LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Bellarmine wrestling just keeps on winning. In their fourth SoCon dual of the season, the Knights rallied to defeat VMI in a thriller by a final score of 20-19 on Friday night at Knights Hall.
 
After falling behind 13-0, Bellarmine rallied to take the lead 17-16.  BU trailed by one point, however, going into the final bout, but Devan Hendrick's win gave Bellarmine its third consecutive win.
 
"We had some huge performances tonight that paid off big time to get the W," Knights Head Coach Ned Shuck said.  
 
The dual began at 184, and VMI took an early 13-0 lead with a pin, major decision victory, and win by decision at 184, 197, and 285 respectively.  The Knights started their scoring at 125 with a Jack Parker 10-3 win by decision over Tony Burke.  The 133 bout was perhaps the most exhilirating of the night, as freshman Trayce Eckman battled Dyson Dunham into extra time.  Down by one point with less than 20 seconds remaining, Eckman earned a takedown for two points, and ultimately the 6-5 victory.  The score after 133 was 13-6 with VMI in front.

The Keydets extended their lead to 16-6 with a decision victory at 141, but Zac Cowan answered with a 17-2 tech fall win over Ryan Vigil at 149.  Tavius Hosley then gave Bellarmine its first lead of the dual with a pin of Job Chishko at the 4:45 mark of the 157 bout.  The 165 match was hard-fought, but Braxton Lewis earned a 4-0 win to put VMI back in front 19-17.
 
The dual came down to the final match, pitting Devan Hendricks against Jon Hoover at 174.  Hendricks methodically worked his way to a 4-0 win, sealing the team victory for Bellarmine by a final score of 20-19.
 
"True freshman Trayce Eckman getting a clutch takedown with short time in the tiebreaker period speaks to how gutsy he is and how much fight he's willing to put out for his team," Shuck added. "Tavius showed a ton of poise being down in the match and having the courage to take the risk and it paid off with a huge pin for the team!  I love that it worked out where our upper-classman and team captain had the match in his hands to bring it home for the team! It was another great win that shows the progress these guys are making. I am so proud of them!"
 
The Knights move to 10-2 on the season and 2-2 in SoCon action.

Bellarmine has the next week off before continuing its four-dual homestand on Feb. 10 versus Campbell (7:00 p.m.) and Feb. 11 versus The Citadel (5:00 p.m.)
 
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Bellarmine  20 – VMI 19
184:  Zach Brown (VMI) def. Kennedy Wyatt (BU),  Fall (2:35)
197:  Tyler Mousaw (VMI) def. Royce Hall (BU), 10-2 by MD
285:  Josh Evans (VMI) def. Thad Huff (BU), 2-0 by Dec
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125:  Jack Parker (BU) def. Tony Burke (VMI), 10-3 by Dec
133:  Trayce Eckman (BU) def. Dyson Dunham (VMI), 6-5 (TB-1)
141:  Freddy Junko (VMI) def. Michael Schiffhauer (BU), 3-2 by Dec
149:  Zac Cowan (BU) def. Ryan Vigil (VMI), TF 17-2 (4:19)
157:  Tavius Hosley (BU) def. Job Chishko (VMI),  Fall (4:45)
165:  Braxton Lewis (VMI) def. Cole Nance (VMI), 4-0 by Dec
174:  Devan Hendricks (BU) def.  Jon Hoover (VMI), 4-0 by Dec