The No. 10 Virginia wrestling team welcomed No. 23 North Dakota State and Gardner-Webb to Memorial Gymnasium for a pair of Saturday afternoon duels. The short-handed Cavaliers beat the Bison, 20-15, before cruising to a 33-3 victory against the Runnin’ Bulldogs.
“We wanted to have grimy, tough, hard matches,” coach Steve Garland said. “We needed a day like today, so we could feel, ‘Wow, that was tough.’ The only way to mimic NCAAs is to feel that heat.”
North Dakota State (1-2) put the first three points on the board with a 3-1 decision at 125 pounds, as Virginia sophomore Will Mason could not overcome No. 13 sophomore Josh Rodriguez.
Virginia (5-0) then rallied for two-straight victories. No. 10 sophomore George DiCamillo dismantled his opponent to the tune of a 12-2 major decision. No. 12 senior Joe Spisak then bested No. 20 redshirt freshman Mitch Bengtson 7-4.
Bison redshirt freshman Clay Ream grabbed six huge points for his team at 149 pounds. Ream pinned redshirt freshman T.J. Miller with a crucifix late in the second period. But North Dakota State could not seize any momentum from the pinfall, and the Cavaliers won the next three bouts.
Redshirt freshman Andrew Atkinson trailed Bison sophomore Steven Keogh 5-2 with less than a minute remaining in regulation but managed to force overtime. To conclude the match, Atkinson took down Keogh in sudden-death for the win.
“This team finds a way to fight through adversity,” Garland said. “When things are going south in a match we have to overcome it, and I think that was a good lesson for us today.”
No. 2 senior Nick Sulzer claimed a major decision at 165 pounds. Even when his opponent is not of his caliber, Sulzer works hard to push himself.
“It all comes from practice,” Sulzer said. “I’m building to make myself tired. I’m making an effort to tire myself and still be able to put points on the board.”
No. 11 junior Blaise Butler went to sudden-death with No.14 senior Kurtis Julson. The match was short on scoring — tied 1-1 after three periods — but Butler stepped up in overtime to secure the victory.
Sophomore James Suvak took to the mat for the 197-pound contest with the entire match resting uneasily in the balance. Suvak was wrestling up a weight class due to an injury to junior Zach Nye, and the Bisons were within five points following a victory at 184 pounds. Suvak’s match was a must-win with North Dakota State 10th-ranked senior Evan Knutson lurking at heavyweight.
“Today was a tough day,” Garland said. “Last week was about as trying a week as far as injuries go, and I didn’t know how we were going to get through it.”
Suvak responded to the pressure and emerged with the 7-4 victory to seal the deal for Virginia. Senior Colin Campbell lost to Knutson 9-2, making Suvak’s triumph even more important.
Gardner-Webb (2-1) did not test the Cavaliers as sternly. Virginia won nine out of 10 weight classes, the outcome never in question.
DiCamillo, Sulzer and Butler scored bonus points for the Cavaliers, and Mason, Spisak, Miller, Atkinson, sophomore Dusty Floyd and Campbell won by decision.
Virginia’s Memorial Gym winning streak now rests at 30, due in part to Saturday’s wins. The next home dual will be at John Paul Jones Arena, as fourth-ranked Ohio State will face the Cavaliers in prime time next Monday.
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