BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.. -- The Virginia Military Institute wrestling team put together another furious comeback, but the bid fell short as the Keydets dropped a 19-12 decision to host Gardner-Webb University Friday night at Paul Porter Arena.
In arguably VMI's closest dual match of the season, the Keydets gave up bonus points in just one match, dropping a major decision at 125 pounds of the Southern Conference tussle.
Twice throughout the evening, VMI (0-9, 0-2 SoCon) logged back-to-back wins, first at 133 and 141 pounds, followed by another set at 184 and 197 pounds. Those four matches were the lone victories for the Keydets, but VMI managed to hang in its matches.
Andriy Onufriyenko got the winning going for VMI, posting a narrow 4-3 victory over Robert Golde at 133 pounds. Onufriyenko's win not only improved the rookie to 2-0 in SoCon action, but sliced the Runnin' Bulldogs' lead to 4-3.
VMI wrested control of the match from Gardner-Webb at 141 as Ryan Goodsell continued to wrestle strongly, besting Devante Andujar 3-2. Goodsell's 10th win of the 2012-13 season put the Keydets up 6-4.
But Bulldogs came back in the next bout, snagging a 7-6 lead after a decision at 149 points. The victory at 149 started a run of four-straight Gardner-Webb wins, all by decision, surmising in a 16-6 Bulldog lead after 174 pounds.
Another rookie, Jonathan Jones, snapped Gardner-Webb's run, posting his first-ever Southern COnference victory with a 2-1 edge over Gray Jones.
At 197-pounds, Urayoan Garcia picked up a decisive 4-1 victory over Vincent Salyer, pulling VMI within striking distance of Gardner-Webb, down just 16-12.
But the comeback bid was not to be Friday night as he Bulldogs took the final points of the night with a 7-0 decision in the heavyweight division.
The Keydets will have a short rest period before their next action on Sunday afternoon. VMI heads to Davidson, N.C.for a SoCon match with Davidson College, as well as a non-conference dual with Boston University. VMI and the Terriers of BU square off at 1 p.m. and will face the host following the Davidson-BU match.
Friday, Jan. 25 at Gardner-Webb University - Paul Porter Arena - Boiling Springs, N.C.
VMI 12 (0-9, 0-2 SoCon)
Gardner-Webb University 19 (4-6, 2-2 SoCon)
Weight: Winner (School) Type Loser (School) Result - Running Score (GWU-VMI)
125:Cortez Starks (GWU) MAJ DEC Armando Herrera (VMI) 15-4 - 4-0
133: Andriy Onufriyenko (VMI) DEC Robert Golde (GWU) 4-3 - 4-3
141: Ryan Goodsell (VMI) DEC Devante Andujar (GWU) 3-2 - 4-6
149: Ryan Medved (GWU) DEC Zeb Stewart (VMI) 5-2 - 7-6
157: Alex Medved (GWU) DEC Ted Gottwald (VMI) 10-4 - 10-6
165: Justin Guthrie (GWU) DEC Mark Darr (VMI) 4-2 - 13-6
174: Hunter Gamble (GWU) DEC John Dommert (VMI) 6-1 - 16-6
184: Jonathan Jones (VMI) DEC Gray Jones (GWU) 2-1 - 16-9
197: Urayoan Garcia (VMI) DEC Vincent Salyer (GWU) 4-1 - 16-12
285: Travis Porter (GWU) DEC Michael LaPrade (VMI) 7-0 - 19-12
