Wrestling Cruises To 31-6 Victory Over VMI

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Dec. 8, 1999

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The University of Virginia wrestling teamparticipated in its first dual match competition of the 1999-2000 seasonwhen the Cavaliers hosted the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Keydets atMemorial Gymnasium. After falling behind to the Keydets 6-0 after twoevents, it was all Cavaliers from that point on, as UVa scored 31unanswered points to earn its first dual match win of the season.

VMI opened up an early 6-0 lead over Virginia when Matt Erwindefeated Brian Muir (Toms Rivers, N.J./Toms River North) by a score of 7-4at 165 and Austen Palmer topped Steve Mazzola (Cleveland, Ohio/St. edwards)by the count 9-7 at 174. However, the Cavaliers took control from thereand posted wins in the next eight weight classes. UVa gathered its firstpoints of the evening when Ryan McGrath (Blairstown, N.J./Blair Academy)earned a major decision win over Brian Toney by a count of 9-1 at 184. Inthe 197 weight class, the Cavaliers’ Jimi Massey (Williamsport,Md./Williamsport) handed the Keydets’ Dale Griffin a 10-5 loss and UVa’sJosh Etu (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) defeated VMI’s David Walker by thecount of 5-1 in the heavyweight class to give Virginia a 10-6 lead.

In the next match at 125, #5th ranked Steve Garland (Middleton,N.Y./Middleton) led the way for UVa as he man-handled VMI’s Bryan Wacker enroute to a pin at 3:58 to extend the Cavaliers lead to 16-6. The win gaveGarland his tenth victory of the season and improved his record to 10-1overall. After Virginia’s Toby MacDonald (Venice, Fla./Venice) won byforfeit at 133, UVa’s David Santamaria (Holmdel, N.J./Christian BrothersAcademy) defeated VMI’s Oliver Ruiz by a score of 10-6 in the 141 class.The Cavaliers’ John Pozniak (State College, Pa./State College) pulled out a2-0 win over the Keydets’ Adam Britt at 149 and Virginia’s Jeremy Kirk(Flemington, N.J./Blair Academy) topped VMI’s Gill Decher 3-1 in the 157class to give UVa a convincing 31-6 decision over the Keydets.

With the victory, Virginia improves its record to 1-0 on theseason. The Cavaliers will return to action on Friday, January 7th whenUVa begins competition in the 2000 Virginia Duals in Hampton, Va. The meetwill begin on the seventh of January and will continue through Saturday,January 8th. Competition is scheduled to run all day during both days ofcompetition.