Virginia Senior Brian Muir predicted this one wouldn't be close -- his teammates didn't let him down. The Virginia wrestling team ended a spectacular regular season Saturday by hammering American University, 34-7.
In doing so, the Cavaliers (12-5, 4-0 ACC) notched their eighth win in a row and finished the month of February undefeated -- two feats that should provide great confidence going into the ACC tournament March 8.
"I felt like we wrestled pretty well," Virginia coach Lenny Bernstein said. "I didn't want to have a top 10 team in the country coming in for the last match. [American has] a great coach, but this is his first year and he's dealing with the hand that he's dealt."
The team celebrated Senior Day Saturday, and the departing Cavaliers did not disappoint. Only reserve Reed Landry took a loss among the seniors, as the class combined to go six for seven on the day. Reed's major decision loss to American's Aviv Bercovicz put the Cavaliers in an early 4-0 hole.
Virginia gained the lead, however, in the next match and never looked back. At 157, Virginia's 11th-ranked Tim Foley made quick work of his opponent, winning by a 16-0 technical fall early in the second round. Foley nearly had a pin late in the first but could not finish his opponent before the buzzer sounded.
At 165, Virginia's Will Durkee echoed Foley's success, recording a 22-7 technical fall in the third round. Durkee's match resembled more of a take-down drill than a wrestling match, as he repeatedly let his opponent escape only to send him to the mat a few seconds later.
After an American forfeit increased Virginia's lead to 16-4, the Eagles picked up a win at 184, where American sophomore Kyle Mason defeated Virginia freshman Ram McDonnell 10-6. Mason controlled the entire match but nearly lost when McDonnell flipped him into pin position late in the second round.
In the most heartwarming match of the day, Virginia senior Andy Demartino pinned American's Adam Montgomery at 197. DeMartino only had wrestled in three duals all season but was able to pin his opponent with 1:17 remaining.
After Demartino's victory, heavyweight Josh Etu posted a 3-2 win to raise Virginia's lead to 25-7. The two wins set the stage for Virginia freshman Brian Sticca, who claimed the most impressive performance of the meet. At 125, Sticca dominated American's Matt Pelligrino. While the score was reasonably close at 11-4, Sticca showcased phenomenal takedowns and mat skills that had fans awing and Bernstein smiling.
"You saw flashes of the type of excellence he brings to the table," Bernstein said.
On one occasion, Sticca looked like a football player, shooting from the standing position so quickly that his opponent had no chance to respond. Think Virginia linebacker Angelo Crowell on a blind-side hit.
After Sticca's victory, seniors Joe Alexander and Bob Seidel closed out the dual with a pair of wins, giving Virginia the 34-7 final tally. After the match, Seidel spoke of the feeling of winning on Senior Day.
"Coming in and wrestling for the last time in Mem Gym was really something special," Seidel said. "Something that gives you a little extra motivation going into a match."
With the regular season coming to an end, the team and coaches will focus on the upcoming ACC tournament. Coach Bernstein is known for his tough training regiment leading up to the tournament and plans to hold two practices a day for the next week. With the way this team has been wrestling, another intense week of practice might be enough to bring home an ACC title.
"Although it's going to be difficult, you can't really question his methods," Seidel said. "It always pays off, and we wrestle our best in the ACC tournament every year."
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