Wrestling Falls to #22 Clarion 22-15

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Feb. 22, 1998

CLARION, PA – Virginia’s Matt Roth (Wescosville, Pa./Parkland) pinned Clarion’s Dominic Surra in the second period to give the Cavaliers a 5-3 lead after two bouts but the Hoos were unable to close out the match as they fell to #22 Clarion 22-15. The loss broke a seven-match winning streak that started January 24th and drops the Cavaliers to 8-7 on the season.

After Steve Garland (Middletown, NY/Middletown) fell at 118, the Cavaliers were assessed a team penalty point to drop Virginia to a team score of -1. Roth answered with his pin at 4:17 into the match to give the Cavaliers the lead. Clarion regained the lead with a close descision at 134 as Mark Angle defeated Jason Mutarelli (N. Catasauqua, Pa./Catasauqua) 4-2 in overtime.

After John Frent (Short Hills, N.J./Millburn) fell at 142, Jim Harshaw (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) defeated Shane McChesney 6-0 to bring the Cavaliers back to within two at 10-8. But successive victories at 158,167, and 177 for the Golden Eagles gave Clarion a 22-8 lead. Virginia’s Martius Harding (Baltimore, Md./McDonough) and Jason Majestic (Patchogue, NY/Medford) tried to rally the Cavaliers with wins at 190 and heavyweight, but it was too late as Virginia lost their first dual match in February in two years 22-15.

Virginia has closed out its regular season and will compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championships in Durham on March 7. Virginia was the runner-up in the 1997 tournament and had three ACC Champions in Steve Garland (126), Jim Harshaw (150), and Martius Harding (177). Steve Garland was the 1997 ACC Tournament Outstanding Wrestler.

   Wt  Result                              Team Score (VA-Clarion)118 Lee Pritts (C) dec. Garland (VA)            9-4         3-0    -1 team point (Virginia) unsportsmanlike conduct    3-(-1)126 Roth (VA) WB Fall Surra 4:17                3-5134 Angle (C) dec. Mutarelli 4-2 ot             6-5142 Tom Tomeo (C) maj dec. Frent                9-1         10-5150 Harshaw (VA) dec. McChesney                 6-0         10-8158 Brad Harris (C) dec. John McManus           4-2         13-8167 Jason Moaney (C) WB Fall John Qualter 2:13  19-8177 Aaron Mitchell (C) dec. Tom Shaw            4-1         22-8190 Harding (VA) dec. Jesse Shirey              10-5        22-11HWT Majestic (VA) maj. dec. Ben Boldin          14-3        22-15