LEXINGTON, Va. – Returning to Southern Conference action at home, the VMI wrestling team fell to visiting Campbell by a 24-15 score Friday night at Cormack Hall.
Ahead 12-9 midway through the match, the Keydets managed only one more victory in the final five bouts to fall to the Fighting Camels.
"I thought our guys wrestled competitively," said VMI head coach Chris Skretkowicz. "I'm proud of freshman Stevan Smith with his first appearance in The Pit - I could not ask for more from him as he stepped into the weight class last minute. Dalton and Richards also got bonus points, which helped keep us in the match. It was a great turnout by the corps and a great wrestling atmosphere."
Junior Dalton Henderson got off to a good start for the Keydets with a major decision victory over Campbell's Collin Stewart to give VMI a quick 4-0 lead. The win was Henderson's sixth consecutive victory and second straight win by major decision, his fifth of the season.
The Camels rebounded with a pin at 133 pounds as Nathan Kraisser earned the fall over VMI's Bennie Pachello in the third period (5:46). Pachello started quickly with a takedown, but Kraisser controlled the remaining time en route to the pin.
Competing in his first career dual, freshman Stevan Smith stepped in at 149 pounds for VMI and earned a dominant 16-5 major decision over Campbell's Zane Knight to trim Campbell's lead to 9-8. The Keydets regained the lead following a 15-5 major decision at 157 pounds as Neal Richards topped the Camels' Quentin Perez for a 12-9 VMI advantage.
After VMI junior Shabaka Johns fell by a 9-2 decision at 165, Mark Darr picked up VMI's final win of the night with a close 11-9 sudden victory decision to bring the Keydets back ahead, 15-12. Campbell registered a tech fall, decision and major decision in the final three bouts to yield the 24-15 come-from-behind victory.
The Keydets return to action next Saturday at the Appalachian State Open slated for Saturday, Jan. 23 in Boone, North Carolina.
VMI then hosts the All-Academy Championships the following Saturday, Jan. 30 beginning at 10 a.m. at Cameron Hall.
Campbell 24, VMI 15
January 15, 2016
Cormack Hall
Lexington, Va.
