At first glance Kyle and Danny Artusio do look identical. But take a closer look -- or a glimpse at Virginia's media guide. In fact, the pair of freshman wrestling brothers aren't identical, not in size anyway.
Danny wrestles in the 149-pound class and is 5-foot-8, while Kyle, who wrestles in the 157-pound class, measures up an inch shorter at 5-foot-7. But don't let one inch and eight pounds fool you. The two brothers, who have been wrestling since middle school, are closer than ever.
Since arriving at the University from James Wood High School in Winchester, Va., this fall, the two have roomed together and cited each other as a support beam in wrestling and anything else.
"He's always really pushed me," Danny said. "I don't think I'd be where I am today without him. God's greatest gift to me has probably been him in terms of wrestling."
Kyle echoed his brother's sentiments.
"I think it's real helpful because we get to push each other and work out all the time," he said. "When we're home, we always train together. It's just been a lot of emotional support too; so it's really helpful."
This weekend, Virginia's starting lineup, which is the best wrestler from each of the 10 weight classes, will travel to Las Vegas for the Las Vegas Invitational to take on some of the best competition in the nation. The Artusios, however, will likely make the trip north to State College, Pa. with the rest of the team for the Nittany Lion Open held Sunday.
In their most recent action, both lost decisions at the Nov. 20 Keystone Classic held in Philadelphia. Danny lost 9-5 to Mark Bloom of Brown while Kyle lost 13-4 to Greg Politi, also of Brown.
But with their continued support for one another and intense drive, it doesn't seem like it will be long before the two work their way into the starting lineup. If not though, Virginia still offers the perfect mix of what both brothers desire in a college atmosphere.
"I was always planning on going to U.Va. because I wanted the wrestling team and the great academics," Kyle said. "I thought that was a great balance. I'm just real glad to have [Danny] here because it's just a lot of support there. We're rooming together, so that makes things a lot easier."
And just how did that difference in size come about?
"In high school, [Danny] was a little bigger than me at first and then he got hurt," Kyle said. "So I grew a little more from lifting weights, and we kind of settled into where we are now."
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