Feb. 3, 2018

DURHAM, N.C. – Both teams won five weight classes, but bonus-point victories proved to be critical for the home team as Virginia (4-8, 0-3 ACC) dropped a 19-16 dual at Duke (5-5, 1-2 ACC) on Saturday afternoon.

The Cavaliers got wins from Andrew Atkinson (Lynchburg, Va.), Drew Peck (Chambersburg, Pa.), Louie Hayes (Orland Park, Ill.), Jack Mueller (Dallas, Texas) and Sam Krivus (Greensburg, Pa.). Four of the five victories were by decision, with Krivus adding the only bonus-point win for Virginia.

Duke used a pair of technical falls at 157 pounds and heavyweight to push to the three-point win in the dual.

The dual meet began at 157 pounds with the Blue Devils taking the first of two technical falls on the day as No. 11 Mitch Finesilver gave Duke the early lead. The Blue Devil wrestler defeated Fred Green (Orting, Wash.) to get the match started.

Atkinson then got the Cavaliers on the board with his gritty 6-5 decision at 165 pounds before Duke would extend its lead with a win at 174 pounds. In that bout, No. 19 Matt Finesilver picked up the 8-2 decision over Will Schany. It was the second of three ranked wrestlers in the first six bouts for the Blue Devils.

Peck again provided an answer for the Cavaliers at 184 pounds, maintaining control for most of the match on the way to his 6-2 decision over Luke Farinaro.

Duke then picked up back-to-back wins at 197 pounds and heavyweight as Alec Schenk took a 9-7 decision over Jay Aiello (Chantilly, Va.) in a wild match. At heavyweight, No. 4 Jacob Kasper posted a technical fall over Tyler Love (Clifton, Va.).

Virginia then answered back as the nationally-ranked duo of Hayes and Mueller picked up wins. Hayes, the No. 16 wrestler at 125 pounds, ground out a win with a 1-0 decision over Thayer Atkins. Mueller, the No. 9 wrestler at 133 pounds, followed it up with a 5-0 decision over Josh Finesilver. The pair of wins brought the match back into striking distance at 16-12 overall.

Duke clinched things at 141 pounds as Jeremiah Reitz posted a 4-2 decision over Sam Martino (Colonial Heights, Va.). Krivus would then post his 17-5 major decision over Duke’s Brandon Leynaud at 149 pounds for the final dual score.

Virginia will return to action on Sunday, Feb. 11, when the Cavaliers host Virginia Tech in a 1 p.m. dual at Memorial Gym. The match will be broadcast on the ACC Network Extra. It will also be senior day for the Cavaliers who will honor the senior members of the team prior to the start of the dual.

Duke 19, Virginia 16
157: No. 11 Mitch Finesilver (Duke) tech fall Fred Green, 16-0 – Duke 5, UVA 0
165: Andrew Atkinson dec. Zach Finesilver (Duke), 6-5 – Duke 5, UVA 3
174: No. 19 Matt Finesilver (Duke) dec. Will Schany, 8-2 – Duke 8, UVA 3
184: Drew Peck dec. Luke Farinaro (Duke), 6-2 – Duke 8, UVA 6
197: Alec Schenk (Duke) dec. Jay Aiello, 9-7 – Duke 11, UVA 6
HWT: No. 4 Jacob Kasper (Duke) tech fall Tyler Love, 19-4 – Duke 16, UVA 6
125: No. 16 Louie Hayes dec. Thayer Atkins (Duke), 1-0 – Duke 16, UVA 9
133: No. 9 Jack Mueller dec. Josh Finesilver (Duke), 5-0 – Duke 16, UVA 12
141: Jeremiah Reitz (Duke) dec. Sam Martino, 4-2 – Duke 19, UVA 12
149: Sam Krivus major dec. Brandon Leynaud (Duke), 17-5 – Duke 19, UVA 16