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No. 17 Cavaliers Cruise Past Anderson, Campbell
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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 17 Virginia wrestling team started its 2011-12 season in strong fashion with wins over Campbell and Anderson Saturday at Memorial Gymnasium. The Cavaliers opened the day with a 34-12 victory over Campbell before trouncing Anderson, 42-6.
Matt Nelson (Sr., Pittsburgh, Pa.) was the story of the day for Virginia. He made a big return to competition, pinning both of his opponents. It marked his first competitive wrestling in nearly four years as he returned to action after suffering from concussion symptoms.
Shawn Harris (R-Sr., Cleveland, Ohio), Nick Sulzer (R-Fr., Cleveland, Ohio) and Jon Fausey (R-So., Dalmatia, Pa.) each won a pair of bouts as well for Virginia. In all, UVa won 16 of its 20 individual matches; two of those defeats came from forfeits at 125 pounds.
Virginia won seven of 10 bouts against Campbell. After a forfeit at 125, Nelson got the Cavaliers rolling and needed just 2:30 to pin Taylor Bidelspach. His twin brother Nick Nelson (R-Sr., Pittsburgh, Pa.) then easily worked through his match with Joe Rizzolino and earned a 19-4 technical fall at 141 pounds.
UVa picked up bonus points in five of its final seven matches as well, with Harris, Jedd Moore (R-Jr., Mount Vernon, Ohio) and Sulzer all winning by major decision. Fausey needed just 3:31 to score a tech fall over TeShaun Johnson, and Derek Papagianopoulos (R-Fr., Burlington, Mass.) wrapped up the team win with a resounding pin over Joe Nolan late in the first period. After strong redshirt seasons last year, Sulzer and Papagianopoulos each made their official Virginia debuts Saturday.
UVa won nine straight matches against Anderson after taking a forfeit at 125. Matt Nelson and Sam MacGregor (Sr., Fredericksburg, Va.) got the crowd energized with back-to-back pins at 133 and 141. MacGregor dominated Ian Harper and needed just 2:36 to earn the fall.
A pair of Cavaliers earned their first wins in a UVa singlet to wrap up the day. Ryan Malo (Sr., Georgetown, Mass.) pinned Adam Newton at 197 before freshman Ethan Hayes (New Lebanon, Ohio) outlasted Chase Duke, 6-2, at heavyweight in his first college match.
The Cavaliers return to action Nov. 13 when they travel to the NC State Open. UVa is next at home on Sunday, Nov. 27, when it entertains Virginia Tech at John Paul Jones Arena. Tickets for the dual are on sale now through the Virginia Athletics Ticket Office.
Virginia 34, Campbell 12
125 – Josh Fisher (CU) won by forfeit; CU 6-0
133 – Matt Nelson (UVa) pinned Tanner Bidelspach (CU), 2:30; 6-6
141 – No. 16 Nick Nelson (UVa) tech fall Joey Rizzolino (CU), 19-4 (7:00); UVa 11-6
149 – Shawn Harris (UVa) major dec. Mark Hartenstine (CU), 13-0; UVa 15-6
157 – Jedd Moore (UVa) major dec. Ryan Krecker (CU), 21-8; UVa 19-6
165 – Nick Sulzer (UVa) major dec. Nick Rex (CU), 19-7; UVa 23-6
174 – James Cook (CU) dec. Billy Coggins (UVa), 5-3; UVa 23-9
184 – No. 17 Jon Fausey (UVa) tech fall TeShaun Johnson (CU), 15-0 (3:12); UVa 28-9
197 – John Weakley (CU) dec. Ryan Malo (UVa), 10-7; UVa 28-12
285 – Derek Papagianopoulos (UVa) pinned Joe Nolan (CU), 2:52; UVa 34-12
Virginia 42, Anderson 6
125 – Brad Myers (AU) won by forfeit; AU 6-0
133 – Matt Nelson (UVa) pinned Dan Haines (AU), 4:24; 6-6
141 – Sam MacGregor (UVa) pinned Ian Harper (AU), 2:36; UVa 12-6
149 – Shawn Harris (UVa) dec. Dan Telhada (AU), 11-4; UVa 15-6
157 – Nicky Gordon (UVa) dec. Nick Giulliette (AU), 6-3; UVa 18-6
165 – Nick Sulzer (UVa) won by forfeit; UVa 24-6
174 – Billy Coggins (UVa) major dec. Dalton Harper (AU), 14-5; UVa 28-6
184 – No. 17 Jon Fausey (UVa) tech fall Will Sutton (AU), 16-0 (3:00); UVa 33-6
197 – Ryan Malo (UVa) pinned Jordan Denmark (AU), 6:00; UVa 39-6
285 – Ethan Hayes (UVa) dec. Chase Duke (AU), 6-2; UVa 42-6
Campbell 38, Anderson 6
125 – Josh Fisher (CU) pinned Brad Myers (AU), 2:25; CU 6-0
133 – Tanner Bidelspach (CU) dec. Dan Haines (AU), 8-2; CU 9-0
141 – Joe Rizzolino (CU) pinned Ian Harper (AU), 1:43; CU 15-0
149 – Mark Hartenstine (CU) dec. Dan Telhada (AU), 7-3; CU 18-0
157 – Nick Guiliette (AU) dec. Paul Duggan (CU), 11-7; CU 18-3
165 – Nick Rex (CU) tech fall Jeffrey Webster (AU), 16-0 (2:41); CU 23-3
174 – James Cook (CU) pinned Dalton Harper (AU), :32; CU 29-3
184 – John Merickel (CU) dec. Will Sutton (AU), 11-7; CU 32-3
197 – John Weakley (CU) pinned Jordan Denmark (AU), 2:14; CU 38-3
285 – Chase Duke (AU) dec. Joe Nolan (CU), 4-1 (2TB); CU 38-6
*rankings according to InterMat