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LANCASTER, Pa. – Virginia Military Institute snatched
victory from the jaws of defeat in three bouts to hand Franklin
& Marshall a 24-13 setback at Mayser Center Saturday
afternoon.
A Matt Brock (6-4) reversal late in the second tiebreak period
gave the Keydets (1-0) the meet clinching victory at 174 pounds.
The Diplomats (0-3) Matt
Fullowan (2-4) traded escapes with Brock in regulation.
Fullowan escaped again early in the first tiebreaker and nearly
recorded a takedown, but ran out of time. He appeared to have the
rideout secured in the second tiebreaker, but Brock was able to
score a late reversal and ride the Diplomat out.
It was the third of four bouts VMI took by less than a takedown.
The Keydets turned momentum with the second of the four, the
157-pound match. F&M's Eric
Norgard (1-4) used two first period takedowns to build an early
lead, but Nick Emison (1-2) ground away and took a 5-4 lead on a
strong counter in the second period. Norgard reclaimed the lead
with a late takedown, but Emison reversed him in the final ten
seconds of the bout to make it the 7-6 final.
A late third period takedown by VMI's David Yost (8-4) was the
difference at 141 pounds. Yost hit a double late for a 7-5 win over
Kenny
Knapp (1-4). At 184 pounds, F&M's Matt
Latessa (0-5) saw a strong shot countered in the closing
seconds of the third period by John Dommert (3-4). Dommert turned
the shot into the decisive takedown in an 8-7 bout.
F&M started the day in a six-point hole, forfeiting 125
pounds. Jake Bucha
(7-0) started digging F&M out scoring four takedowns a reversal
and a pair of near fall points for a 13-4 major of Luke Todd (2-3).
Andrew
Murano (1-4) got the Diplomats within two points in his first
collegiate win. He piled up half of his four takedowns in the first
period en route to an 11-6 decision of Rennie Merhige (6-7).
Despite the tough losses at 174 and 184, Colin Ely
(3-2) soldiered on for the day's only pin, avenging last year's 7-5
loss to Ronnie Ellsworth (7-5). The wrestlers traded
takedowns and escapes in the first period, and Ellsworth carried an
8-6 lead into the third. Ely struck quickly with a solid double in
the third, converting the takedown into three back points before
sticking the Keydet at 5:40.
The Diplomats return to action on Friday, December 10 at
Navy.
VMI 24, F&M 13
125: Jonathan Pope (V) by forfeit (6-0)
133: Jake Bucha (F) maj. dec. Luke Todd (V), 13-4 (6-4)
141: David Yost (V) dec. Kenny Knapp (F), 7-5 (9-4)
149: Andrew Murano (F) dec. Rennie Merhige (V), 11-6 (9-7)
157: Nick Emison (V) dec. Eric Norgard (F), 7-6 (12-7)
165: Joe Munno (V) dec. Anthony
Bongarzone (F), 11-5 (15-7)
174: Matt Brock (V) dec. Matt Fullowan (F), 3-2, TB2 (18-7)
184: John Dommert (V) dec. Matt Latessa (F), 8-7 (21-7)
197: Colin Ely (F) pinned Ronnie Ellsworth (V), 5:40
285: Josh Wine (V) dec. Dan
Canfield (F), 8-2
