January 31, 2004

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Virginia Tech wrestling team went 1-2 in three dual meets Saturday at Memorial Gymnasium in the UVa Duals. The Hokies opened the day with a 27-12 loss to Kent State. In the second match of the day, Tech rebounded to cruise past Old Dominion, 29-12. The final match of the day saw Tech drop a 31-8 decision to the University of Virginia.

In the first match of the day, Tech got just two victories. At 165 pounds, 18^th-ranked Chris Stith recorded a fall of Nick Brenner at the 2:08 mark. Stith got a takedown right to Brenner's back and pinned him with less than a minute left in the first period. At 133 pounds, 10^th-ranked David Hoffman used a takedown to put Jared Opfer on his back and pick up the fall at the 2:43 mark.

In its second match of the day, Tech took on Old Dominion in a return to Tech's wrestling days in the Colonial Athletic Association before it joined the Eastern Wrestling League. Tech dropped the first match, but Stith came back with another pin to make it 6-3, Tech. He got a takedown, then two separate near-fall combinations on John Adams before recording the fall at the 4:09 mark. Junior Steve Borja gave the Hokies a six-point lead with a 6-2 decision over Mike Ulrey at 174 pounds. Tech's Canaan Prater won at 197 pounds via forfeit to give Tech a 15-6 lead.

Freshman Ryan Broughman used four takedowns to come up with a big major decision at 125 pounds, beating Jared Smith, 16-6. At 133 pounds, Hoffman came one point shy of a technical fall, but still dominated Billy Hayduk, picking up an 18-4 major decision courtesy of six takedowns, a reversal and three near-fall points at the buzzer. At 149 pounds, Reed Carpenter rebounded from a loss in the first match to come back and pin Brian Roznowski at the 4:40 mark.

In the final match of the day, the Hokies took on UVa for the last time before Tech joins the ACC next season. The Hokies fell behind quickly when Andrew Donofrio was injured and had to take a medical forfeit. At 165 pounds, Stith dropped an 8-5 decision to 10^th-ranked Tim Foley. Foley rode Stith the entire second period, then got two takedowns in the third period to help his cause.

Tech got on the board at the 184 pounds match when Shaun Guttridge came up with a 6-1 decision over Drew Micheletti. Kris Wiedegreen used a reversal early in the third period, then got a takedown late to pick up a 5-3 decision over Andrew Leffler at the heavyweight spot. At 133 pounds, Hoffman struggled, giving up four takedowns, but picked up a 16-12 decision over Steve Hromada to run his record to 18-2 on the year.

Tech is now 7-6 on the year and jumps back into EWL action next weekend. The Hokies will host West Virginia University Sunday night at 1 p.m. All matches are free and held in Cassell Coliseum.

Kent State       27
Virginia Tech    12

157 #19 M. Tolar (K) maj. dec. A. Donofrio, 18-8
165 #18 C. Stith (VT) fall N. Brenner, 2:08
174 A. Miller (K) dec. S. Borja, 7-1
184 A. Camargo (K) dec. J. Villanueva, 8-4
197 N. Hiller (K) dec. C. Prater, 9-5
285 W. Leonard (K) dec. K. Wiedegreen, 3-1 (tb)
125 D. Opfer (K) maj. dec. R. Broughman, 16-2
133 #10 D. Hoffman (VT) fall J. Opfer, 2:43
141 N. Daugherty (K) maj. dec. J. Gallagher, 9-1
149 J. Bake (K) dec. #26 R. Carpenter, 9-3

Virginia Tech    29
Old Dominion     12

157 J. Pearce (ODU) dec. A. Donofrio, 12-6
165 #18 C. Stith (VT) fall J. Adams, 4:09
174 S. Borja (VT) dec. M. Ulrey, 6-2
184 A. Wright (ODU) dec. S. Guttridge, 4-2
197 C. Prater (VT) win by forfeit
285 D. Lorthridge (ODU) dec. K. Wiedegreen, 3-1
125 R. Broughman (VT) maj. dec. J. Smith, 16-6
133 #10 D. Hoffman (VT) maj. dec. B. Hayduk, 18-4
141 J. Earnhardt (ODU) dec. C. Smolko, 9-6
149 #26 R. Carpenter (VT) fall B. Roznowski, 4:40

Virginia         31
Virginia Tech     8

157 P. Bjorlo (V) med. def. A. Donofrio
165 #10 T. Foley (V) dec. #18 C. Stith, 9-5
174 M. Grogan (V) dec. S. Borja, 3-2 *
184 S. Guttridge (VT) dec. D. Micheletti, 6-1
197 S. Smith (V) dec. T. Ovalle, 4-3
285 K. Wiedegreen (VT) dec. A. Leffler, 5-3
125 B. Sticca (V) maj. dec. R. Broughman, 14-5
133 #10 D. Hoffman (VT) dec. S. Hromada, 16-12
141 #2 S. Moore (V) fall C. Smolko, :54
149 A. Martin (V) fall #26 R. Carpenter, 3:45

* 1 point deducted from VT for unsportsmanlike conduct