Virginia Wrestling Defeats North Carolina in ACC Dual, 20-17

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Jan. 24, 2003

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – The University of Virginia wrestling team defeated the North Carolina Tar Heels by the score of 20-17 in an Atlantic Coast Conference dual match at UNC’s Carmichael Auditorium. Virginia’s win broke a 28-year losing streak to North Carolina in dual matches for UVa, ending a streak of 30 consecutive losses to the Tar Heels in wrestling. Virginia’s last dual match victory over UNC occurred during the 1974-75 season. Trailing by 10 points (17-7) with three matches remaining, UVa stormed back to win three consecutive bouts to upset North Carolina by three points. With the scored tied at 17-17 heading into the final bout, Virginia’s 125-pounder Brian Sticca (Greensburg, Pa./Greensburg Salem), a true freshman, upset #11 ranked Chris Rodrigues by the score of 9-4 to help the Cavaliers secure the 20-17 victory in dramatic fashion.

The Tar Heels jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead as UNC sophomore Evan Sola earned a major decision over UVa’s Joe Alexander (Franklin, N.J./Delsea Regional) by the score of 9-1 at 133. However, the Cavaliers responded with their own major decision victory as Bob Seidel (Wall, N.J./Wall) defeated Brian Baglio by the score of 14-4 at 141 to tie the match at 4-4. After Virginia’s Paul Bjorlo (Reston, Va./South Lakes) dropped a tough 3-2 decision at 149 to Chris DiGuiseppe, UVa’s #13 ranked Tim Foley (Stafford, Va./Stafford) recorded a 9-2 victory over John Paul Igoe at 157 to tie the score at 7-7.

North Carolina won the next three bouts at 165, 174 and 184 to pull ahead by the score of 17-7 with three matches remaining. However, that’s when the Cavaliers made their own run, winning the last three bouts to record the team victory. UVa’s Zach Freday (Akron, Ohio/Hoover) got things started for the Cavaliers by recording a 12-3 major decision over David Dashiell at 197 to pull Virginia within 17-11. UVa received a huge boost by heavyweight Josh Etu (Queensbury, N.C./Queensbury) in the next bout when he pinned his opponent, Ryan Adams, just :48 into the match to tie the score at 17-17. Etu’s victory set the stage for Sticca’s heroics where he upset Rodrigues by the score of 9-4 in the final match of the dual to give UVa the 20-17 comeback victory.

With the win, Virginia’s record improves to 3-4 overall, 1-0 in the ACC. The loss drops North Carolina’s record to 5-3 overall, 1-1 in the conference.

The Cavaliers will return to dual match action on Saturday, January 25th when Virginia travels to Davidson, N.C. to compete in two duals matches. UVa will face both Davidson and The Citadel with competition beginning at 11:00 AM.

Here is a look at the individual results for the UVa/UNC dual match

Result	Opponents					Result		Team Score UVa/UNC133	Evan Sola (UNC) def. Joe Alexander (UVa) 		MD, 9-1		0-4141	Bob Seidel (UVa) def. John Paul Igoe (UNC)		MD, 14-4	4-4149	Chris DiGuiseppe (UNC) def. Paul Bjorlo (UVa)	3-2		4-7157	Tim Foley (UVa) def. John Paul Igoe (UNC)		9-2		7-7165	Jimmy O'Connor (UNC) def. Will Durkee (UVa) 	4-2		7-10174	Mark Canty (UNC) def. Brian Muir (UVa) 	 	10-4		7-13184	Dusty Heist (UNC) def. Scott Mania (UVa)		MD, 12-1	7-17197	Zach Freday (UVa) def. David Dashiell (UNC)		MD, 12-3	11-17HWT	Josh Etu (UVa) def. Ryan Adams (UNC)		Fall @ :48	17-17125	Brian Sticca (UVa) def. Chris Rodrigues (UNC)		9-4		20-17

— UVa —