BLACKSBURG, Va. – Opening the 2016-17 campaign against one of the top programs in the country, the VMI wrestling team fell by a 39-6 score to host No. 6 Virginia Tech Saturday afternoon at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Virginia.
The Keydets faced multiple individually ranked wrestlers throughout the dual and competed well in several bouts. VMI senior 125-pounder Dalton Henderson fell by a 7-1 decision to No. 3-ranked Joey Dance to begin the match before 133-pound junior Hunter Starner lost by a close 7-6 decision to Dom Latona, who won only by riding time earned during the battle.
After VMI sophomore John Reed lost by a tech fall to Tech's Dennis Gustafson at 141 pounds, fellow sophomore Stevan Smith faced a difficult task in facing No. 7 Solomon Chishko at 149 pounds and fell by a 23-3 tech fall in 4:22.
Following two more VMI defeats at 157 and 165 pounds, VMI senior 174 pounder Shabaka Johns lost by a close 11-6 decision to the nation's No.2 wrestler for the class in Tech's Zach Epperly. At 184 pounds, Tech's No. 10-ranked Zack Zavatsky pinned VMI freshman Chris Beck in 1:30 before VMI junior Taylor Thomas was pinned at 197 pounds by No. 3-ranked Jared Haught in 3:26.
VMI freshman heavyweight Sam Bouis earned six points for the Keydets as Tech's Dylan Cook forfeited the final bout of the match to give the Hokies the 39-6 victory.
The Keydets return to action Sunday as individual wrestlers will compete in their respective weight classes at the Hokie Open. The tournament lasts all day at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg, Virginia.
No. 6 VIRGINIA TECH 39, VMI 6
125: No. 3 Joey Dance (VT) dec. Dalton Henderson (VMI), 7-1
133: Dom Latona (VT) dec. Hunter Starner (VMI), 7-6
141: Dennis Gustafson (VT) tech fall John Reed (VMI), 16-1 (4:20)
149: No. 7 Solomon Chishko (VT) tech fall Stevan Smith (VMI), 23-3 (4:22)
157: Sal Mastriani (VT) tech fall Alex Rinehart (VMI), 18-2 (4:08)
165: Mike Ciavarro dec. Cade Kiely (VMI), 9-4
174: No. 2 Zach Epperly (VT) dec. Shabaka Jones (VMI), 11-6
184: No. 10 Zack Zavatsky (VT) fall Chris Beck (VMI), (1:30)
197: No. 3 Jared Haught (VT) fall Taylor Thomas (VMI), (3:26)
HWT: Sam Bouis (VMI) won by forfeit over Dylan Cook (VT)
