RICHMOND, Va. – In front of a packed house filled with alumni and fans, VMI Wrestling scored a massive 22-20 Southern Conference victory over Gardner-Webb Friday night at Benedictine College Prep.
 
The Keydets, who move to 5-7 overall with a 1-2 SoCon record, picked up their first conference win over the Bulldogs in dramatic fashion. With the triumph, VMI has now defeated Gardner-Webb for the 10th time in program history.
 
 
VMI started the dual with an 18-4 advantage until Gardner-Webb flipped the script by tallying the next 16 points, making it 20-18 in favor of the Bulldogs. In the final bout of the evening, 149-pounder Patrick Jordon recorded a big 14-2 major decision to put the Keydets back on top and seal VMI's first league win.
 
Starting off the match-opening surge was Ryan Vigil at 165 pounds with a 9-0 major decision before Luke Hart tallied a tight 2-1 decision after earning 1:31 riding time that landed the Keydets an 8-4 lead out the gate.
 
184-pounder and nationally-ranked Braxton Lewis picked up a 23-6 technical fall in full time followed up by 197-pounder Toby Schoffstall with a 1:03 pin against Josh McCutchen who is ranked #33 nationally in the coaches poll.
 
Results vs. Gardner-Webb (W, 22-20)
125: Tyson Lane (GW) over Cody Tanner (VMI) (Fall 5:23)
133: Takeo Davis (GW) over Dyson Dunham (VMI) (Dec 6-4)
141: Todd Carter (GW) over Phoenix Alyea (VMI) (MD 14-5)
149: Patrick Jordon (VMI) over Dominic DiTullio (GW) (MD 14-2)
157: Drew Pepin (GW) over Eric Doran (VMI) (MD 12-3)
165: Ryan Vigil (VMI) over Grant Kress (GW) (MD 9-0)
174: Luke Hart (VMI) over Andrew Wilson (GW) (Dec 2-1)
184: Braxton Lewis (VMI) over Jackson Potts (GW) (TF 23-6 7:00)
197: Toby Schoffstall (VMI) over Josh McCutchen (GW) (Fall 1:03)
285: Peyton McComas (GW) over Josh Evans (VMI) (Dec 3-1)
 
Next Up for the Keydets
The Keydets will move quickly to their next destination as VMI will take on Bellarmine in Louisville, Kentucky on Sunday at 1 p.m. It is a near-fresh matchup between the Keydets and the Knights of Bellarmine with this Sunday's match being the fifth all-time in program history. Last season, VMI took down Bellarmine, 25-11, at Cormack Hall, leading to a 3-1 series record.
 
For more information, visit VMIKeydets.com or follow us on social media at VMI Athletics.