December 10, 2004

BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech wrestling team combined for 70 minutes of intensity and technical wrestling to shut out the University of Virginia, 32-0, Friday night in front of 1,310 fans at Cassell Coliseum. Tech used two major decisions and eight decisions to pick up its first win in the Atlantic Coast Conference and improve to 7-1 overall, 1-0 in the ACC. The Cavaliers fell to 2-2, 0-1 in the ACC.

The match started at 125 pounds, where freshman Justin Staylor used four takedowns and a near fall to pick up a 13-4 major decision over Anthony Burke and pick up the first ACC win in school history. At 133 pounds, David Hoffman, ranked 16^th in the nation by the NWCA/Intermat poll, dominated Byron Dunlap by picking up five takedowns and three reversals en route to the 20-8 major decision.

Moving to 141 pounds, Donny Ooton used a five-point third period to break a 2-2 tie and pick up the 8-3 win over Chet Naylor. At 149 pounds, Tyde Prater used four takedowns to help him come away with a 9-7 decision over Paul Dunstan to give Tech a 14-0 lead.

The match of the night came at 157 pounds, where senior Reed Carpenter used a furious third-period rally to down Paul Bjorlo, 7-6. Bjorlo scored first, getting a takedown in the first period. Leading 5-1 heading to the final period, Bjorlo gave up an escape to Carpenter to make it 5-2. A technical violation for locked hands gave Carpenter a point to make it 5-3. With under a minute left, Carpenter got a takedown to tie the bout up at 5-5. He let Bjorlo go, shot back in to get another takedown with under 15 seconds left and held on for the win, sending the crowd into a frenzy.

At 165 pounds, 15^th-ranked Chris Stith controlled the pace against Jim Hartey. The senior from Virginia Beach used three takedowns and kept Hartey away to pick up the 6-3 decision. At 174 pounds, Shaun Guttridge picked up a takedown in the first period and an escape in the third period en route to a 3-2 win over Damian Johnson. At 184 pounds, Steve Borja used an escape and quick takedown early in the second period to pick up a 3-0 decision over Kyle Narkiewicz to make it 26-0.

Going into the final matches, the outcome was determined, but Tech still had a chance for the rare shutout. At 197 pounds, Tomas Ovalle used two takedowns, including one in the final seconds, to pick up a 6-2 win over Scott Smith. The final bout saw 12^th-ranked Mike Faust use an early takedown and an escape to start the second period to pick up a 3-2 win over Nick Smith and seal the 32-0 win.

Tech now leads the overall series 33-30-1 after losing the last two seasons. The Hokies will find the going much tougher next time out when they travel to Columbus, Ohio, for a pair of matches. On Dec. 18, Tech will take on Ohio State at noon before facing No. 13 Missouri at 2 p.m.

Virginia (2-2, 0-1)        0

Virginia Tech (7-1, 1-0)  32

125  Staylor (VT) maj. dec. Burke, 13-4

133  #16 Hoffman (VT) maj. dec. Dunlap, 20-8

141  Ooton (VT) dec. Naylor, 8-3

149  T. Prater (VT) dec. Dunstan, 9-7

157  Carpenter (VT) dec. Bjorlo, 7-6

165  #15 Stith (VT) dec. Hartey, 6-3

174  Guttridge (VT) dec. Johnson, 3-2

184  Borja (VT) dec. Narkiewicz, 3-0

197  Ovalle (VT) dec. S. Smith, 6-2

285  #12 Faust (VT) dec. N. Smith, 3-2