Jan. 20, 2008

Goodman Decision Clinches Victory Over Ohio

ATHENS, Ohio - Junior 184-pounder Ryan Goodman used riding time to take a 4-3 decision over Erik Schuth in the final match of the day, lifting NC State to a 23-18 victory over the Bobcats in a dual wrestling match. The victory extended NC State's unbeaten streak to six matches and improved the Wolfpack to 6-5-1 in dual matches for the season. Ohio fell to 5-11 with the loss.

NC State got victories from its big four - 125-pounder Taylor Cummings, 141-pounder Joe Caramancia, 149-pounder Darrion Caldwell, and Goodman at 184 - plus decisions from 197-pounder Mark Jahad and 165-pounder Jalil Dozier. Cummings won by tech fall, and Caldwell recorded his 14th pin of the season.

The two teams traded wins through the first four weight classes, with Jahad defeating Chris Iammarino 6-5 in the first match of the dual, and Cummings winning a 16-0 tech fall over Heath Allen at 125. Cummings improved to 17-8 on the season with his fourth technical fall of the year.

With Ohio University holding a 10-8 lead through four matches, Caramanica, ranked No. 7 in the latest NCWA poll, jumped to an early four-point lead on a takedown and near fall, then held on to take an 8-7 decision over Germane Lindsey in a bout that was tight throughout. Caramanica improved to 21-4 with the win.

Caldwell then gave NC State a 17-8 lead by pinning Kevin Christensen in 1:46. Caldwell, who improved to 22-3 for the season, now has 14 pins for the season, has won his last six bouts by fall or technical fall. He has 24 pins for his career, which is tied with Pierre Pryor 1998-2002) for fifth place in school history.

Virginia Wrestling Sets Wins Record With Victories vs. Davidson, UNC Greensboro

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Virginia wrestling team set a school record for dual wins in a season Sunday after downing Davidson and UNC Greensboro in Greensboro, N.C. The 13-3 Cavaliers opened the day with a 45-4 romp over Davidson, then rallied from an early hole to down host UNC Greensboro, 24-18. The previous record for dual wins in a season was 12, set in 1975, 2003 and 2006.

Virginia had no problem matching the record, taking nine of 10 bouts in defeating Davidson (1-5). The Cavaliers got pins from Nick Nelson (Fr., Pittsburgh, Pa.), Shawn Harris (Fr., Cleveland, Ohio) and Rocco Caponi (Jr., Uniontown, Ohio) at 141, 149 and 184 pounds, respectively, and a technical fall from Mike Sewell (Jr., Bothell, Wash.) at 165 to roll to a big win.

The dual against UNCG (5-5) was much tighter. The Spartans jumped out to a 12-0 lead after two weight classes before the Cavaliers roared back to win six of the next seven classes to put the dual away. Chris Henrich (Fr., Lansdale, Pa.) and Caponi posted back-to-back falls at 174 and 184 to aid in the comeback. Brent Jones (So., Burke, Va.) earned a 13-7 decision over 11th-ranked Daren Burns at 197 pounds to nab his 10th-consecutive win this season.