Jan. 17, 2009

Tar Heels Rally Past Belmont And Defeat Davidson

Charlotte - The University of North Carolina wrestling team defeated Belmont Abbey 22-16 and Davidson 29-10 Saturday night at the Wheeler Center for the squad's sixth and seventh wins of the season in dual meets. Carolina's Keenan Duffie pinned Belmont Abbey's Chris McClafferty in the 165 pound weight class to lead the Tar Heels to victory. Four other Tar Heels won their respective weight class in the win.

Belmont Abbey took an early 6-0 lead, but Jeremy Shaw defeated Jake Calvin in the 141 pound weight class to put Carolina on the board. Thomas Ferguson, competing in the 157 pound weight class, and Keenan Duffie, wrestling at 165 pounds, also recorded victories for the Tar Heels.

Carolina took the lead after the eighth match when Benjamin Fiacco defeated Jerami Bartley at 184 pounds. Belmont Abbey tied the match at 16-16 with a win at 197 pounds. Justin Dobies' win by forfeit in the final match-up at 285 pounds secured the win for the Tar Heels.

Virginia Wrestling Splits Against UNC Greensboro, Rutgers

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Virginia wrestling team split its first two home matches of the season on Saturday at Memorial Gymnasium, topping UNC Greensboro, 27-13, before dropping a 28-15 decision to Rutgers.

Rocco Caponi (Sr., Uniontown, Ohio) won both of his matches as he became just the sixth wrestler in Virginia history to earn 100 career wins. Caponi, ranked 17th nationally by InterMat, won his 100th match with a 5-4 triumph over UNCG's Mikal McGee at 184 pounds. He followed it up by dominating McPaul Ogbanna of Rutgers in a 15-0 technical fall. With win No. 101, Caponi moved into a fifth-place tie on the all-time Virginia wins ledger with Jason Mutarelli (1994-95, 1997-98). He has an opportunity to move into a third-place tie with a victory Sunday vs. Appalachian State.

Virginia (6-7) dropped into 10-0 holes in each match. In the opener, Virginia rallied by winning seven of the final eight bouts to defeat UNCG (1-9). The Cavaliers forfeited in both matches at 133 pounds after starter and reigning ACC Wrestler of the Week Matt Bonson (Fr., Lewistown, Pa.) suffered an injury in practice this week. At 125, UVa competed with Wyatt Anderson (So., Richmond, Va.), who rejoined the team this week after all of the Cavaliers' 125-pounders suffered season-ending injuries.

NC State Wrestling Falls To Wyoming, Ties Liberty in Wrestling Twin-Bill

RALEIGH, N.C. - All-America 149-pounder Darrion Caldwell won twice to extend his winning streak, and Kody Hamrah and Jake Burge also won twice Saturday, but NC State was unable to capitalize, losing 26-16 to Wyoming before wrestling Liberty to a 22-22 tie at Reynolds Coliseum.

The loss and tie dropped NC State to 3-7-1 in dual matches for the season. Wyoming, which also defeated Liberty improved to 6-2. Liberty fell to 5-6-1.

NC State got wins from its big three in the loss to Wyoming. Joe Caramanica, ranked No. 11 nationally, scored a major decision over Cole Dallaserra at 141 pounds. Third-ranked Darrion Caldwell pinned Chase Smith at 1:41 in the 149 bout, and Kody Hamrah took a 3-2 decision over Eric Coxbill at 157. NC State led 13-7 at that point, and later got three points from freshman Jake Burge, who upset 17th-ranked Shane Onufer 5-2 at 174 pounds. The decision was the first career victory over a ranked opponent for Burge, a highly touted freshman for the Wolfpack.

Wrestling Suffers First Setback Against Wyoming

DURHAM, N.C.--The Duke University wrestling team suffered its first setback of the season tonight, losing to Wyoming 36-6 in Cameron Indoor Stadium. It was the first contest of a three-match homestand for the Blue Devils.

Duke falls to 5-1 on the season, while Wyoming improves to 7-2 overall after wins over N.C. State and Liberty earlier in the day. The match started at 125 pounds and concluded with heavyweight.

Competing in the 197-pound division, Dan Tulley garnered Duke's lone points of the evening with a fall in just 2:36. After a close first half of the first period, Tulley used a quick move to post his first fall of the season and make the score 30-6. The win for Tulley was his 15th of the season and fourth in a row. He is unbeaten at 3-0 in dual matches this season.