LEXINGTON, Va. - After nearly a month off from the mat against outside competition, the Virginia Military Institute wrestling squad was a touch rusty, falling 29-12 at home against the Runnin' Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb University Wednesday evening. The match served as the Southern Conference opener for both squads.

The Keydets (1-4, 0-1 SoCon) picked up victories from 149 pounder Shabaka Johns, Hardy Hendren at 184 pounds and heavyweight Juan Adams. Johns and Hendren won by decision at The Thunderdome, while Adams was awarded a forfeit.

Action kicked off at 133 pounds and saw Gardner-Webb (4-7, 1-0 SoCon) win the first two matches by decision. Robbie Golde edged out VMI's Mike Flora in the first match 6-2, while Golde's teammate, Ryan Mosley, beat Keydet Joe Jarrells 14-5 at 141 pounds.

Johns answered back and cut the Bulldog lead nearly in half, 7-3, with his decisive 6-1 decision. After taking bottom headed into the third period, Johns pulled the escape and got a late takedown to go up 6-0. His foe, Cole Graves, got loose with 27 seconds left but it was too little too late as Johns got the victory.

Winner of the Institute's coveted Three-Legged Stool Award, Ted Gottwald was narrowly edged out at 157 pounds in sudden victory after regulation ended 6-6, thanks to a late takedown and two minutes of riding time for Gottwald. His opponent, Kyle Ash, get the takedown in the extra minute of action and collected two back points en route to a 10-6 decision.

Bonus points by Gardner-Webb at 165 and 174 pounds put the match out of reach for VMI as Austin Trott notched a 17-0 technical fall over VMI's Mark Darr and Brett Stein pinned freshman Timmy Davison in the first period, giving the Bulldogs a 21-3 advantage.

Down but not out, VMI got three points towards the good as Hendren scored his second victory in as many dual matches with his 3-2 victory over Aaron Rabin. After a scoreless first period, Hendren deferred his choice to Rabin, who elected to start the period on bottom. Rabin got the escape for a 1-0 lead, but Hendren logged a takedown on the Bulldog seconds later, going up 2-1. With the choice for the third period in his pocket, Hendren selected down and scored the escape before Rabin could build a minute of riding time for the extra point, giving the Keydet the win.

Seven takedowns at 197 pounds helped Gardner-Webb's Boyce Cornwell to a 20-8 victory and run the Bulldogs' advantage to 25-6. In the second-to-last bout of the night, VMI's Juan Adams got a forfeit at heavyweight for his easiest win of the season.

At 125 pounds, Gardner-Webb's Cortez Starkes edged out VMI's Dalton Henderson 9-1 to conclude the evening's event.

VMI won't have time to think about the defeat as the Keydets head for Indiana University's Hoosier Duals this weekend. The Keydets face five opponents from all stretches of the country, kicking things off with conference foe Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUE) at 10 a.m. on Saturday. VMI will also face West Virginia (Noon) and Indiana (2 p.m.) on Saturday. Action rounds out on Sunday with Northern Colorado (11 a.m.) and Drexel (1 p.m.).

Wednesday Dec. 4 , 2013 - vs. Gardner-Webb - The Thunderdome (Cocke Hall) - Lexington, Va.
Gardner-Webb 29, VMI 12
Wt. Winner Type Loser Score (Running Score VMI-GWU)
133: Robbie Golde (GWU) DEC Mike Flora (VMI) 6-2 (0-3)
141: Ryan Mosley (GWU) MAJ DEC Joe Jarrells (VMI)14-5 (0-7)
149: Shabaka Johns (VMI) DEC Cole Graves (GWU) 6-1 (3-7)
157: Kyle Ash (GWU) SV-1 DEC Ted Gottwald (VMI) 10-6 (3-10)
165: Austin Trott (GWU) TECH FALL Mark Darr (VMI) 17-0 (3:35) (3-15)
174: Brett Stein (GWU) WBF Timmy Davison (VMI) 2:54 (3-21)
184: Hardy Hendren (VMI) DEC Aaron Rabin (GWU) 3-2 (6-21)
197: Boyce Cornwell (GWU) MAJ DEC Andrew Embree (VMI) 20-8 (6-25)
285: Juan Adams (VMI) Wins by FORFEIT (12-25)
125: Cortez Starkes (GWU) MAJ DEC Dalton Henderson (VMI) 9-1 (12-29)