Three Pins Lead Wrestling to 36-6 Victory over VMI

Charleston, S.C. – Three Bulldogs notched wins via fall as The Citadel defeated Virginia Military Institute 36-6 Sunday afternoon at McAlister Field House to give head coach Rob Hjerling his 100^th career victory. The win is the Bulldogs fifth straight against VMI and evens their Southern Conference record at 1-1 on the season.

Seth Vernon got the action off on the right foot, picking up his first pin as a Bulldog, stopping VMI's David Yost at the 2:46 mark of the 149 match. Pierre Frazile increased the Bulldogs' lead to 9-0 with a 3-2 decision at 157, while VMI got on the board at 165 with Carry Joseph's 9-4 decision over Mike Harper.

VMI posted another victory at 174 as Matthew Brock captured a 3-1 overtime victory over No. 18 Turtogtokh Luvsandorj. After a scoreless first period and 90 seconds of injury time by Luvsandorj, the two wrestlers could not post a point again in the second stanza. With Brock starting the third on the bottom, the VMI grappler escaped but was called for stalling to even the bout at 1-1. Brock captured the match with a takedown with 10 seconds left in overtime for the victory.

The Citadel stormed back however, winning the final six matches to secure the 30-point victory. At 184, Josh Tuck came out victorious with an 11-10 decision over John Dommert. Tuck trailed 8-7 heading into the final period, but scored three near-fall points to take a 10-8 lead. A reversal by Dommert with 39 seconds left knotted the score at 10 apiece, but Tuck gained the final point on an escape eight seconds later and held on for the victory.

A 4-3 decision by Kelby Smith at 197 extended his winning streak to eight matches and Odie Delaney notched his fifth straight pin at heavyweight, putting the shoulders of VMI's Juan Adams to the mat at 1:03 mark. Richard Alarcon won via forfeit at 125 and Kyle Casaletto scored The Citadel's third first-period pin of the afternoon, stopping Joe Jarrells at the 1:57 mark of their 133-pound bout. Jordan Dix wrapped things up for the Bulldogs with a 3-1 decision at 141.

The Bulldogs return to action next Sunday afternoon as they host Chattanooga at 2:00 p.m.

Citadel (5-7, 1-1 SoCon) vs. Virginia Military Institute (4-7, 2-2 SoCon)
149         Seth Vernon (The Citadel) won by pin over David Yost (VMI) 2:46; Citadel 6-0
157         Pierre Frazile (The Citadel) won by decision over Michael Burnett (VMI) 3-2; Citadel 9-0
165         Carry Joseph (VMI) won by decision over Michael Harper (The Citadel) 9-4; Citadel 9-3
174         Matthew Brock (VMI) won in overtime over No. 18 Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (The Citadel) 3-1; Citadel 9-6
184         Josh Tuck (The Citadel) won by decision over John Dommert (VMI) 11-10; Citadel 12-6
197         Kelby Smith (The Citadel) won by decision over Urayoan Garcia (VMI) 4-3; Citadel 15-6
285         No. 19 Odie Delaney (The Citadel) won by pin over Juan Adams (VMI) 1:03; Citadel 21-6
125         Richard Alarcon Jr. (The Citadel) won by forfeit; Citadel 27-6
133         Kyle Casaletto (The Citadel) won by pin over Joe Jarrells (VMI) 1:57; Citadel 33-6
141         Jordan Dix (The Citadel) won by decision over Zeb Stewart (VMI) 3-1; Citadel 36-6

For more information on Bulldog Wrestling, visit the official website of The Citadel Athletics at www.CitadelSports.com.

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