UVa Wrestlers Dominate Duke in 26-12 Win
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Feb. 10, 2007
Watch the archived Webcast on ACCSelect
Charlottesville, VA — The Virginia wrestling team defeated Duke 26-12 at Memorial Gym to improve to 7-8 overall and even its ACC record at 2-2. The Cavaliers won seven of 10 matches and saw Ross Gitomer and Mike Grogan build on their current individual winning streaks. Duke dropped to 7-7 overall and is 0-4 in ACC matches.
Gitomer started the match with a 5-2 decision over Duke’s Kellan McKeon at 125 to improve to 19-12 overall and 4-0 in ACC competition. Gitomer’s victory was his fifth straight. Eric Albright’s forfeit win at 133 improved the UVa lead to 9-0.
Kellon Balum picked up the third straight Cavalier decision with a 10-3 victory at 141 to extend UVa’s lead to 12-0 before Dan Shvartsman got Duke on the scoreboard with an 8-3 victory against Pat Riley at 149. It was Riley’s first dual matches appearance of the season for the Cavaliers.
At 157, Virginia’s Mike Sewell scored a 6-2 win over Duke’s Addison Nuding to push the Cavalier lead to 15-3. The Blue Devils’ Aaron Glover used a takedown at the end of regulation in the 165-pound match to force an overtime with UVa’s Damian Johnson. Glover scored a quick takedown in the extra period to record a 7-5 win and pull Duke to within 15-6.
Virginia’s lead shrunk to 15-12 when Duke’s John Barone pinned Beau Fisher at 3:44 of the 174 match. Moving up two weight classes to compete, it was Fisher’s first dual after previously wrestling at 157 this season.
Mike Grogan moved up one weight class to 184 and stopped Duke’s momentum with a major decision against Dan Fox. Grogan’s 9-1 win was his sixth consecutive victory. Kyle Narkiewicz followed up Grogan’s victory with another UVa major decision at 197 to put the match away. Grogan and Narkiewicz’s wins gave the Cavaliers a 23-12 lead. UVa heavyweight Scott Smith defeated Duke’s Mike Tunick 9-4 to provide the Cavaliers’ final 26-12 margin of victory.
Virginia was forced to shuffle its lineup when Rocco Capone was unable to compete at 184 due to a knee injury he suffered Friday night in his victory against NC State.
The Cavaliers continue ACC competition Feb. 16 when they travel to Maryland. Virginia’s final home match of the year is Feb. 18 against third-ranked Iowa State at noon in Memorial Gym.
Virginia-Duke Dual
February 10, 2007
Charlottesville, VA
Virginia 26, Duke 12
125: Ross Gitomer (UVa) dec. Kellan McKeon (Duke), 5-2 UVa 3-0133: Eric Albright (UVa) won by forfeit UVa 9-0141: Kellon Balum (UVa) dec. Kuser (Duke), 10-3 UVa 12-0149: Dan Shvartsman (Duke) dec. Pat Riley (UVa), 8-3 UVa 12-3157: Mike Sewell (UVa) dec. Addison Nuding (Duke), 6-2 UVa 15-3165: Aaron Glover (Duke) dec. Damian Johnson (UVa), 7-5 (ot) UVa 15-6174: John Barone (Duke) fall Beau Fisher (UVa), 3:44 UVa 15-12184: Mike Grogan (Uva) major dec. Dan Fox (Duke), 9-1 UVa 19-12197: Kyle Narkiewicz (UVa) major dec. Patrick Keenum (Duke), 10-2 UVa 23-12HWT: Scott Smith (UVa) dec. Mike Tunick (Duke), 9-4 UVa 26-12