LEXINGTON, Va. - VMI knocked off Southern Conference foe Davidson, 37-4, and defeated non-conference opponent Millersville 34-14 at a tri-meet held at The Thunderdome on Friday evening.
The Keydets evened their dual record at 5-5 in front of a packed house in knocking off the Marauders (3-8-1) in the night's final match. Earlier in the night, Millersville fell to Davidson (2-11) by a score of 27-23.
"We're making progress," said VMI head coach John "Rocky" Trudgeon. "Our attitude is good, our guys are working hard every day, and it shows. Earlier in the year, we had injuries, skin issues and any number of things going on, and it made it difficult to train, but we're hopefully past that now. Today was a good day and a good team effort. We didn't win every match, but we tried to win every match. We made them work for it. With the corps packed in here like they were, this is a great place to wrestle and a great place to win. We really appreciate the corps coming out, it makes a big difference."
Six Keydets went undefeated on the night, as freshman Andrew Bannister and sophomore David Yost each won a decision and picked up a forfeit victory. Sophomore Vinnie Gallo enjoyed an impressive outing, scoring a pin and a narrow decision, while juniors Ronnie Ellsworth, Josh Wine and John Pope also went 2-0 for the Keydets.
The evening began with the Keydets evening their SoCon record at 1-1, while dropping the Wildcats to 0-2 in the league. VMI opened the match with back-to-back decisions from Bannister at 133 lbs. and Yost at 141 lbs. to move ahead 6-0. Bannister jumped out to a 5-0 advantage in the first period en route to his 9-5 decision, while Yost trailed early but came back for a 4-2 win.
The bonus points started coming in the next match for VMI, as Michael Long pinned Ben Thompson in 2:23 before Joe Munno scored a convincing, 16-3 major decision at 157 lbs. to put the Keydets up 16-0.
Davidson scored its lone win at 165 lbs., where sophomore Tyler Mullen won a 10-2 decision over freshman Conor Black. Keydet sophomore Andrew Szymborski then picked up a forfeit win at 174 lbs., moving VMI ahead, 22-4.
Gallo then notched his first dual victory of the season, pinning Ike Crews in 3:30. The win came with Gallo ahead, 6-0 and was the first pin of the Keydet's season.
Ellsworth stepped up at 197 lbs., claiming a 9-2 decision over senior Mark Jeevratnam. Ellsworth led just 2-1 through one period, then rode out Jeevratnam throughout the second period. Ellsworth began the third period in the down position and quickly scored a reversal. Later in the period, he scored a pair of back points, then later claimed another takedown, and with nearly four minutes of riding time, gave VMI a 31-4 advantage.
Wine remained undefeated on the season with his 7-1 decision over Charlie Wolff at heavyweight. The hosts wrapped up the win with Pope's 10-7 decsion over Ben Altman. In that match, the score was tied at the end of both the first and second periods, and Pope began the third in the down position. Just 20 seconds in, Pope worked an escape, then scored a takedown to move ahead 8-5. Following an Altman escape, Pope scored the clinching takedown, bringing the final margin to 37-4.
The second dual of the evening came down to the final two matches. After Millersville forfeited two matches and Davidson did so once, the Marauders led 23-18 with two bouts left. At heavyweight, Charlie Wolff scored a takedown midway through the first sudden victory period to keep the Wildcats' hope alive, while at 125 lbs., Altman pinned Matt Devestine in 1:40 to complete the comeback.
The final dual of the evening pitted Millersville against host VMI. Bannister and Yost picked up forfeit wins to start the night, though the Marauders fought back in the next two matches. At 149 lbs., Long and J.J. Lester were scoreless through one period, and Lester moved ahead with an escape early in the second. Forty-five seconds later, Lester scored what proved to be the only takedown of the match to go ahead 3-0, though Long managed an escape before the period ended. Long cut the lead to 3-2 with a quick escape early in the third, but couldn't get the go-ahead takedown and fell by that score, putting Millersville on the scoreboard. The visitors then cut the score to 12-8, as Jarrett Hostetter scored a 16-1 technical fall at 157 lbs.
