CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Looking to continue positive momentum following a solid showing at the Southeast Open last weekend, the VMI wrestling team was overcome by No. 23 Chattanooga by a 41-5 score to open league action Thursday night at the Maclellan Gym in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
The Keydets struggled to gain traction after Neal Richards' victory in the second bout at 157 pounds and the Mocs cruised to the win as VMI could not manage any more points.
“I'm very disappointed in tonight's performance,” said VMI head coach Chris Skretkowicz. “We lacked movement and passion. We can make a lot of excuses but the fact is we just did not wrestle the best we can. We need to put this one aside and regroup for next week. The year is young and I know we are capable of so much more.”
Out of the norm, the dual began with the 149-pound class instead of the 125-pound bout. The Mocs gained a quick advantage as UTC's Dylanger Potter pinned VMI's Stevan Smith in 4:09 to give Chattanooga a 6-0 lead.
At 157 pounds, Richards got the Keydets back into contention by earning a 20-4 (3:11) tech fall over Chattanooga's Trey Watson to put VMI within one point at 6-5. The hope was short-lived, however, as UTC's Justin Lampe earned a 16-4 major decision over Cade Kiely at 165 pounds and the Mocs never looked back en route to the win.
Senior 125-pounder Dalton Henderson was defeated by a 12-5 decision to the Mocs' Alonzo Allen late in the match while junior 133-pounder Hunter Starner nearly gave additional points to the Keydets but was defeated by a close 3-2 decision to UTC's Chris Debien.
VMI gets back to action quickly as several Keydets will participate in the Casperson Classic hosted by Southern Virginia University Saturday morning at Knight Sports Arena in Buena Vista, Virginia. The tournament is slated for a 10 a.m. start.
No. 23 Chattanooga 41, VMI 5
149: Dylanger Potter (CHAT) over Stevan Smith (VMI) (Fall 4:09)
157: Neal Richards (VMI) over Trey Watson (CHAT) (TF 20-4 3:11)
165: Justin Lampe (CHAT) over Cade Kiely (VMI) (MD 16-4)
174: Sean Mappes (CHAT) over Shabaka Johns (VMI) (MD 13-5)
184: Bryce Carr (CHAT) over Christopher Beck (VMI) (MD 11-3)
197: Ira Dent (CHAT) over Taylor Thomas (VMI) (Fall 0:31)
285: No. 11 Jared Johnson (CHAT) over Sam Bouis (VMI) (TF 16-0 4:04)
125: Alonzo Allen (CHAT) over Dalton Henderson (VMI) (Dec 12-5)
133: Chris Debien (CHAT) over Hunter Starner (VMI) (Dec 3-2)
141: Roman Boylen (CHAT) over Darren Ostrander (VMI) (Fall 4:58)
