SPORTS

 

LEXINGTON, Va. – Davidson Wrestling earned a hard-fought win over the VMI Keydets, winning six of the 10 matches to walk away with a 23-12 victory on the road Friday night. The ‘Cats move to 4-9 on the season and 2-4 in conference. 

“We saw a gritty team effort tonight,” head coach Andy Lausier said. “Across our entire line-up, we are seeing great improvements on the mat. I am super proud of the team’s commitment to the process that is in place.”

The night started on a high note with three Davidson wrestlers finding themselves in the rankings as the NCAA announced the first reveal of the rating percentage index (RPI) for the 2021-22 wrestling season. Kyle Gorant sits at No. 25 at 133 pounds, Gavin Henry is ranked No. 31 at 184 points and heavyweight Mitchell Trigg sits at No. 23. The final rankings will be tools used as part of the selection process to determine the qualifiers for the 2022 NCAA Division I Wrestling Championships, which will take place March 17-19 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 

All three of those ranked ‘Cats helped Davidson to their victory Friday night. Gorant earned a 16-0 TF at 3:11, Henry walked away with a 6-1 decision and Trigg ended the night with an 8-4 decision to secure the win for Davidson. 

Nick Cambria earned a statement 8-5 decision before things really got rolling for Davidson. Gavin Damasco has now won five-straight matches at 149, ending tonight by pinning Luke Hard at 4:27. Aside from Henry and Trigg, Bryce Sanderlin took home the sixth win for Davidson with a tight 4-2 decision.  

The coaches’ rankings are determined by a vote of 14 coaches in each weight class with two head coaches from each of the seven conference. For ranking purposes, coaches may only consider a wrestler that has been designated as a starter at a respective weight class. Wrestlers must have five Division I matches in the weight class to be considered with at least one within the last 30 days. 

The RPI is a calculation that consists of three factors: winning percentage, opponent winning percentage (strength of schedule) and opponent’s opponent winning percentage (opponent’s strength of schedule). Only matches against Division I opponents at the designated weight class count towards the RPI and a wrestler needs to have wrestled 15 matches to be ranked.

RESULTS:
Davidson 23, VMI 12
125: Cam Chicella (VMI) over Hale Robinson (DAV) (Dec 7-1) 
133: Kyle Gorant (DAV) over Patrick Maglathlin (VMI) (TF 16-0 3:11) 
141: Nick Cambria (DAV) over Frederick Junko (VMI) (Dec 8-5) 
149: Gavin Damasco (DAV) over Luke Hart (VMI) (Fall 4:27) 
157: Bryce Sanderlin (DAV) over Seth Fillers (VMI) (Dec 4-2) 
165: Blake Showers (VMI) over Jaden Hardrick (DAV) (Dec 7-4) 
174: Jon Hoover (VMI) over Steven Newell (DAV) (Dec 3-1) 
184: Gavin Henry (DAV) over Maxwell Gourley (VMI) (Dec 6-1) 
197: Tyler Mousaw (VMI) over Finaly Holston (DAV) (Dec 9-6) 
285: Mitchell Trigg (DAV) over Josh Evans (VMI) (Dec 8-4)

Extra Match:
285: Jake Fernicola (DAV) over Isaac Dolph (VMI) 6-3

UP NEXT
Davidson will have the week to regroup before welcoming Appalachian State to Belk Arena on Friday, Feb. 18 at 7 pm.