LEXINGTON, Va. – The VMI wrestling team put up a valiant effort in its Southern Conference opener Friday night against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), but fell 30-9 in Cormack Hall. It is the first loss of the season for the Keydets (5-1) in dual match action.

Junior Tyler Mousaw and freshman Braxton Lewis scored extra-point victories against the traditional powerhouse Mocs, and several other Keydets came close to wins.

How it happened:
*Lewis posted a 14-6 major decision victory at 165 to up his record to 16-6 in his rookie campaign
*Mousaw moved to 15-6 this season with a 15-0 technical fall at 197, with 10 extra-point wins on the year
*Freshman Dyson Dunham battled the #16 ranked wrestler in the nation, Brayden Palmer, to a 6-4 decision at 133 pounds. Palmer is also the SoCon Wrestler of the Week this week
*Freshman Tony Burke fell just 2-0 at 125 and junior Josh Yost lost just 3-0 at 149. Sophomore Josh Evans was defeated 7-3 at 285

Next Time:
The Keydets head to Brooklyn, N.Y. next Saturday to face off with Clarion (11 a.m.) and LIU (3 p.m.).

VMI vs. Chattanooga
Jan. 6, 2023
Lexington, Va./Cormack Hall 
Chattanooga 30, VMI 9 

125: Dominic DiTomasso (CHAT) over Tony Burke (VMI) (Dec 2-0)
133: Brayden Palmer (CHAT) over Dyson Dunham (VMI) (Dec 6-4)
141: Franco Valdes (CHAT) over Freddy Junko (VMI) (Dec 5-1)
149: Grant Lundy (CHAT) over Josh Yost (VMI) (Dec 3-0)
157: Lincoln Heck (CHAT) over Job Chishko (VMI) (MD 14-2)
165: Braxton Lewis (VMI) over Caleb Waddell (CHAT) (MD 14-6)
174: Rocky Jordan (CHAT) over Jon Hoover (VMI) (TF 16-0 5:24)
184: Matthew Waddell (CHAT) over Zach Brown (VMI) (Fall 1:23)
197: Tyler Mousaw (VMI) over Landon Lewis (CHAT) (TF 15-0 7:00)
285: Logan Andrew (CHAT) over Josh Evans (VMI) (Dec 7-3)