Nov. 15, 2009

No. 17 Wrestling Sweeps Three Bouts at ACC Challenge
The No. 17 Virginia wrestling team swept three matches Sunday at the ACC Challenge at Eddie Smith Field House in Chapel Hill, N.C. UVa capped the day with a 20-19 victory over No. 16 American, marking the Cavaliers' first-ever win over a ranked team.

Virginia (5-0) earned a 20-15 win over Bucknell in the opening match of the day, then piled up the points in a 50-0 triumph over Gardner-Webb.

In the opener against Bucknell (1-2), UVa rallied from 13-9 deficit by winning the final three weight classes. With the match hanging in the balance and UVa leading 15-13 going into the final bout, heavyweight Calvin Cardillo (Sr., Alexandria, Va.) scored a 16-1 technical fall over the Bison's Conor Sweeney to propel UVa to a 20-15 win. 

Tech, conference teams dominate at ACC Challenge
It was billed as the ACC Challenge, but the home conference ruled the roost Sunday as the three schools representing the ACC went a combined 8-1 at the Eddie Smith Field House. Virginia Tech held its own with a banged-up lineup in beating American, Bucknell and Gardner-Webb to run its record to 4-1 on the young season.

In the opener, Tech used bonus points at three weight classes and a strong finish to beat a tough American squad, 21-13. Freshman Erik Spjut got the Hokies on the board at 133 pounds with a tight 3-2 win before No. 7 Chris Diaz picked up a major decision at 141 pounds to make it 7-3. But American came back with two wins in a row to snatch the lead back at 10-7 before Matt Epperly gave the Hokies an 11-10 lead with a major decision at 165 pounds. Anthony Trongone gutted out a 3-2 win at 174 pounds to give Tech a four-point lead with three matches left. At 184 pounds, fourth-ranked Mike Cannon beat 17th-ranked Tommy Spellman of Tech to make it 14-13.

The dual meet came down to the Miller brothers for the Hokies, Tim Miller at 197 pounds and Andrew Miller at heavyweight making his collegiate debut. Tim picked up a big bonus point with a dominating 12-3 major decision to give baby brother Andrew some breathing room. But Andrew didn't need it as he was impressive in his first match, winning 10-4 and sealing the 21-13 win.

Tar Heels Take Two At ACC Challenge
North Carolina allowed just nine combined points in wins over Gardner-Webb and No. 16 American and fell just short of a late rally in a loss to Bucknell at the fourth-annual ACC Challenge Sunday at Eddie Smith Field House. The Tar Heels (2-1) blanked the Bulldogs, 43-0, before posting their first win over a top-25 opponent since 2005 with their 26-9 victory over the Eagles.

The Bison downed Carolina, 19-14, to close Sunday's nine-match slate. The ACC was dominant on the afternoon, winning eight of the nine duals. Virginia and Virginia Tech both went unbeaten.

No. 16 Dennis Drury and No. 18 Thomas Scotton led Carolina with three individual victories at 157 and 197 pounds, respectively. Drury, who is now 6-1 on the young season, had a big afternoon with a technical fall against Gardner-Webb, a pin versus American and a major decision against Bucknell. Unbeaten on the year at 8-0, Scotton opened his day with a major decision in the victory over the Bulldogs and added decision against American and Bucknell