FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Getting back into wrestling mode following a two-week Christmas Furlough, the VMI wrestling team defeated host Sacred Heart by a 23-18 score Saturday afternoon in Fairfield, Connecticut.
The Keydets jumped out to a 12-0 lead and never looked back en route to the victory. The Pioneers made a 12-0 run in the final three bouts, but VMI maintained the lead throughout for the win.
Dalton Henderson (125 pounds) earned three points for the Keydets with a 9-6 decision over SHU's Gerard Daly before Bennie Pachello (133) pinned Pioneer Tim Johnson in the first period (2:51) to balloon the Keydet lead to 9-0 after two bouts. Hunter Starner then topped Sacred Heart's Alex Harnsberger by a close 5-4 decision to up the advantage to 12-0.
“Overall the day was a success,” said VMI head coach Chris Skretkowicz. “I'm proud of Henderson and Pachello – they both had a hard time making weight and worked out all the way until the end. They showed grit by earning bonus points and starting the pace of the match in our favor.”
At 149 pounds, Pioneer Brandon Levesque put six points on the board for SHU by pinning VMI's Emmitt Kelly in the third period (7:20) to cut the VMI lead to 12-6.
Freshman Neal Richards quickly swung the momentum back in VMI's favor by earning bonus points with a 18-6 major decision over SHU's Matt Fisher. In the next bout at 165 pounds, junior Shabaka Johns earned a 6-2 decision over SHU's Casey Mitchell in what proved to be the match-winning bout as the Keydets jumped to a 19-6 lead.
Junior Mark Darr then earned four security points at 174 pounds by defeating Sacred Heart's Johnny Vrasidas by a 16-5 major decision to give VMI its final points.
“Mark Darr was impressive and stayed in his offense the whole match,” Skretkowicz said. “After this win, it is important for us to refocus our attention on new opponents tomorrow as we'll look to have the same outcome.”
Sacred Heart's Mark Boyle topped Derek Thurman at 184 points by a 10-4 decision before VMI's Taylor Thomas was pinned by his SHU opponent at 197 points.
The Keydets return to the mat Sunday in Hempstead, New York as VMI takes on Bloomsburg in a neutral setting at 1 p.m. before facing host Hofstra at 3 p.m.
VMI 23, Sacred Heart 18
January 2, 2016
Fairfield, Conn.
125: Dalton Henderson (VMI) def. Gerard Daly (SHU) 9-6 (3-0 VMI)
133: Benjamin Pachello (VMI) pins Tim Johnson (SHU) 2:51 (9-0 VMI)
141: Hunter Starner (VMI) def. Alex Harnsberger (SHU) 5-4 (12-0 VMI)
149: Brandon Levesque (SHU) pins Emmitt Kelly (VMI) 7:20 (12-6 VMI)
157: Neal Richards (VMI) def. Matt Fisher (SHU) 18-6 major decision (16-6 VMI)
165: Shabaka Johns (VMI) def. Casey Mitchell (SHU) 6-2 (19-6 VMI)
174: Mark Darr (VMI) def. Johnny Vrasidas (SHU) 16-5 major decision (23-6 VMI)
184: Mark Boyle (SHU) def. Derek Thurman (VMI) 10-4 (23-9 VMI)
197: Sasha Oliinyk (SHU) pins Taylor Thomas (VMI) 2:44 (23-15 VMI)
HWT: Duke Sherwood (SHU) def. Sivaatasi Mathias (VMI) 3-1 (23-18 VMI)
