State in a tri-meet at DSU's Memorial Hall on Wednesday afternoon.

VMI (0-3) dropped a 33-9 decision to the Jackrabbits (3-3-1) before losing 25-21 to the host Hornets (2-7) in a dual that came down to the final match of the day.  In the third match, SDSU defeated DSU, 31-15.

The Keydets jumped out to an early 9-0 advantage against SDSU, as redshirt sophomore John Pope scored a 4-2 win at 125 before freshman Michael Bowman won by forfeit at 133.  The Jacks, however, ran off eight straight wins, including two pins and a technical fall, to run away with the dual win.  The Keydets suffered three one-point losses during the run, as juniors Michael Long (149) and Jon Horne (165) and freshman Andrew Szymborski (184) each lost by the narrowest of margins.

VMI's second match was a back-and-forth affair against the hosts.  VMI ran out to a 15-0 lead through the first three matches when Pope won by forfeit at 125 before Bowman scored a decision at 133 and freshman David Yost posted his first career pin at 141.

DSU answered with a run of their own, winning the next four matches to grab a 16-15 lead on the strength of a pin, a major decision and a pair of decisions.

The Keydets surged ahead with a forfeit victory at 184 by Tommy Kendzia to move ahead, 21-16.  The Hornets, however, moved ahead 22-21 when Shawn Nowrey pinned Ronnie Ellsworth at 197.  That left the heavyweight bout to decide the match, as DSU's Jamar Beckett scored a 6-4 win against Josh Wine to secure the victory.

VMI returns to action on Saturday, participating in the “Shorty” Hitchcock Open, hosted by Millersville (Pa.) University. 

SOUTH DAKOTA STATE 33, VMI 9
125 John Pope (V) dec. Alan Marvin (SDS), 4-2; VMI 3-0
133 Michael Bowman (V) wins by forfeit; VMI 9-0
141 Dustin Walraven (SDS) pins Tyler Hutchens (V), 4:18; VMI 9-6
149 Adam Everson (SDS) dec. Mike Long (V), 7-6; Tied 9-9
157 Weston Blasius (SDS) maj. dec. Jayme Gordon (V), 10-2; SDSU 13-9
165 Weston Ginther (SDS) dec. Jon Horne (V), 5-4; SDSU 16-9
174 Justin Retallic (SDS) dec. Douglas Nesmith (V), 5-3; SDSU 19-9
184 Zach Blindert (SDS) dec. Andrew Szymborski (V), 4-3; SDSU 22-9
197 Tyler Sorenson (SDS) tech. fall Ronnie Ellsworth (V), 17-2; SDSU 27-9
285 Jason Stripling (SDS) pins Leon Barrow (V), 4:52; SDSU 33-9

DELAWARE STATE 25, VMI 21
125 John Pope (V) wins by forfeit; VMI 6-0
133 Michael Bowman (V) dec. Tad Broomall (D), 4-3; VMI 9-0
141 David Yost (V) pins Kelvin Watford (D), 4:45; VMI 15-0
149 Matt Cathell (D) pins Joel Hutchens (V), 4:38; VMI 15-6
157 Brandon Gardner (D) dec. Matt Brock (V), 7-2; VMI 15-9
165 Brandon Bruce (D) maj. dec. Vinnie Gallo (V), 13-2; VMI 15-13
174 Kyle Skinner (D) dec. Andrew Szymborski (V), 10-4; DSU 16-15
184 Tommy Kendzia (V) wins by forfeit; VMI 21-16
197 Shawn Nowrey (D) pins Ronnie Ellsworth (V), 2:59; DSU 22-21
285 Jamar Beckett (D) dec. Josh Wine (V), 6-4; DSU 25-21