Black then picked up his team-leading fifth pin of the season for the Keydets, needing 3:35 to take down Steve Hess at 165 lbs. Millersville answered just seconds later, as Shane Smith needed just 14 seconds to pin Szymborski, keeping the margin at just four points in the team score, 18-14.
The Keydets then got a big win at 184 lbs. to push the margin back out. Gallo surrendered an early takedown to sophomore Jason Foor, but rallied for an escape and a takedown to go up 3-2 late in the first period. Foor, however, scored a reversal before the end of the period, then began the second in the down position and scored another reversal to go up 6-3 midway through the period. Gallo then did the same before the end of the second, and beginning the third in the down position, scored another reversal to take a 7-6 lead. Gallo was awarded a penalty point when Foor was issued a second stall warning, and with over three minutes of riding time, arrived at a 9-6 decision to give the Keydets a seven-point cushion, 21-14.
Ellsworth delivered an 11-6 decision at 197 lbs., followed by Wine's 13-1 major decision at heavyweight. Pope then put a fitting end to the night, as he pinned Devestine in 54 seconds, sending the near-capacity crowd home buzzing.
VMI returns to action on Wednesday, as Liberty visits the Thunderdome for a 7:30 p.m. dual.
VMI 37, Davidson 4 (Jan. 22, 2010)
133- Andrew Bannister (VMI) dec. Alex Radsky (DAV), 9-5
141- David Yost (VMI) dec. Vitaly Radsky (DAV), 4-2
149- Michael Long (VMI) Pins Ben Thompson (DAV), 2:23
157- Joe Munno (VMI) maj. dec. Joe McGinley (DAV), 16-3
165- Tyler Mullen (DAV) maj. dec. Conor Black (VMI), 10-2
174- Andrew Szymborski (VMI) wins by forfeit
184- Vinnie Gallo (VMI) Pins Ike Crews (DAV), 3:30
197- Ronnie Ellsworth (VMI) dec. Mark Jeevratnam (DAV), 9-2
285- Josh Wine (VMI) dec. Charlie Wolff (DAV), 7-1
125- John Pope (VMI) dec. Ben Altman (DAV),10-7
Davidson 27, Millersville 23 (Jan. 22, 2010)
133- Matt Zarth (DAV) wins by forfeit
141- Ben Thompson (DAV) wins by forfeit
149- Vitaly Radsky (DAV) dec. J.J. Lester (MIL), 3-2
157- Jarret Hostetter (MIL) Pins Joe McGinley (DAV), 1:55
165- Tyler Mullen (DAV) dec. Steve Hess (MIL), 4-2
174- Shane Smith (MIL) wins by forfeit
184- Jason Foor (MIL) Pins Ike Crews (DAV), 0:53
197- Josh Marquard (MIL) tech. fall Mark Jeevratnam (DAV),16-0 (4:55)
285- Charlie Wolff (DAV) dec. Chase Godfrey (MIL), 3-1 (SV1)
125- Ben Altman (DAV) Pins Matt Devestine (MIL), 1:40
VMI 34, Millersville 14 (Jan. 22, 2010)
133- Andrew Bannister (VMI) wins by forfeit
141- David Yost (VMI) wins by forfeit
149- J.J. Lester (MIL) dec. Michael Long (VMI) 3-2
157- Jarrett Hostetter (MIL) tech. fall Joe Munno (VMI), 16-1
165- Conor Black (VMI) Pins Steve Hess (MIL), 3:35
174- Shane Smith (MIL) Pins Andrew Szymborski (VMI), 0:14
184- Vinnie Gallo (VMI) dec. Jason Foor (MIL), 9-6
197- Ronnie Ellsworth (VMI) dec. Josh Marquard (MIL), 11-6
285- Josh Wine (VMI) maj. dec. Chase Godrey (MIL),13-1
125- John Pope (VMI) Pins Matt Devestine (MIL), 0:54
