BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. - After over a month away from dual matches, the Virginia Military Institute wrestling team opened Southern Conference action Wednesday night at Gardner-Webb University. The hosts utilized four wins with bonus points to top VMI 31-9 at Paul Porter Arena.
The Keydets (1-3, 0-1 SoCon) collected wins at 141 pounds from Emmitt Kelly, 174 pounds from Mark Darr and a heavyweight win from Juan Adams in the final bout. All three wins came by decision.
Kelly took advantage of three takedowns in the first three minute period while also holding Ryan Hull down to gain over two minutes of riding time. The Runnin' Bulldog had two escapes in the first period, allowing Kelly a 6-2 advantage at the end of the period. The rest of the match was scoreless but for an escape by Hull and Kelly was hit with two stall warnings for an extra point for a final 6-3 decision for Kelly, cutting the Runnin' Bulldogs' lead in half, 6-3.
After winning the first two matches by decision and the second two by a technical fall and a win by fall at 149 and 157 pounds, respectively, Gardner-Webb held a 17-3 advantage as the match went into an intermission.
At 174 pounds, Darr snagged an early nine points, controlling much of the match and gaining over a minute of riding time. His opponent, Christian Maroni, kept it interesting late in the match with two takedowns late in the third period, but an escape and riding time made the difference for Darr to collect the 8-7 win.
In a Southern Conference dual in which no grappler overcame a deficit, Urayoan Garcia was down 2-1 after an early takedown by Boyce Cornwell. But the Keydet leveled the match in the third with an escape but Cornwell had amassed just over a minute of riding time for the 3-2 win.
Adams capped the night with his second win over Justin Kozera this season after a 5-2 decision at the Hokie Open on Nov. 9. Adams utilized an escape in the second after a scoreless first period and added to his total with a riding time point to secure a third win for the Keydets.
The Keydets are idle until Dec. 12 when VMI returns to the Keystone State for a non-conference dual with Franklin & Marshall College. Action is slated for 7:30 p.m. at the Mayser Center in Lancaster, Pa.
Agate:
Gardner-Webb 31, VMI 9
December 3, 2014 - Paul Porter Arena - Boiling Springs, N.C.
125: Cortez Starkes (GWU) DEC Dalton Henderson (VMI) 7-0 GWU 3-0
133: Tyler Zigler (GWU) DEC Hunter Starner (VMI) 5-1 GWU 6-0
141: Emmitt Kelly (VMI) DEC Ryan Hull (GWU) 7-3 GWU 6-3
149: Ryan Mosley (GWU) TECH FALL Jack Krall (VMI) 22-6 GWU 11-3
157: Kyle Ash (GWU) WBF B.J. Crozier (VMI) 2:20 GWU 17-3
165: Austin Trott (GWU) WBF Shabaka Johns (VMI) 5:00 GWU 23-3
174: Mark Darr (VMI) DEC Christian Maroni (GWU) 8-7 GWU 23-6
184: Gray Jones (GWU) TECH FALL Jake Koch (VMI) 18-3 GWU 28-6
197: Boyce Cornwell (GWU) DEC Urayoan Garcia (VMI) 3-2 GWU 31-6
285: Juan Adams (VMI) DEC Justin Kozera (GWU) 2-0 GWU 31-9
