Virginia Opens 2023-24 Season At Southeast Open
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia wrestling team opens the 2023-24 campaign on Saturday (Nov. 4) when 22 members of the squad travel to compete at the Southeast Open. The event will begin at 9 a.m. at the Cregger Center in Salem, Va.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
Saturday’s tournament will be streamed on FloWrestling with each mat streamed to subscribers of the service. FloArena also has the individual brackets for both the freshman/sophomore division and the open division. Links to the live stream and FloArena are available at VirginiaSports.com. Fans can also get periodic updates throughout the day by following the program’s official Twitter account (@UVAWrestling).
VIRGINIA WRESTLERS – Freshman/Sophomore Division
149: Luke Roberts
165: Michael Murphy
197: Steven Burrell Jr.
285: Cooper Rudolph
VIRGINIA WRESTLERS – Open Division
125: Kyle Montaperto
133: Evan Buchanan, Joe Haynes, Gable Porter, Keyveon Roller, Marlon Yarbrouogh
141: Kyren Butler, No. 21 Jack Gioffre
149: Luca Errico, No. 17 Michael Gioffre, Erik Roggie
157: Dylan Cedeno
165: Robert Avila, No. 24 Nick Hamilton
184: No. 30 Hadyn Danals, Griffin Gammell, Hudson Stewart
197: Colden Dorfman
HOOS IN THE INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS
The Cavaliers have five wrestlers ranked in the latest edition of the InterMat individual rankings. It starts with Justin McCoy ranked ninth at 174 pounds. Twin brothers Michael Gioffre (No. 17 at 149 pounds) and Jack Gioffre (No. 21 at 141 pounds) are part of a trio of second-year wrestlers in the rankings with Nick Hamilton coming in at No. 24 at 165 pounds. Hadyn Danals rounds things out as the No. 30 wrestler at 184 pounds.
HOOS BACK FOR 2023-24
ACC Champion Justin McCoy returns to anchor a group of 26 wrestlers from last year’s squad. McCoy earned his fourth bid to the NCAA Championships last season to become the program’s 14th four-time NCAA qualifier. Also back is a group of wrestlers who comprised the ninth-ranked recruiting class in the nation a year ago with 10 wrestlers who redshirted in that class.
NEWCOMERS FOR THE CAVALIERS
The Hoos welcomed seven newcomers to the roster this season. The class of newcomers features a trio of state champions, multiple All-America honorees and a pair of transfers from NCAA DI institutions. Transferring into the program are Ryan Catka from Navy and Sammie Hayes from Illinois. Also in the newcomer class are two wrestlers ranked among the top 100 recruits nationally in Steven Burrell Jr (No. 32) and Dylan Newsome (No. 93).
ON THE HORIZON FOR THE HOOS
Virginia will go back out on the road next weekend to compete at the Mountaineer Open at Appalachian State (Nov. 11) before jumping into dual action on the road at the Journeyman Duals (Nov. 17) where the Cavaliers will face LIU and Buffalo.