VMI Athletics

2015-16: Earned a 5-5 overall record for the year, including a 2-3 dual record and 3-2 mark in tournament competition … went 1-2 in Southern Conference action … logged three major decisions and two pins en route to 10 dual points for the team … placed sixth at the Hokie Open to open the season … in his first bout as a Keydet, earned a 16-2 major decision over The Citadel’s Andrew Clayton on Nov. 7 … won three straight bouts at the Hokie Open, including two major decisions and a pin, against opponents from George Mason, Chattanooga and Columbia … pinned Sacred Heart’s Tim Johnson in 2:51 to open the month of January.

High School: Four-year letterwinner at Arvada West HS in Arvada, Colo. … as a freshman placed second in state at 113 pounds … wrestled at 132 pounds as a sophomore and junior, placing sixth and third, respectively, at state competition … as a senior wrestled at 138 pounds, placing second at states … also competed for Elite Team Colorado club … also played four years of lacrosse and was a three-time All-State faceoff midfielder … earned the best faceoff percentage in the school’s lacrosse history … also played club lacrosse with the Wild Lacrosse Colorado.

Personal: Prefers to go by Bennie … parents are Benji and Misty Pachello … has one younger sister … father was a semi-professional rugby player and grandfather was a collegiate wrestler … plans to major in civil engineering.