Wrestling ACCtion: Saturday, January 19 - ACC OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE

Jan. 19, 2008

No. 21 Maryland Takes Care Of Virginia Tech, 33-8

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The No. 21 Maryland wrestling team recorded its sixth-straight win with a 33-8 victory against Virginia Tech on January 19 at Comcast Pavilion. The Terrapins won eight of the 10 matches in the dual with sophomore Hudson Taylor and freshman Brian Letters both recording pins in their respective contests.

The dual started at 133 pounds where sophomore Steven Bell picked up a 13-5 major decision. He recorded five takedowns in the match and a reversal in the beginning of the second period to get the win. Chris Diaz then won by decision at 141 pounds to cut the Maryland lead to 4-3, but the Hokies would never get closer than that.

Freshman Eric Medina got back into the win column with a 9-7 decision against Matt Rosen at 149 pounds. Medina took a 6-3 lead into the final period and chose to start down. After Rosen rode him for 20 seconds, Medina made a move and scored a key reversal to push his lead to 8-3. It proved to be enough as Rosen tallied an escape, a takedown, and a penalty point from Medina to make it close. Medina's riding time bonus gave him the 9-7 win.

Freshman Brian Letters won his third match in a row with his second pin of the season. After a scoreless first period, Letters started down against Andre Johnson. He scored the quick escape and then got a takedown with 47 seconds remaining. Letters parlayed that into the pin with 30 seconds left. It was his first fall since November 17.

Virginia Wrestling Rolls Over Appalachian State, 24-10

The Virginia wrestling team won seven of its 10 individual matches in earning a 24-10 win over Appalachian State (7-8) Saturday in Boone, N.C. The Cavaliers improve to 11-3 in dual-meet action this season and are one win shy of the school record for dual wins in a season.

Rocco Caponi (Jr., Uniontown, Ohio), ranked ninth nationally, improved to 27-1 with a 8-0 major decision over Austin Trotman at 184 pounds. No. 17 Eric Albright (Jr., York, Pa.) posted a 4-3 decision over ASU's Terreyl Williams at 133 pounds, while No. 19 Brent Jones (So., Burke, Va.) nabbed a 10-4 decision over Dylan Temple at 197. No. 20 Michael Chaires (Fr., Scotia, N.Y.) earned a 2-1 win over Tommy Hutchinson at 165.

Ross Gitomer (Flemington, N.J.) posted a 12-3 major decision win over Corey Hulsey at 125 pounds to improve to 27-7 this year. Nick Nelson (Fr., Pittsburgh, Pa.) whipped Marcus Cox, 15-6, in a major decision at 141 pounds to earn his 21st win of the year. Chris Henrich (Fr., Lansdale, Pa.) won, 11-4, at 174 to earn his eighth-consecutive victory.