Stephen Doty Named ACC Wrestler of the Week

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Virginia sophomore Stephen Doty (St. Louis, Mo.) has been named the Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestler of the Week after posting three wins – including a pair of ACC victories – while competing in two different weight classes last week.

Doty is the second straight Cavalier to earn the award. Derek Valenti picked up the honor last week. Chris Henrich has won the award twice this year.

Doty filled in for the Cavaliers in all three of their weekend dual matches. On Friday, the St. Louis native wrestled up a weight class and picked up a 5-2 win at 197 pounds over Maryland’s Dallas Brown, giving the Cavaliers a late lead in the dual, which Maryland eventually won by a 19-16 score.

On Saturday, Doty moved back down to 184 pounds to wrestle Diego Bencomo of Duke, who owned a 22-11 record coming into the match. Doty rallied from a 5-1 third-period deficit and scored a takedown just before the final buzzer to force overtime. He then took Bencomo down early in the extra session to pick up the exciting win, 7-5.

Doty went back to the 197-pound class later Saturday and dominated Appalachian State’s Jon Hartley, 10-4. With his three weekend victories, Doty improved to 23-9 this season.

Virginia travels to George Mason for a 7 p.m. Thursday match before concluding the regular season at 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Old Dominion. UVa will play host to the 2011 ACC Wrestling Championship on March 5.