BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Gardner-Webb picked up five wins on the evening, but would be edged by visiting VMI by a 21-19 score in Southern Conference wrestling action on Tuesday evening inside Paul Porter Arena.
 
Gardner-Webb falls to 2-11 overall and 0-5 in SoCon action, while VMI improves to 3-10 overall and 1-3 in SoCon bouts.
 
Action began at the 165-pound weight class, where Tyler Marinelli pinned Luke Niksic in 5:52, his first win by fall this season.  The 20th-ranked redshirt-senior remains unblemished in dual matches at 12-0 for the year and is 22-2 overall.
 
Gardner-Webb dropped the following matchup at 174 pounds, allowing the Keydets to knot the score at 6-6, as Kyle Homet was pinned by Neal Richards in 5:28.
 
VMI claimed a 9-6 advantage as Nathaniel Kale dropped a 4-0 decision to Max Gallahan at 184 pounds, but the 'Dogs would answer at 197 pounds, as Anthony Perrine defeated Chris Beck by a narrow 4-3 decision to square the match at 9-9.
 
The Keydets reclaimed the lead in the following bout, as a takedown in the final seconds gave Trey Momon a 4-2 decision over GWU's Jeffery Linker in the heavyweight bout.  That was followed by a forfeit at 125 pounds to put VMI ahead by a score of 18-9.
 
The 'Dogs began to battle back at the 133-pound weight class, as Brandon Bright handled Cliff Conway to pick up a 17-6 major decision, pulling within five points at 18-13.
 
A late call in the 141 pound match gave VMI's Dom Gallo a 4-3 decision over Blake Mulkey to put the Keydets back up by an eight-point margin at 21-13.
 
Austin Reames earned a 7-5 decision over Zach Schmitt at 149 pounds to bring GWU back with in five at 21-16 as action headed to the final matchup of the evening.
 
At 157 pounds, Evan Schenk defeated Darren Ostrander by an 8-4 decision to give GWU three more points, but the 'Dogs would fall two points short overall at 21-19.
 
Gardner-Webb will hit the road for its next dual match, facing Davidson on Friday, February 22 at 7:00 pm.
 
TEAM SCORES: VMI 21, Gardner-Webb 19
 
165: #20 Tyler Marinelli (GWU) def. Luke Niksic (VMI) Fall 5:52
174: Neal Richards (VMI) def. Kyle Homet (GWU) Fall 5:28
184: Max Gallahan (VMI) def. Nathaniel Kale (GWU) Dec. 4-0
197: Anthony Perrine (GWU) def. Chris Beck (VMI) Dec. 4-3
285: Trey Momon (VMI) def. Jeffery Linker (GWU) Dec. 4-2
125: Derek Shockey (VMI) won by forfeit
133: Brandon Bright (GWU) def. Cliff Conway (VMI) MD 17-6
141: Dom Gallo (VMI) def. Blake Mulkey (GWU) Dec. 4-3
149: Austin Reames (GWU) def. Zach Schmitt (VMI) Dec. 7-5
157: Evan Schenk (GWU) def. Darren Ostrander (VMI) Dec. 8-4