Virginia Earns Highest National Ranking in Program History

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Jan. 15, 2013

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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia wrestling team earned its highest national ranking in program history on Tuesday when it moved up to No. 11 in the USA Today/NWCA/AWN Division I Coaches Poll. Buoyed a dual win over then-No. 9 Central Michigan last Saturday, the Cavaliers shot up eight spots in the poll after a No. 19 standing last week.

Virginia’s highest national ranking previously was No. 16, which the Cavaliers reached in January 2010 and to start the 2012-13 season.

Virginia took runner-up honors last weekend at the Virginia Duals, marking the Cavaliers’ best finish in its 19 all-time trips to the event. After defeating Bucknell (31-6), Virginia took down Boise State (21-12), which now is No. 25 in the coaches poll. UVa knocked off then-No. 9 Central Michigan, 21-13, in the semifinals, marking the highest-ranked opponent that Virginia has defeated in program history.

The Cavaliers boast six wrestlers in the latest InterMat national individual rankings: No. 7 Matt Snyder (R-Sr., Lewistown, Pa.) at 125 pounds, No. 13 George DiCamillo (Fr., Highland Heights, Ohio) at 133, No. 20 Derek Valenti (R-Sr., Newton, N.J.) at 149, No. 16 Jedd Moore (R-Sr., Mount Vernon, Ohio) at 157, No. 7 Nick Sulzer (R-So., Mount Vernon, Ohio) at 165 and No. 14 Jon Fausey (R-Jr., Dalmatia, Pa.) at 174.

The Cavaliers are 9-3 in dual meets this year, with all three losses coming to teams currently ranked in the top 10. Virginia competes at North Carolina at 7 p.m. Friday, then returns home to face Duke at noon Sunday at Memorial Gymnasium. Admission is free for Virginia home wrestling matches.