Bulldogs Fall at VMI 21-15 in Dual Meet Action
December 12, 2009 | Wrestling
Lexington, Va. - The Gardner-Webb wrestling team jumped out to a 12-5 lead on the VMI Keydets to open the match, yet dropped four out of the five final matches to fall to the Keydets 21-15 Friday night at The Thunderdome in Lexington, Va.
Gardner-Webb (0-6) started the match strong as at 125-pounds, junior Michael Slaughter jumped out to a 9-2 lead through one period. VMI's John Pope cut the lead to 13-11 in the closing seconds, yet Slaughter was able to hold him off for the 13-11 win.
Redshirt-freshman Richie Spicel also led 9-2 after three minutes on the mat at 133-pounds for the Bulldogs, only to have his opponent Luke Todd rally from behind to bring the final margin to 9-5.
After VMI's picked up a major decision win at 141-pounds to cut the Gardner-Webb lead to one at 6-5, GWU's Ryan and Alex Medved advanced the Bulldogs lead to 12-5 with a pair of narrow wins. After VMI senior Michael Long took a 4-2 advantage at 149-pounds, Ryan Medved tied the match late in the third period to send it to overtime. In the first sudden victory period, Long nearly scored an early takedown, but Medved countered with two points of his own 40 seconds in to score the 6-4 win. Alex Medved followed with an 11-8 decision over Joe Munno of VMI at 157-pounds, giving the Bulldogs their largest lead of the night at 12-5.
The lead would evaporate quickly for the Bulldogs, as VMI picked up a win by Matt Brock at 165-pounds and then a major decision victory at 174-pounds, tying the score up at 12-12 with three bouts remaining.
Redshirt-junior Jonathan Velazquez picked up a huge win for the Bulldogs at 184, as he defeated Evan Dill of VMI 9-3 to put the Bulldogs back on top at 15-12.
With VMI guaranteed a forfeit win at heavyweight, the pressure for a win fell on the shoulders of redshirt-freshman Travis Porter at 197-pounds. Porter fell behind early to VMI's Ronnie Ellsworth 2-0 on a takedown just over two minutes into the match. Porter escaped early in the second period, but Ellsworth did the same early in the third to push the margin to 3-1. Neither wrestler scored again, though Ellsworth netted a bonus point on riding time to make the final score, 4-1, and tie the match up at 15-15.
With the match tied, Keydet junior Josh Wine walked out for the heavyweight match and was unopposed, clinching VMI's 21-15 victory.
Gardner-Webb returns to action on December 29-30, competing at the 2009 Southern Scuffle in Greensboro, N.C.
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VMI 21, Gardner-Webb 15
125- Michael Slaughter (GWU) dec. John Pope (VMI), 13-11; GWU 3-0
133- Richie Spicel (GWU) dec. Luke Todd (VMI), 9-5; GWU 6-0
141- David Yost (VMI) tech. fall Morgan McDaniel (GWU), 18-2 (6:40); GWU 6-5
149- Ryan Medved (GWU) dec. Michael Long (VMI), 6-4 (SV1); GWU 9-5
157- Alex Medved (GWU) dec. Joe Munno (VMI), 11-8; GWU 12-5
165- Matt Brock (VMI) dec. David Pelsang (GWU), 1-0; GWU 12-8
174- Andrew Szymborski (VMI) maj. dec. Blake Salyer, 9-1; Tied 12-12
184- Jonathan Velazquez (GWU) dec. Evan Dill (VMI), 9-3; GWU 15-12
197 - Ronnie Ellsworth (VMI) dec. Travis Porter (GWU), 4-1; Tied 15-15
285 - Josh Wine (VMI) forfeit; VMI 21-15
