BOILING SPRINGS – Gardner-Webb took down VMI in both squads' Southern Conference opener Wednesday night, rolling to a 31-9 victory in Paul Porter Arena.

Gardner-Webb (3-4, 1-0 SoCon) blew the match open just four bouts in, with 149-pounder Ryan Mosley recording a 22-6 tech fall over Jake Krall to get things into high gear. Mosley led 7-1 after the first period, pushed the lead to 11-2 after two and pulled away in the third.

Kyle Ash took down B.J. Crozier in the second period at 157 pounds to push Gardner-Webb's lead to 17-3 and Austin Trott followed by pinning Shabaka Jones in the second period at 165 pounds. Trott – ranked No. 20 in his weight class by The Open Mat – improved to 8-2 this season with his victory

VMI (1-3, 0-1 SoCon) got an 8-7 decision via riding time from Mark Darr at 174 pounds to trim the lead to 23-6, but Gray Jones recorded a tech fall at 184 pounds for Gardner-Webb (18-3) – followed by a 3-2 decision from Boyce Cornwell in his season debut at 197 pounds for a 31-6 margin.

Heavyweight Juan Adams outlasted Justin Kozera in the evening's final bout to pick up three points for the Keydets.

Gardner-Webb will head to Cleveland, Ohio, on December 13 to participate in the Cleveland State Open (All Day) and will get back to action in January at the annual Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga, Tenn. (Jan. 1-2 | All Day).

The Runnin' Bulldogs will host Binghamton in their next dual match on January 9 at 7:00 pm.

Gardner-Webb 31, VMI 9
125 – Cortez Starkes (GWU) dec. Dalton Henderson (VMI), 7-0 – 3-0
133 – Tyler Ziegler (GWU) dec. Hunter Starner (VMI), 5-1 – 6-0
141 – Emmitt Kelly (VMI) dec. Ryan Hull (GWU), 7-3 – 6-3
149 – Ryan Mosley (GWU) tech. fall. Jake Krall (VMI), 22-6 – 11-3
157 – Kyle Ash (GWU) fall B.J. Crozier (VMI), 3:00 – 17-3
165 – Austin Trott (GWU) fall Shabaka Jones (VMI), 5:00 – 23-3
174 – Mark Darr (VMI) dec. Christian Maroni (GWU), 8-7 – 23-6
184 – Gray Jones (GWU) tech. fall Jake Koch (VMI), 18-3 – 28-6
197 – Boyce Cornwell (GWU) dec. Urayoan Garcia (VMI), 3-2 – 31-6
285 – Juan Adams (VMI) dec. Justin Kozera (GWU), 2-1 – 31-9