BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - Squaring off with some of the top competition in the country, the Virginia Military Institute wrestling squad wrapped up the first day of the Hoosier Duals, hosted by Indiana University, taking on three opponents, Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, West Virginia University and the host.
VMI fell in its three matches during the event at University Gym, dropping a 23-14 decision against SIUE in a Southern Conference clash, 38-3 against West Virginia and 46-0 versus the Hoosiers.
Over the course of the day, VMI (1-7, 0-2 SoCon) wrestled against eight wrestlers ranked in various polls in the country, including four from West Virginia and four from Indiana.
The Keydets got off to a slow start against SIUE, falling behind 11-0 through the first three matches. But in VMI fashion, the squad rallied to tie the score 11-11 with wins at 149, 157 and 165 pounds. Shabaka Johns got things going with a 6-3 decision over Karsten Van Velsor, followed by a narrow 4-3 win by Ted Gottwald over Logun Taylor, cutting SIUE's lead in half.
After dropping his match Wednesday night by a technical fall, sophomore Mark Darr bounced back against the Cougars, dropping Connor McMahon 17-2, picking up five team points and tying the action at 11-11.
But SIUE won the next three weights to secure the win. However, VMI got the last win over the match as Juan Adams extended his winning streak to a season-high three. With a 6-3 decision, VMI's heavyweight pushed past SIUE's David Devine, who finished third at last season's Southern Conference Championships, to end the first dual of the day.
Despite the one-sided score against West Virginia, five of the matches were decisions, including a 3-2 loss by Darr at 165 pounds. Johns dropped a 5-1 decision against Mike Morales, who is ranked No. 31 nationally. At 197 pounds, Tasi Mathias was edged 5-1. The lone Keydet victory against West Virginia was from Adams, who bested Wayne Purnell 6-2, helping the VMI senior go 2-1 on the day.
VMI returns to action at the Hoosier Duals on Sunday as the Keydets square off with Northern Colorado at 11 a.m. and Drexel at 1 p.m. Both duals will take place at University Gymnasium. A live blog is available to follow the action, provided by the Indiana media relations department.
Saturday Dec. 7, 2013 - vs. SIUE - University Gym, Indiana University - Bloomington, Ind.
SIUE 23, VMI 14
Wt. Winner Type Loser Score (Running Score VMI-SIUE)
125: Dakota Leach (SIUE) DEC Dalton Henderson (VMI) 9-2 (0-3)
133: Patrick Myers (SIUE) MAJ DEC Mike Flora (VMI) 13-1 (0-7)
141: Drew Vrbenec (SIUE) MAJ DEC Joe Jarrells (VMI) 10-0 (0-11)
149: Shabaka Johns (VMI) DEC Karsten Van Velsor (SIUE) 6-3 (3-11)
157: Ted Gottwald (VMI) DEC Logun Taylor (SIUE) 4-3 (6-11)
165: Mark Darr (VMI) TECH FALL Connor McMahon (SIUE) 17-2 (11-11)
174: Jake Residori (SIUE) TECH FALL Timmy Davison (VMI) 15-0 (11-16)
184: Deshoun White (SIUE) DEC Hardy Hendren (VMI) 9-5 (11-19)
197: Chris Johnson (SIUE) MAJ DEC Tasi Mathias (VMI) 12-4 (11-23)
285: Juan Adams (VMI) DEC David Devine (SIUE) 6-3 (14-23)
Saturday Dec. 7, 2013 - vs. SIUE - University Gym, Indiana University - Bloomington, Ind.
West Virginia 38, VMI 3
Wt. Winner Type Loser Score (Running Score VMI-WVU)
125: Cory Stainbrook (WVU) DEC Dalton Henderson (VMI) 9-2 (0-3)
133: #15 Nathan Pennesi (WVU) MAJ DEC Mike Flora (VMI) 10-0 (0-7)
141: #33 Colin Johnston (WVU) WBF Joe Jarrells (VMI) 2:58 (0-13)
149: #31 Mike Morales (WVU) DEC Shabaka Johns (VMI) 5-1 (0-16)
157: Jason Luster (WVU) TECH FALL Ted Gottwald (VMI) 21-6 (0-21)
165: Ross Renzi (WVU) DEC Mark Darr (VMI) 3-2 (0-24)
174: #27 Bubba Scheffel (WVU) WBF Timmy Davison 2:11 (0-30)
184: Mark Colabucci (WVU) TECH FALL Hardy Hendren (VMI) 21-5 (0-35)
197: Leo Trindade (WVU) DEC Tasi Mathias (VMI) 4-1 (0-38)
285: Juan Adams (VMI) DEC Wayne Purnell (WVU) 6-2 (3-38)
Saturday Dec. 7, 2013 - vs. SIUE - University Gym, Indiana University - Bloomington, Ind.
Indiana 46, VMI 0
Wt. Winner Type Loser Score (Running Score VMI-IU)
125: Joe Duca (IU) TECH FALL Dalton Henderson (VMI) 19-4 (0-5)
133: Chris Canton (IU) MAJ DEC Mike Flora (VMI) 16-4 (0-9)
141: Ethan Raley (IU) TECH FALL Joe Jarrells (VMI) 15-0 (0-14)
149: Alex Gregory (IU) DEC Shabaka Johns (VMI) 4-1 (0-17)
157: #6 Taylor Walsh (IU) WBF Ted Gottwald (VMI) 2:17 (0-23)
165: #23 Ryan LeBlanc (IU) DEC Mark Darr (VMI) 10-3 (0-26)
174: Nate Jackson (IU) WBF Jake Koch (VMI) 1:51 (0-32)
184: #15 Luke Sheridan (IU) TECH FALL Hardy Hendren (VMI) 18-3 (0-37)
197: Garret Goldman (IU) DEC Tasi Mathias (VMI) 5-0 (0-40)
285: #8 Adam Chalfant (IU) WBF Juan Adams (VMI) 0:45 (46-0)
