February 2, 2002

BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech wrestling team dropped a 25-14 decision to Division II Pitt-Johnstown Saturday night at Cassell Coliseum. Tech won four matches, but couldn't close the gap late in falling to 4-7 overall on the year.

The match started at 133 pounds where Tech's David Hoffman, ranked 17th in the nation, earned a major decision over UPJ's Aaron Elliott, downing him 12-4. At 141 pounds, No. 3 Sean Gray came away with a major decision after a 14-4 win over Jason Nestor. Nestor came into the match ranked seventh in the nation in the D-II polls. Gray, a two-time All-American, is now 22-3 on the year and 124-17 for his career. He is now three wins away from breaking Chris Martin's school-record 126 career victories.

Trailing 8-0, the Mountain Cats, ranked eighth in the nation, roared back to win the next four matches to take a 16-8 lead. At 149 pounds, UPJ's Joe Lloyd, ranked eighth in the nation, defeated Reed Carpenter, 4-1, before top-ranked Shad Benton pinned Tech's Mike Cox at the 1:30 mark at 157 pounds. At 165 pounds, Ted Raker gained a 5-1 decision over Jerome Villanueva before Randy Pyle gained a major decision over Tomas Ovalle, 11-0, at 174 pounds.

The biggest drama of the night came at 184 pounds, where top-ranked Scott Justus had to get a takedown of UPJ's Matt Benton in overtime to remain undefeated on the year. Justus, who is now 22-0, was tied with Benton at three heading to the second period before Benton got an escape and takedown to take a 6-3 lead. Justus escaped late and headed into the third period trailing 6-4. He got an early reversal to tie it up, but Benton countered with an escape to take a 7-6 lead. Justus quickly took him down, but Benton escaped late to send it into overtime. In the extra session, Justus got a takedown to earn the victory.

At 197 pounds, Canaan Prater came up with a 6-2 decision over Ben Kuntz to make it 16-14. At heavyweight, Pete Pool led late, but gave up a takedown to Brent Beckstein and Beckstein took Pool down in overtime to gain the victory. With Tech trailing 19-14, the match headed to the final bout at 125 pounds. Tech's Geoff Head got taken down by second-ranked Brandon Newill and then suffered an apparent shoulder injury and had to default at the 1:34 mark.

Tech will be back in action on Feb. 9, hosting No. 11 West Virginia at 4 p.m., at Cassell Coliseum.

#8 Pitt-Johnstown  25
Virginia Tech      14


                                                                  VT UPJ
133 pounds #17 D. Hoffman (VT) maj. dec. A. Elliott, 12-4   4   0
141 pounds #3 Sean Gray (VT) maj. dec. #7 J. Nestor, 14-4   8   0
149 pounds #8 J. Lloyd (UPJ) dec. R. Carpenter, 4-1         8   3
157 pounds #1 S. Benton (UPJ) fall M. Cox, 1:30             8   9
165 pounds T. Raker (UPJ) dec. J. Villanueva, 5-1           8  12
174 pounds R. Pyle (UPJ) maj. dec. T. Ovalle, 11-0          8  16
184 pounds #1 S. Justus (VT) dec. M. Benton, 8-8, SV       11  16
197 pounds C. Prater (VT) dec. B. Kuntz, 6-2               14  16
285 pounds B. Beckstein (UPJ) dec. P. Pool, 5-5, SV        14  19
125 pounds #2 B. Newill inj. def. G. Head, 1:34            14  25