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Jan. 29, 2005
KENT, Ohio – The University of Virginia wrestling team defeated the Kent State Golden Flashes in a non-conference dual match, 28-12 at the M.A.C. Center. Virginia won six of the ten bouts, including three by fall, to snap a four-match losing streak in the first of three dual matches the Cavaliers will wrestle in the state of Ohio this weekend.
Kent State won three of the first four matches of the dual to take an early 9-4 lead. The Cavaliers’ Byron Dunlap was UVa’s lone winner in the first four bouts of the dual when he posted a 9-1 major decision at 133-pounds.
However, the table then turned in favor of Virginia as the Cavaliers won five of the final six bouts of the dual, starting with a 7-3 decision by Paul Bjorlo at 157-pounds. UVa then recorded back-to-back falls by Will Durkee and Rocco Caponi at 165 and 174-pounds respectively, to take a commanding 19-9 lead. After the Golden Flashes cut the Cavaliers’ lead to 19-12 with two matches remaining, Virginia’s Smith duo, Scott Smith and Nick Smith, each recorded consecutive wins at 197-pounds and at heavyweight. S. Smith earned an 11-7 decision at 197-pounds and N. Smith posted a fall at heavyweight to seal UVa’s 28-12 win.
With the victory, Virginia’s record improves to 4-6 overall, while the loss drops Kent State’s record to 7-11 on the season. The win was also UVa’s first over KSU in wrestling. The Cavaliers are now 1-3 all-time against the Golden Flashes.
Virginia will remain in Ohio and will return to action on Sunday, January 30th when UVa travels to Columbus, Ohio to face two Big Ten teams in a pair of non-conference dual matches. Virginia will face the Indiana Hoosiers at noon before facing the Ohio State Buckeyes at 2:00 PM. Both matches will be held at The Ohio State University.
Here is a look at the teams scores and the individual results for the UVa/KSU dual match:
Team ScoreVirginia 28Kent State 12
Wgt. Opponents Result UVa/KSU125 Drew Opfer (KSU) def. Anthony Burke (UVa) 10-4 0-3133 Byron Dunlap (UVa) def. Mike Compton (KSU) MD, 9-1 4-3141 Jason McGee (KSU) def. Aaron Martin (UVa) 12-6 4-6149 Jason Bake (KSU) def. Paul Dunstan (UVa) 7-2 4-9157 Paul Bjorlo (UVa) def. Kurt Gross (KSU) 7-3 7-9165 Will Durkee (UVa) def. Nick Brenner (KSU) Fall @ 6:05 13-9174 Rocco Caponi (UVa) def. Ardian Ramadani (KSU) Fall @ 1:35 19-9184 Alex Camargo (KSU) def. Kyle Narkiewicz (UVa) 9-4 19-12197 Scott Smith (UVa) def. Nick Hiller (KSU) 11-7 22-12HWT Nick Smith (UVa) def. Willie Leonard (KSU) Fall @ 2:12 28-12
— UVa —