While the men's basketball team resembled frozen statues Saturday night, the Virginia wrestling team remained red-hot, defeating NC State 25-12 and Duke 29-6 in a pair of dual matches. With the wins, Virginia improved to 10-5 overall and 3-0 in the ACC. The team has won six duals in a row and nine out of its last ten.
The Cavaliers started the day off right by defeating the vaunted NC State Wolfpack, a team that usually gives them fits. Virginia got out of the gate quickly, winning three of its first four matches to take a 9-3 lead. Heavyweight Josh Etu fired the first shot, defeating Leroy Harris 2-1. NC State's George Cintron responded, defeating Virginia's 125-pounder Brian Sticca. In a hard fought contest, Cintron relied on his experience to defeat the Cavalier freshman phenom
With the score notched 3-3, Virginia's Joe Alexander defeated NC State's Daniel Pacitti to put the Cavaliers ahead for good. Alexander controlled the match from the start, taking Pacitti down in the second round, slamming him on the mat three consecutive times to thwart any escape. Pacitti pulled within 5-3 in the last round, but an Alexander take down in the waning seconds ensured the victory.
"Joe's slowly getting back into it," Virginia coach Lenny Bernstein said. "He picked and chose his shots, and I feel he could have really opened up on that kid if he wanted to."
Following Alexander's victory, senior Bob Seidel extended Virginia's lead, defeating Ryan McCallum in the most hot-tempered match of the day. Seidel gained an early upper hand and frustrated McCallum, who resorted to an eye-poke in the second round. Seidel responded in kind in round three, forcing the referee remind them that they were wrestlers, not boxers.
"That happens in wrestling," Virginia sophmore Will Durkee said. "It's a combat sport and there are times when tempers will flare. Bob was taking it to him the whole match and I think it just frustrated him.'
At 149, the Wolfpack's Jake Giamoni defeated Paul Bjorlo to bring NC State within three points at 9-6. Virginia won the next three matches, however, en route to the team victory. At 157, Junior Tim Foley made short work of NC State's Bryant Reams, pinning him at 1:24 into the match. With the win, Foley improved to 12-1 in dual matches this season.
"I think he just wanted to put the exclamation point on the fact that he's the guy in the ACC to beat," Bernstein said.
Following Foley's victory, Durkee pulled off a mild upset, defeating NC State's Dustin Kawa 2-1 in a double overtime ride-out. With the match tied at the end of overtime, Kawa chose to start down in the next stanza. Had he been able to escape Durkee's advantage in 30 seconds, he would have won the match. Instead, Durkee held on, gaining a major win for his team, and bringing the Mem Gym crowd to its feet.
"It was a pretty hard fought match;we both had our chances to win," Durkee said. "I ended up winning the ride-out, so it'll be good for seeding going into the ACCs, and a nice confidence boost going into the ACC tournament."
After the dual, coach Bernstein expressed his pleasure at Durkee's accomplishment.
"That was huge," Bernstein said. "Individually for Will, he's gotten close to beating really good guys, and he's always wrestled tough hard matches, but this was one that I think he broke through a barrier. I was real happy for him and the team."
The win gave Virginia an 18-6 advantage, affording senior Brian Muir the opportunity to clinch the dual victory. Muir did not disappoint, defeating State's Courtney Bird by major decision, 15-4.
In the nightcap, Virginia extended its winning streak, taking the first five matches en route to a 28-9 trouncing of Duke. With the two victories Virginia all but clinched the unofficial ACC regular season title.
"The team's been stepping up big, Durkee said. "We've beaten North Carolina this year for the first time in twenty-some years, beaten NC State, who we haven't beaten in a few years.We could finish in the ACC duals undefeated. That would be a big step for us."
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