DURHAM, N.C. - The Virginia Military Institute wrestling team headed to Durham, N.C. to continue one of its longest-standing series against the Blue Devils of Duke University. The home team took the win 38-9 at Card Gymnasium.
The mid-week match was the 43rd meeting all-time between the Keydets and Duke, a series dating back to VMI's second season as a varsity program in 1922. Despite the loss, the Keydets control the series lead at 32-11.
VMI (3-12) started the night off with a win at 125 pounds as Dalton Henderson won by forfeit, extending his winning streak to three. The Keydets picked up their second win from heavyweight Juan Adams as the redshirt junior earned a 3-2 decision in the final bout.
Early in the first period, Adams was taken to the mat by Brian Self, but the Keydet got an escape with 47 seconds left in the first. Adams began the second period on bottom and earned an escape just 18 seconds into the stanza to knot the bout 2-2. Self began the third on bottom, looking to get an escape point, but Adams held the Blue Devil to the mat and collected 1:06 in riding time, earning the bonus point and the 3-2 win, topping Self, who beat Adams in last season's meeting.
The 165-pound match, featuring VMI's Mark Darr and Duke's Marcus Cain was a close bout, with the Blue Devil winning 3-0. Midway through the first period, Cain scored a takedown and went up 2-0. Neither wrestler scored again in the match, but Cain had built up nearly six minutes of riding time to pick up the bonus point.
VMI returns to action on Saturday when it heads to New London, Conn. for the All-Academy Championships. Action is set for 10 a.m. at the Coast Guard Academy's Roland Hall.
Wednesday Jan. 29, 2014 - VMI at Davidson - Card Gymnasium - Durham, N.C.
Duke 38, VMI 9
Wt. Winner (School) Decision Type Loser (School) Bout Score (Running Score VMI-Duke)
125: Dalton Henderson (VMI) Wins by Forfeit (6-0)
133: Evan Botwin (Duke) TECH FALL Caleb Yost (VMI) 15-0 (3:15) (6-5)
141: Xaviel Ramos (Duke) WBF Emmitt Kelly (VMI) 5:41 (6-11)
149: Connor Bass (Duke) DEC Shabaka Johns (VMI) 6-0 (6-14)
157: Immanuel Kerr-Brown (Duke) MAJ DEC Ted Gottwald (VMI) 14-0 (6-18)
165: Marcus Cain (Duke) DEC Mark Darr (VMI) 3-0 (6-21)
174: Trey Adamson (Duke) WBF Jake Koch (VMI) 1:01 (6-27)
184: Jacob Kasper (Duke) TECH FALL Hardy Hendren (VMI) 21-5 (6-32)
197: Conner Hartmann (Duke) WBF Andrew Embree (VMI) 6:30 (6-38)
285: Juan Adams (VMI) DEC Brian Self (Duke) 3-2 (9-38)
