Johns Goes 2-0, VMI Drops Pair of Duals at American

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Johns Goes 2-0, VMI Drops Pair of Duals at American

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Shabaka Johns went 2-0 on the day for the Virginia Military Institute wrestling team, but the Keydets fell to a pair of non-conference foes Sunday at American University. The Keydets dropped a 31-12 decision against Harvard University, followed by a 31-13 loss against host American University at the Eagles' Bender Arena.

Johns improved to 15-7 on the season while extending a winning streak to four straight.

In the opening match of the day, the Keydets dropped a 31-12 decision to Harvard in a neutral site match. Despite the final outcome, VMI held its own in the first-ever meeting with Harvard. Of the 10 matches, four were decided by four points or less.

Derek Thurman won his third-straight match at 184 pounds with an 8-7 decision over Harvard's Michael Mocco, pulling VMI back within seven points of the lead, 19-12. Thurman scored a bulk of his points in the third round, hitting a reversal, an escape and sealed the win with a takedown with four seconds on the board. Mocco had built over a minute of riding time and held a virtual 7-6 lead before Thurman's final takedown.

Prior to Thurman's win, Shabaka Johns logged his 14th win of the year as he bested Tyler Grimaldi by a decisive 11-4 decision at 165 pounds. Johns nearly stuck Grimaldi at the tailend of the second period, but settled for three near-fall points. A trio of takedowns and over a minute of riding time added to Johns' point total and helped him to his third straight win.

The Keydets kicked off the day with a win by forfeit at 125 pounds, accepted by Dalton Henderson.

It was a slow start for the Keydets (3-5) against host American as the Eagles jumped out to a 24-0 lead through the first five matches behind three technical falls, a win by fall and a decision.

But VMI bounced back in the upper weights, winning three of the final five bouts. Johns went 2-0 on the day after blanking Brad Mutchnick 6-0 at 165 pounds, followed by a win by fall for Mark Darr at 174 pounds, sticking Nick Carey in 4:54.

Thurman saw his three-match winning streak come to an end by just two points as Jason Grimes edged the redshirt sophomore 2-0 at 184 pounds. Grimes scored a takedown 35 seconds into the bout and those two points proved invaluable as neither grappler scored for the remaining six and a half minutes.

VMI, which is on the road for nearly a month before hosting The Citadel on Feb. 5, bounced back at heavyweight as Juan Adams logged his 13th win this season and second by major decision. The big Texan scored four takedowns, including three in the third period, while also adding three near fall points in the final minute to cap VMI's afternoon with a win.

The Keydets return to league action on Jan. 16 as VMI heads to Buies Creek, N.C. for a Southern Conference match at Campbell University, site of last season's SoCon Championships. Action set to begin at 7 p.m. in the Camels' Gore Arena.

Agate:
Sunday January 11, 2015 - vs. Harvard
Bender Arena (American University) - Washington, D.C.
Harvard 31, VMI 12
Wt. Winner Dec Type Loser Score (Harvard-VMI)
125: Dalton Henderson (VMI) Wins by Forfeit (0-6)
133: Ryan Osleeb (Harvard) DEC Hunter Starner (VMI) 6-2 (3-6)
141: No. 16 Todd Preston (Harvard) DEC Emmitt Kelly 6-2 (6-6)
149: Nick Stager (Harvard) MAJ DEC Jack Krall 13-5 (10-6)
157: Tyler Tarsi (Harvard) WBF Sam Paulay (VMI) 0:49 (16-6)
165: Shabaka Johns (VMI) DEC Tyler Grimaldi (Harvard) 11-4 (16-9)
174: Josef Johnson (Harvard) DEC Mark Darr (VMI) 7-5 (19-9)
184: Derek Thurman (VMI) DEC Michael Mocco (Harvard) 8-7 (19-12)
197: Josh Popple (Harvard) WBF Urayoan Garcia (VMI) 5:31 (25-12)
285: David Ng (Harvard) WBF Juan Adams (VMI) 1:31 (31-12)

Sunday January 11, 2015 - at American
Bender Arena (American University) - Washington, D.C.
American 31, VMI 13
Wt. Winner Dec Type Loser Score (American-VMI)
125: No. 18 David Terao (AU) TECH FALL Dalton Henderson (VMI) 16-1 (5:00) (5-0)
133: Josh Terao (AU) TECH FALL Hunter Starner (VMI) 16-0 (4:51) (10-0)
141: Michael Sprague (AU) DEC Emmitt Kelly (VMI) 2-0 (13-0)
149: Tom Page (AU) WBF Jack Krall (VMI) 1:08 (19-0)
157: John Boyle (AU) TECH FALL Sam Paulay (VMI) 20-3 (2:24) (24-0)
165: Shabaka Johns (VMI) DEC Brad Mutchnick (AU) 6-0 (24-3)
174: Mark Darr (VMI) WBF Nick Carey (AU) 4:54 (24-9)
184: Jason Grimes (AU) DEC Derek Thurman (VMI) 2-0 (27-9)
197: Brett Dempsey (AU) MAJ DEC Urayoan Garcia (VMI) 9-1 (31-9)
285: Juan Adams (VMI) MAJ DEC Scot Augustine (AU) 14-3 (31-13)
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Players Mentioned

Juan Adams

Juan Adams

Redshirt Senior
Mark Darr

Mark Darr

Junior
Urayoan Garcia

Urayoan Garcia

Redshirt Junior
Dalton Henderson

Dalton Henderson

Sophomore
Shabaka Johns

Shabaka Johns

Sophomore
Emmitt Kelly

Emmitt Kelly

Junior
Jack Krall

Jack Krall

Freshman
Sam Paulay

Sam Paulay

Freshman
Hunter Starner

Hunter Starner

Freshman
Derek Thurman

Derek Thurman

Redshirt Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Juan Adams

Juan Adams

Redshirt Senior
Mark Darr

Mark Darr

Junior
Urayoan Garcia

Urayoan Garcia

Redshirt Junior
Dalton Henderson

Dalton Henderson

Sophomore
Shabaka Johns

Shabaka Johns

Sophomore
Emmitt Kelly

Emmitt Kelly

Junior
Jack Krall

Jack Krall

Freshman
Sam Paulay

Sam Paulay

Freshman
Hunter Starner

Hunter Starner

Freshman
Derek Thurman

Derek Thurman

Redshirt Sophomore