The Virginia wrestling team will travel to Durham, N.C., for an important Sunday doubleheader against ACC rivals N.C. State and Duke. As of yesterday, the Cavaliers (16-4, 1-1 ACC) were tied for second in the ACC with North Carolina, a team they beat at home two weeks ago.
With two wins in Durham, the Cavaliers would take sole possession of second place and give themselves a shot at the ACC regular-season title. By beating N.C. State (8-7-1, 1-1 ACC) and Duke (6-7, 0-3 ACC) Sunday and Maryland March 8, the Cavaliers and the Terrapins would have the same conference record (4-1), but Virginia would win the tiebreaker because of its win against Maryland.
"Maryland is a fantastic team," Virginia coach Steve Garlandsaid. "I respect the heck out of them. They do a phenomenal job. I think [coach Pat] Santoro, he's a former Olympic alternate, he does a great job of getting his guys peaked at the right time."
This weekend, however, the Cavaliers are focused on what they can do to better themselves and the team against the Wolfpack and Blue Devils.
"This weekend I need to assert myself in the ACC right now," sophomore Brent Jonessaid. "I wrestled with two popped ribs last time and I didn't come out good in the last ACC match. So I want to go out this weekend and make a name for myself, and then going into the Maryland match, which will be my big match. So I've got to start this weekend and big my way up."
N.C. State features solid wrestlers in sophomore Joe Caramanica and Darrion Caldwell , both of whom have been ranked in the top 12 nationally at some point this season.
"The big thing with N.C. State is ... Caramanica is ranked top-12 in the country at 149, total stud, former ACC champ -- it's going to be a tough one for us, huge matchup for ACC seeding," Virginia coach Steve Garland said. "Then you've got the top-8 guy, Darrion Caldwell, who was No. 1 at one point this season at 149. That kid's unbelievable. That's a huge matchup for us at 149."
The match to watch between the Cavaliers and Wolfpack will pit 2007 ACC champion and NCAA qualifier Virginia junior Rocco Caponi against a top-notch wrestler in N.C. State senior Randy Goodman. The junior will have his hands full grappling with Goodman at 184.
"184 is the showcase match with two top-20 ranked guys," Garland said. "Caponi ranked 12th and Goodman ranked 20th. And Goodman's another one. Goodman's a total stud. He took second in the conference [competing] at 197 and now he's dropping down to 184."
Goodman is not only a stud, but a true athlete, having once played Division I Bowl Subdivision college football.
"He's an incredible athlete," Garland said. "He was the backup quarterback for Nebraska then he transferred to N.C. State to wrestle because he wasn't starting football. That's how good of an athlete this kid is. I mean, it's football, big-time football. He was the second-string guy. So he's a very gifted athlete. That's going to be a very interesting one to watch too."
After Caponi goes toe-to-toe with Goodman, he will have another tough battle with Duke sophomore John Barone. According to Garland, "he took third in the conference last year so Rocco's got his work cut out for him this weekend. He's got to have a good week at practice."
If the Cavaliers can record two victories this weekend in Durham, it will further their goal of being a presence in the ACC Tournament, something Garland already believes they will be.
"I would like to think we're a big threat," Garland said. "I like to think we're an awesome tournament team. We placed ahead of all those ACC schools at the Southern Scuffle. That being said, obviously I have huge goals for us. I really, really think we should win the ACC. Maybe that's being arrogant, but I think we should. I believe that much in my guys."
The ACC Tournament is down the road for Virginia, though. All the concentration for the team is on the here and now.
"[The tournament] is in sight, but right now we have two big matches ahead and another in Maryland in a couple weeks," sophomore Michael Chaires said. "Right now we're just worried about the dual schedule and then ACCs will come"
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