Virginia Downs NDSU 31-6 To Open Season

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia wrestling team opened the season in dominant fashion on Friday (Nov. 1) as the Cavaliers (1-0) defeated North Dakota State (0-1) by a score of 31-6 at the Aquatic & Fitness Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED
Starting at 125 pounds, the Cavaliers got off to a quick start with Keyveon Roller (125), Gable Porter (133) and Kyren Butler (141) grinding out decisions to help Virginia build a 9-0 lead on the Bison out of the gates. Roller and Porter each scored the first takedown and stayed in front for the victory, while Butler fell behind 4-0 before rallying for a 5-4 decision.

After NDSU claimed a win at 149, Michael Gioffre (157) got things back on track for the Hoos with the first bonus-point victory of the night with a major decision. It was followed by a decision by Nick Hamilton (165) in a bout he controlled from the start before Rocco Contino (174) would put together a tech fall in the second period. Virginia led 21-3 with three weight classes to go.

The Bison won at 184 to claim a second weight class, but Virginia quickly answered with a pin from Max Shulaw (197) in the second period that locked up the dual. Gabe Christenson (285) closed things out with a major decision.

NOTES ON THE DUAL

• With the win, Virginia improved to 5-2 all-time against NDSU and 3-0 in duals wrestled in Charlottesville.
• The Cavaliers turned in four bonus-point victories with two major decisions, a tech fall and a pin.
• Max Shulaw’s pin was the first of the season for the Hoos and the first collegiate pin for the true freshman.
• Hadyn Danals returned to the mat for the first time since opening weekend of the 2023-24 campaign.
• Rocco Contino appeared in his first collegiate dual with his tech fall at 174 pounds.
• Gable Porter and Kyren Butler both defeated ranked opponents and the Cavaliers won three of the five weight classes that featured a nationally-ranked wrestler.
• Gabe Christenson wrestled for the first time since the 2022-23 season when he suffered a season-ending injury in dual action in the December of 2022.

FROM HEAD COACH STEVE GARLAND
“I’m a happy coach today. It was a pretty great home opener in which we won eight out of 10 weight classes against a very tough Big 12 team. It was a team we barely beat last year. The first three weight classes were just tough and gritty. There was a great environment here at the Aquatic & Fitness center. We told our fans to hang with us and there would be some surprises. Here’s what’s so neat is we had four guys who’d not been in that spotlight before and two guys coming off season-ending injuries – look at what they did out there.”

VIRGINIA 31, NDSU 6
125: Keyveon Roller dec. Tristan Daugherty (NDSU), 4-2 – UVA 3, NDSU 0
133: Gable Porter dec. No. 30 Kyle Burwick (NDSU), 4-2 – UVA 6, NDSU 0
141: Kyren Butler dec. No. 30 Kellyn March (NDSU), 5-4 – UVA 9, NDSU 0
149: No. 31 Max Petersen (NDSU) dec. Erik Roggie, 6-3 – UVA 9, NDSU 3
157: Michael Gioffre major dec. Boeden Greenley (NDSU), 12-1 – UVA 13, NDSU 3
165: No. 12 Nick Hamilton dec. Brendan Howes (NDSU), 7-3 – UVA 16, NDSU 3
174: Rocco Contino tech fall Devin Wasley (NDSU), 22-6 (3:44) – UVA 21, NDSU 3
184: Aidan Brenot (NDSU) dec. No. 25 Hadyn Danals, 8-4 –  UVA 21, NDSU 6
197: Max Shulaw pinned Michael Barker, 3:31 – UVA 27, NDSU 6
285: Gabe Christenson major dec. Drew Blackburn-Forst, 9-1 – UVA 31, NDSU 6

UP NEXT FOR THE HOOS
Virginia sends a group of wrestlers to the Southeast Open on Saturday (Nov. 2). Competition is set to begin at 9 a.m. at the Cregger Center at Roanoke College.