Jan. 15, 2007

Hokies stay alive at Virginia Duals

HAMPTON, Va. - The Virginia Tech wrestling team resumed competition at the 27th annual Virginia Duals Friday afternoon, staying alive with a 20-17, come-from-behind victory over the University of Wyoming in the consolation bracket.

Each team won five matches, but Tech used an unexpected technical fall from Derek Gallagher to spark a comeback from an 11-0 deficit. The Hokies forfeited at 125 pounds and Corey VomBaur battled back from a 3-0 deficit to Tech's Matt Rosen to win 4-3. But during the match, Wyoming's bench cost the Cowboys a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct to make it 8-0. After Garrett Desmond beat Tech's Andre Johnson 5-3 at 141 pounds, the Hokies began their conduct, down 11-0.

Hokies blanked by Edinboro at Duals

HAMPTON, Va. - The Virginia Tech wrestling team opened up competition at the 27th annual Virginia Duals Friday morning with a 43-0 loss to second-seeded and nationally 12th-ranked Edinboro. The loss drops the Hokies into the consolation bracket, where they will face the University of Wyoming at 3 p.m.

After Tech forfeited at 125 pounds, 16th-ranked Ricky Deubel picked up a 13-3 major decision over Tech's Sheridan Moran. Moran got the first takedown of the match, but Deubel proceeded to score the next 11 points to put it out of reach. After Joel Webster pinned Andre Johnson in the first period, fifth-ranked Gregor Gillespie picked up a 12-5 decision over Jon Bonilla-Bowman at 149 pounds to make it 19-0. Bonilla-Bowman trailed big late, but used an escape and takedown in the final seconds to bring it down from a major decision to a decision and save the team a point.

Cavaliers Split First Two Meets at the Virginia Duals

HAMPTON, Va. - - Eric Albright, Rocco Caponi and Scott Smith each went 2-0 to lead Virginia as the Cavaliers split dual meets with Arizona State and VMI on day one of the Virginia Duals at the Hampton Coliseum. The Sun Devils edged the Cavaliers, 21-19, in the opening round, before Virginia defeated VMI, 28-9, in the consolation round.

Albright registered a major decision over ASU's Angel Alegre, 11-3, before shutting out VMI's Tyler Anthony. 7-0, at 133 pounds. Caponi decisioned Greg Gifford, 10-5. He had a technical fall over VMI's Kyle Elgert, 15-0.

Maryland Wrestling Splits With UNC, No. 16 Illinois

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland wrestling team split a pair of duals as it beat North Carolina, 26-12, in the ACC opener for both schools and then lost to No. 16 Illinois, 26-10, on January 13 at Comcast Pavilion. Senior Jason Kiessling, ranked No. 20 in the latest USA Today/InterMat/NWCA poll, defeated a pair of ranked wrestlers on the day. Redshirt freshman Hudson Taylor and freshman Mike Letts also picked up two wins for the Terrapins.

Kiessling started the day by beating No. 12 Keegan Mueller of North Carolina, 2-1, in a tight match. Kiessling recorded a takedown with nine seconds left in the second period and that is all he would need for the win. In his win against No. 14 Roger Smith-Bergsrud, Kiessling handled the first two periods with ease by accumulating a 5-1 advantage. Smith-Bergsrud started down in the third and escaped early and then got a takedown with 54 seconds left to make it 5-4. Kiessling managed to escape shortly and his riding time gave him the 7-4 decision.

Tar Heels Fall To Terps, No. 16 Illini

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Heavyweight Spencer Nadolsky posted a pair of victories to reach the 100-win plateau for his career, but that was the highlight for North Carolina's wrestling team Saturday as it lost its Atlantic Coast Conference opener to Maryland, 26-12, and then fell to 16th-ranked Illinois, 32-3, at the Comcast Center Pavilion. The Tar Heels are now 3-5 on the season and 0-1 in the ACC.

The nation's No. 9 heavyweight according to InterMat, Nadolsky posted a 5-1 win over Maryland's Jerry Afari in the first dual of the day and followed with a 6-4 decision over John Wise for the Tar Heels' lone points against the Illini. Nadolsky is now 17-4 on the season, 100-35 in his career and 87-26 at Carolina after transferring from Michigan State.

NC State Wrestling Polishes Off Newberry, 34-12

RALEIGH, N.C. -- NC State won four of the last five matches Saturday, cruising through the heart of the Newberry lineup and nailing down a 34-12 victory over the Indians in college wrestling action at Reynolds Coliseum.

Newberry, ranked No. 12 in NCAA Division II, trailed just 13-9 after five matches and had its five best wrestlers waiting to take the mat. Newberry's starters in the upper five weight classifications came into the match with a combined record of 79-22, but the Wolfpack recorded three pins and handily won four of the five matches to roll to the easy victory.

Virginia Tech eliminated from Virginia Duals

HAMPTON, Va. - The Virginia Tech wrestling team was eliminated from competition at the 27th annual Virginia Duals Saturday morning with a 39-6 loss to Bloomsburg University in the consolation bracket.

The Hokies trailed 27-0 before picking up consecutive wins to get in the scoring column. At 174 pounds, Steve Ratley used an escape, a takedown and a penalty point late to break a 4-4 tie and pick up a 9-5 victory over Andrew Jordan. Steve Borja followed up Ratley's win with a hard-fought, 3-2 victory over Nate Shirk at 184 pounds. Trailing 1-0 going to the final period, Borja escaped to start the period and picked up a takedown with 28 seconds left to take the lead for good.

Three Cavaliers Pick Up Wins on Final Day of Virginia Duals

HAMPTON, Va. - - Rocco Caponi, Ross Gitomer and Mike Grogan won their respective bouts, but Old Dominion held off Virginia, 26-12, in the consolation round of the Virginia Duals at the Hampton Coliseum. Caponi won his third match in three days for the Cavaliers, who finished 1-2 at the tournament.

Gitomer won by decision over ODU's Kyle Hunter, 7-4, at 125 pounds while Grogan won 4-2 at 174 pounds. Caponi won by forfeit for the Cavaliers. Virginia is 4-5 in dual meets heading into a dual meet with UNC Greensboro at home next weekend. The Cavaliers will wrestle the Spartans at 1 p.m.