LYNCHBURG, Va.- The VMI wrestling team led 9-5 heading into the matchup at 157 pounds, but was outscored 20-4 the rest of the way as the Liberty Flames secured a 28-13 win over the Keydets Sun., Feb. 13 at the Vines Center.

In the afternoon's first match, VMI (4-8) redshirt-senior John Pope took on Robert Jillard of Liberty. With the match tied at 4-4 after the first period, Pope earned the deciding point at the 35 second mark on an escape and held on the rest of the way to earn the 5-4 decision and improve to 7-10 on the season as VMI took the 3-0 lead in the team score.

Liberty (13-6) took the momentary 5-3 advatnage after freshman Charles Gray was defeated by T.J. Mitchell by a 17-2 technical fall at his first-career match at 133 pounds. Keydet sophomore Ryan Goodsell helped VMI retake the 6-3 lead with his first win of the season, besting Joey Montgomery of Liberty 8-3, shutting out Montgomery 5-0 in the third period to capture the win over Montgomery, who previously held a 14-10 record on the season.

VMI continued its win streak at 149 lbs., as redshirt-senior Michael Long defeated Liberty's Peter Crawford 8-1. After a scoreless first period, Long used a 7-0 second frame as well as a riding-time point in his 10th win of the season as VMI brought its lead to 9-5.

The Flames with then go on an 11-point swing in the next two matches, as Julian Colon earned a 16-1 technical fall over VMI's sophomore Mike Burnett followed by a Chad Porter pin on VMI's Ted Gottwald at 165 lbs. at the one minute mark of the first period as the Flames took a 16-9 lead.

Junior Matt Brock picked up a big win for the Keydets with his third major decision of the year, as he put a halt to the Liberty swing at 174 lbs. against Liberty's Eli Sanchez. Following a Sanchez takedown 1:14 into the period, Brock went on a 15-0 run to take the match 15-2 and move the team score to 16-13.

The Keydet comeback attempt was dealt a big blow at 184 lbs., as sophomore Evan Dill squared off against Aaron Kelly. After a Kelly takedown 24 seconds in, Kelley recorded the pinfall at the 57 second mark of the opening period as the Flames stretched their lead to 22-13 heading into 197 lbs.

197 pounds featured the most entertaining matchup of the day, as sophomore John Dommert wrestled Aaron Thompson. Thompson scored two points on a takedown a minute into the match. Holding a 2-0 lead heading into the third, Dommert earned his first point of the match on an escape with 1:36 remaining in the match. Despite Dommert's efforts in the latter portion of the match, Thompson was able to hang out for the narrow 2-1 victory, icing the Flame victory with only heavyweight remaining.

The heavyweight battled feature VMI freshman Juan Adams in his dual match debut against Liberty's Josh Pelletier, as regular heavyweight Josh Wine served a conference mandated suspension and was ineligible to compete. Adams battled in his first-collegiate dual matchup. After falling behind 2-0 with 1:18 left in the first, the native Texan earned an escape point with 1:42 left in the first. Adams managed to tie the match at 2-2 29 seconds into the second, but Pelletier earned a riding-time point to take the 3-2 victory and bring the score to its final 28-13 score.

The Keydets return to the mat Thurs., Feb. 17, as VMI hosts UNC Greensboro from the Thunder Dome in its final home dual of the season. The match, slated to begin at 7:30 p.m., will have live stats and video available via VMIKeydets.com.

2/13/2011

Liberty -              28

VMI       -              13

Individual Matches

Wt          Winning Wrestler (School)         WinType             Losing Wrestler (School)              Score

125         Johnathan Pope (VMI)                  DEC                        Robert Jillard (Liberty )                  5 - 4

133         Thomas Mitchell (Liberty )           TF5                         Charles Gray (VMI)                         17 - 2 ( (7:00))

141         Ryan Goodsell (VMI)                      DEC                        Joseph Montgomery (Liberty )  8 - 3

149         Mike Long (VMI)                              DEC                        Peter Crawford (Liberty )             8 - 1

157         Julian  Colon (Liberty )                    TF5                         Michael Burnett (VMI)                  16 - 1 ( (7:00))

165         Chad Porter (Liberty )                    FALL                       Edward Gottwald (VMI)                               (1:00)

174         Matthew Brock (VMI)                    MD                         Eli Sanchez (Liberty )                       15 - 2

184         Aaron Kelley (Liberty )                   FALL                       Evan Dill (VMI)                                  (0:57)

197         Aaron Thompson (Liberty )          DEC                        John Dommert (VMI)                     2 - 1

285         Johsua Pelletier (Liberty )             DEC                        Juan Adams (VMI)                           3 - 2