The Virginia wrestling team opened its ACC slate this past weekend, coming away with a 27-10 win over North Carolina Friday night and a 25-15 win over in-state rival Virginia Tech Saturday.
"It was good to get them under our belt," 133-pound wrestler Eric Albright said. "North Carolina wasn't really a close match. We owed them a little revenge there because we lost to them earlier in the year, so it was a big win."
Just as impressive as the 2-0 start in conference, however, was the fact that the team's win over UNC marked the 100th victory of head coach Lenny Bernstein's career.
"For me, I think any time you reach the century mark, it's definitely special," Bernstein said. "I think if I had planned an easier schedule over the last 12, 13 years I could've done this a lot sooner but it hasn't ever been about wins and losses for me. It's been about trying to produce All-Americans and trying to be a top-20 in the country, top-25 in the country."
Bernstein emphasized a positive outlook.
"I think we have potential for this team, maybe not this year but certainly in the future to be a top-10 team in the country," he said.
Last season the Cavaliers only won one ACC match and finished 1-4 overall in the conference.
This is Bernstein's 13th season with the Virginia program and he has accomplished a host of other noteworthy feats since his arrival in 1993. Bernstein has coached six All-American wrestlers, has made 12 straight NCAA tournament appearances and has coached 25 ACC Champions. He has only finished undefeated in the ACC once, going 4-0 in the 2002-2003 season. With Virginia Tech joining two years ago, the ACC now has five teams.
"It was real cool to be able to do that for him, especially against his alma mater," Albright said.
Bernstein graduated from UNC in 1989.
Leading the Cavaliers recently is a wrestler who has become quite familiar to fans of the program: Eric Albright. The freshman won both his matches, beating Carolina's Jared Royer by major decision 9-1 and Virginia Tech's Sheridan Moran, also by major decision, 14-4.
"It was pretty cool to be able to do that," Albright said. "I know the team's looking to be real successful this year and now I think it's more realistic to everybody that we could be ACC champs."
On Monday Albright (22-7, 9-2 dual meets) was named the ACC Wrestler of the Week for his performance. It was the second time this season he has been awarded the honor.
Now, the task will be to keep up the momentum the team has gained from two consecutive wins. The rest of their ACC schedule does not begin until Feb. 11, when the team travels to North Carolina for matches versus Duke and N.C. State.
The team finishes up against Maryland on Friday, Feb. 17 right before the ACC Championships, which will be held at Virginia Military Institute in Lexington, Va.
"Starting 2-0 in the conference is huge," Bernstein said. "Certainly pointing to this past weekend, having UNC and Virginia Tech, who looked to be the favorites going into the conference this year ... both of them were [first and second] at [the ACC Championships] last year."
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