CORALVILLE, Iowa – Three Keydets are guaranteed placers after a solid first day at the Soldier Salute, lifting VMI Wrestling to the top 10 as a team heading into Sunday's finals at Xtream Arena.
VMI's 149-pounder
Patrick Jordon piloted the Keydets' brilliant day and will begin day two in the championship semifinals. Jordon kicked off the day by upsetting the tournament's fourth-seeded wrestler from nationally-ranked Iowa, clinching a 9-5 decision. In round two, down 3-2 in the match, the junior used a strategic reversal to earn a second-period pin and advance to the semifinal.
Tallying three victories was 165-pounder
Ryan Vigil, who has completed his Soldier Salute journey with an eighth-place nod. Vigil posted back-to-back wins on the championship side, then one more on the consolation side before medically forfeiting his final two bouts to claim eighth.
Toby Schoffstall closed out the day for the Keydets at 197 pounds, winning two of his four bouts to advance to the seventh-place match on Sunday. Schoffstall recorded a pair of decisions in the consolation bracket. Performing highly despite not placing was 141-pounder
Dyson Dunham, tallying three victories with a decision, major decision, and technical fall.
Despite the rest of the field bowing out of the gold bracket, several will have a shot to wrestle on Saturday in the silver bracket, including
Waylon Rogers,
Ray Cmil,
Beau Lewis,
Andrew Barford, and
Cole Will.
After day one, VMI sits in ninth place among 16 teams with 27 points, holding an opportunity to move up in the field. Nationally-ranked Missouri holds the top spot with 99 points.
Day One Results
125: Daniel Guanajuato (SDSU) over
Waylon Rogers (VMI) (TF 18-1 5:00)
125: Blake Beissel (MINN) over
Waylon Rogers (VMI) (Dec 8-4)
133: TJ Koester (UN) over
Kyle Gibson (VMI) (TF 17-0 5:00)
133: Aidan Medina (TSU) over
Kyle Gibson (VMI) (Def 2:30)
141: Dyson Dunham (VMI) over Lawson Eller (NDSU) (MD 10-1)
141: #31 Caedyn Ricciardi (NAVY) over
Dyson Dunham (VMI) (Dec 4-1)
141: Dyson Dunham (VMI) over Travis Long (BU) (TF 20-3 6:54)
141: Dyson Dunham (VMI) over John Alden (WYO) (Dec 10-4)
141: Nick O'Neill (UNC) over
Dyson Dunham (VMI) (Fall 3:37)
149: Patrick Jordon (VMI) over Kael Voinovich (IOWA) (Dec 9-5)
149: Patrick Jordon (VMI) over Easton Broxterman (ARMY) (Fall 3:40)
157: David Gleason (MIZZ) over
Ray Cmil (VMI) (TF 16-1 6:35)
157: Lane Snyder (TSU) over
Ray Cmil (VMI) (Dec 8-6)
165: Ryan Vigil (VMI) over Davis Park (NAVY) (Dec 7-0)
165: Ryan Vigil (VMI) over Kyler Knaack (UNI) (MD 9-1)
165: #17 Bryce Hepner (UNC) over
Ryan Vigil (VMI) (Fall 3:23)
165: Ryan Vigil (VMI) over Charlie Darracott (UNC) (Dec 6-4)
165: Dominic Bambinelli (MIZZ) over
Ryan Vigil (VMI) (MFFL)
165: Finn Shepard (TSU) over
Ryan Vigil (VMI) (MFFL)
174: Beau Lewis (VMI) over Nadav Nafshi (UN) (Dec 4-2)
174: Clayton Whiting (MINN) over
Beau Lewis (VMI) (MD 15-4)
174: Ethan DeLeon (NEB) over
Beau Lewis (VMI) (Dec 8-5)
184: #23 Jake Dailey (UNC) over
Andrew Barford (VMI) (TF 16-0 6:17)
184: Jonathan Sanchez (NAVY) over
Andrew Barford (VMI) (Dec 13-7)
197: #16 Evan Bates (MIZZ) over
Toby Schoffstall (VMI) (Fall 0:28)
197: Toby Schoffstall (VMI) over Silas Dailey (MINN) (Dec 6-1)
197: Toby Schoffstall (VMI) over Anthony Harris (OU) (Dec 7-6)
197: Mikey Calcagno (UNC) over
Toby Schoffstall (VMI) (TF 17-2 6:28)
HWT: Jacob Levy (UNC) over
Cole Will (VMI) (MD 13-3)
HWT: #26 Jarrett Stoner (MIZZ) over
Cole Will (VMI) (MD 18-7)
Next Up
The Keydets complete the Soldier Salute on Sunday, with two Keydets fighting for placements, with the remaining eyeing a comeback in the silver bracket. Session three will begin at Noon, with the finals starting at 6 p.m.
For more information, visit VMIKeydets.com or follow us on social media at VMI Athletics.
