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Feb. 16, 2007

College Park, MD – Despite winning the first three matches to grab a 9-0 lead, the Virginia wrestling team dropped a 30-12 decision at Maryland. The loss puts UVa’s record at 7-9 this season and 2-3 in the ACC. Maryland improved to 16-5 and 5-0 in ACC duals. It was the Terps fifth straight win.

Virginia’s Ross Gitomer opened the match with a 3-2 victory against James Knox at 125. The win was Gitomer’s sixth straight win and improved his record against ACC opponents to 4-1 this year. Gitomer’s win was his 20th of the season (20-12)

Eric Albright collected UVa’s second win to give the Cavaliers a 6-0 lead with an 8-6 overtime decision at 133 pounds against Jon Kohler. The win upped Albright’s overall record to 28-8 and 12-4 in duals. Like Gitomer, Albright is 4-1 in ACC matches this season. Kellon Balum also picked up his 20th win this season with a 12-6 decision against Charlie Pinto at 141. His win extended the UVa lead to 9-0.

Maryland got back in the match quickly when Andrew Schlaffer pinned Drew DiPasquale at the 1:14 mark of the 149 match to cut the Cavalier lead to 9-6. Mike Sewell managed Virginia’s fourth win on the night with a 7-5 decision against Mike McGillm at 157. It would be the Hoos’ final victory during the match.

At 165, the Terps’ 13th-ranked Jason Kiessling scored a 14-5 major decision against Beau Fisher to bring Maryland to within two points of UVa (12-10). The homestanding Terrapins finally took the lead at 174 when 13th-ranked Mike Letts scored a 19-3 technical fall against Mike Grogan to give Maryland a 15-12 lead. The loss was just the sixth this year for Grogan (16-6), and it ended his six-match win streak.

With Rocco Caponi out of the lineup due to a knee injury, Virginia forfeited the 184-pound match and the six points improved Maryland’s advantage to 21-12. At 197, No. 15 Hudson Taylor pinned UVa’s Kyle Narkiewicz at the end of the second period (3:59) and then Jerry Afari won a 9-3 decision against UVa’s Scott Smith to close out the Terrapin scoring.

The Cavaliers host second-ranked Iowa State Sunday at noon in Memorial Gym. The first 200 fans in attendance will receive a free t-shirt. The match will be webcast live on ACC Select.

Virginia-Maryland Dual
February 16, 2007
College Park, MD

Maryland 30, Virginia 12

125: Ross Gitomer (UVA) dec. James Knox, 3-2 (0-3)133: Eric Albright (UVA) dec. Jon Kohler, 8-6 ot (0-6)141: Kellon Baluum (UVA) dec. Charlie Pinto, 12-6 (0-9)149: Andrew Schlaffer (MD) pinned Drew DiPasquale, 1:14 (6-9)157: Mike Sewell (UVA) dec. Mike McGillm 7-5 (6-12)165: No. 13 Jason Kiessling (MD) major dec. Beau Fisher, 14-5 (10-12)174: No. 13 Mike Letts (MD) tech. fall Mike Grogan, 19-3/6:38 (15-12)184: Josh Haines (MD) won by forfeit (21-12)197: No. 15 Hudson Taylor (MD) pinned Kyle Narkiewicz, 2:59 (27-12)HWT: Jerry Afari (MD) dec. Scott Smith, 9-3 (30-12)/

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