LANCASTER, Pa.- The VMI wrestling squad began its 2010-11 dual season Sat., Dec. 4 against Franklin & Marshall College, winning six matches en route to a 24-13 victory over the Diplomats at F&M's Mayser Center. The Keydets never trailed in the match, and their fate was sealed at 165 with a victory by junior Matt Brock.
VMI was awarded six points right off the bat, as redshirt-senior Johnathan Pope picked up a forfeit victory at 125 lbs. At 133 lbs., F&M's Jake Bucha, ranked No. 32 in the country, defeated junior Luke Todd via major decision, 13-4 to cut the VMI lead to 6-4 with eight matches remaining.
At 141 lbs., junior David Yost defeated Diplomat Kenny Knapp 7-4 to give the Keydets a 9-4 lead in the team scoring. F&M trimmed the lead to 9-7, the closest it would come to leading the match, as Andrew Murano defeated VMI freshman Rennie Merhige 11-6 in a bout at 149 lbs.
From that point on, the Keydets won five of six matches, beginning with freshman Nick Emison downing Eric Norgard 7-6 at 157 lbs., taking the match on a reversal with nine seconds left in the third period.
Junior team captain Joe Munno followed with an 11-5 defeat of Anthony Bongarzone at 165, while classmate Matt Brock knocked off Matt Fullowan in overtime 3-2 to bring the team score to 18-7 in favor of the Keydets. Brock's victory sealed the match with a reversal in the second overtime, and earned the late escape point to capture the win.
F&M earned its final team points of the day at 197 lbs., as Colin Ely upset VMI senior Ronnie Ellsworth earning the fall at the 5:40 mark to cut the deficit to 21-13.
Senior Josh Wine, fresh off his All-Big South Conference selection in football, defeated Dan Canfield 8-2 at heavyweight in his first match of the season of any kind to cap off the 21-13 VMI victory.
On Sunday, Dec. 5, several Keydet freshman will travel to the Turkey Bowl Classic, hosted by nearby Southern Virginia, beginning at 9 a.m. The Keydet lineup will feature Charles Gray at 125 lbs., Sean Wilt at 141 lbs., Ted Gottwald at 157, James Clark at 165, Josh Phillips and Jacob Vahle at 184, Chris Gill and Garth Harbert at 197, and Juan Adams at heavyweight. The full squad will next hit the mat on Fri., Dec. 10 as the team travels to Boiling Springs, N.C. for its second dual match of the season to take on Gardner-Webb. Match time is slated for 7 p.m.
VMI 24, F&M 13
125: Johnathan Pope (V) by forfeit (6-0)
133: Jake Bucha (F) maj. dec. Luke Todd (V), 13-4 (6-4)
141: David Yost (V) dec. Kenny Knapp (F), 7-5 (9-4)
149: Andrew Murano (F) dec. Rennie Merhige (V), 11-6 (9-7)
157: Nick Emison (V) dec. Eric Norgard (F), 7-6 (12-7)
165: Joe Munno (V) dec. Anthony Bongarzone (F), 11-5 (15-7)
174: Matt Brock (V) dec. Matt Fullowan (F), 3-2, TB2 (18-7)
184: John Dommert (V) dec. Matt Latessa (F), 8-7 (21-7)
197: Colin Ely (F) pinned Ronnie Ellsworth (V), 5:40 (21-13)
285: Josh Wine (V) dec. Dan Canfield (F), 8-2 (24-13)
