No. 20 Virginia Closes 2021 Home Schedule With Duke Friday
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 20 Virginia wrestling team (2-2, 1-2 ACC) closes out the home portion of its schedule on Friday (Feb. 5), hosting Duke (0-3, 0-3 ACC) in a 6 p.m. dual match at Memorial Gym.
Virginia’s home wrestling matches are not open to the public.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
The dual will be broadcast on ACC Network and is available for streaming through the ESPN app and WatchESPN to people who subscribe to a television service that carries the ACC Network. Links to the live stream and live stats are available at VirginiaSports.com. Fans can also get updates by following the program’s official Twitter account (@UVAWrestling).
VIRGINIA IN THE TEAM RANKINGS
The Cavaliers broke into the coaches poll this week, jumping in at No. 20 following last week’s win over No. 12 Pittsburgh at Mem Gym. Virginia is one of five ACC teams ranked in the top 20 this week out of the league’s six teams. It marks a return to the coaches poll for the Cavaliers for the first time since the 2019 season.
CAVALIERS IN THE INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
Virginia enters the weekend with six wrestlers ranked in the latest edition of the InterMat rankings. Jay Aiello (Chantilly, Va.) leads the way as the No. 8 wrestler at 197 pounds. Also ranked are Louie Hayes (Orland Park, Ill.), who is No. 12 at 133 pounds, Brian Courtney (Athens, Pa.) who is No. 16 at 141 pounds, Justin McCoy (New Paris, Pa.), who is No. 16 at 157 pounds, Jake Keating (Naperville, Ill.), who is No. 13 at 165 pounds, and Quinn Miller (Lilburn, Ga.), who is No. 20 at heavyweight.
InterMat Rankings
133: No. 12 Louie Hayes
141: No. 16 Brian Courtney
157: No. 16 Justin McCoy
165: No. 13 Jake Keating
197: No. 8 Jay Aiello
HWT: No. 20 Quinn Miller
THE SERIES WITH DUKE
Virginia and Duke have met 70 times in the history of the rivalry with the Cavaliers holding a 61-7-2 lead in the all-time series that began in 1922. The Cavaliers have won back-to-back meetings in the series after Duke won the 2018 meeting by a score of 19-16 in Durham. Virginia has won 14 of the last 15 meetings with the Blue Devils dating back to the 2005 season.
VIRGINIA’S PROBABLE LINEUP
125: Patrick McCormick (4-4) OR Sam Book (4-3)
133: No. 12 Louie Hayes (6-2)
141: No. 16 Brian Courtney (6-1)
149: Denton Spencer (1-3)
157: No. 16 Justin McCoy (6-1)
165: No. 13 Jake Keating (6-2)
174: Vic Marcelli (5-2) OR Robby Patrick (5-1)
184: Michael Battista (5-2)
197: No. 8 Jay Aiello (6-1)
HWT: No. 20 Quinn Miller (5-1)
DUKE’S PROBABLE LINEUP
125: Logan Agin (1-2)
133: Drake Doolittle (0-1)
141: Patrick Rowland (1-2)
149: Josh Finesilver (2-1)
157: Brandon LaRue (1-2)
165: Eric Carter (0-2)
174: Conor Becker (1-2)
184: Open
197: Kaden Russell (0-3)
285: Jonah Niesenbaum (1-1)
LAST TIME OUT AGAINST THE BLUE DEVILS
Virginia went on the road to face the Blue Devils last season and walked out of Cameron Indoor Stadium with a 35-14 win. The Cavaliers won the first five weight classes to build a 27-0 lead on the Blue Devils before Michael Battista (Ashburn, Va.) and Aiello would add victories at 184 pounds and 197 pounds, respectively, for Virginia. In six of the seven weight classes the Cavaliers put bonus-points on the board, including a pair of forfeits for Duke at 125 pounds and 141 pounds.
UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Virginia will hit the road next weekend to close out the regular-season schedule with a dual match at No. 14 North Carolina. The Cavaliers and Tar Heels are set to face off at 6 p.m.