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Virginia Blanks Duke To Open ACC Competition

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DURHAM, N.C. – The Virginia wrestling team (6-2, 1-0 ACC) controlled things from start to finish on Friday night (Jan. 26) as the Cavaliers opened ACC competition with a 45-0 victory at Duke (4-9, 0-1 ACC).

HOW IT HAPPENED
The dual started at 184 pounds and Virginia got off to a quick start against the Blue Devils as Griffin Gammell fought his way to a 4-2 decision over Conor Becker. The Cavaliers then got a tech fall victory from Krystian Kinsey at 197 pounds before Ryan Catka would put together a rally and take a 12-8 decision over Connor Barket at heavyweight.

The lineup flipped back to 125 pounds and Virginia would claim the remaining seven bouts all with bonus-point victories. Kyle Montaperto (125) and Marlon Yarbrough (133) posted consecutive tech falls before Jack Gioffre (141) would get a first-period pin. Michael Gioffre (149) then added another tech fall for the Hoos.

Nick Sanko (157) and Nick Hamilton (165) posted consecutive major decisions before Justin McCoy (174) would close the night with a tech fall to preserve the shutout of Duke.

NOTES ON THE DAY

  • The Cavaliers’ eight bonus point victories on the night included a pin, five tech falls and two major decisions.
  • Virginia improves to 65-7-2 in the series with the Blue Devils and have won six straight in the series.
  • It is the second straight season for the Cavaliers to hit the 45-point mark against the Blue Devils and third time in the last four meetings.
  • The shutout of Duke is the first for the Cavaliers since a 38-0 victory over the Blue Devils in 2013.

FROM HEAD COACH STEVE GARLAND
“The team looked really good tonight. Maybe the best we’ve had all year. We had guys healthy again and I know that energized the team. The guys were looking for bonus points in every match. They need to continue to wrestle like that the rest of the season. We have another tough test Sunday, though. We can’t let off the gas. We have to finish this weekend off.”

UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Virginia continues to wrestle on the road Sunday (Jan. 28) when the Cavaliers step back out of conference at American (5-9). The dual is set for a 1 p.m. start and will stream on ESPN+.

VIRGINIA 45, DUKE 0
184: Griffin Gammell dec. Conor Becker (Duke), 4-2 – UVA 3, Duke 0
197: Krystian Kinsey tech fall Kwasi Bonsu (Duke), 18-2 (5:15), UVA 8, Duke 0
HWT: No. 33 Ryan Catka dec. Connor Barket (Duke), 12-8 – UVA 11, Duke 0
125: Kyle Montaperto tech fall Logan Agin (Duke), 18-0 (3:00) – UVA 16, Duke 0
133: Marlon Yarbrough tech fall Raymond Adams (Duke), 20-5 (7:00) – UVA 21, Duke 0
141: Jack Gioffre pinned Christian Colman (Duke), 2:48 – UVA 27, Duke 0
149: Michael Gioffre tech fall Sean O’Donnell (Duke), 23-5 (5:05) – UVA 32, Duke 0
157: Nick Sanko major dec. Logan Ferrero (Duke), 11-1 – UVA 36, Duke 0
165: Nick Hamilton major dec. Gaetano Console (Duke), 14-5 – UVA 40, Duke 0
174: No. 14 Justin McCoy tech fall David Hussey (Duke), 17-2 (4:19) – UVA 45, Duke 0

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