January 12, 2007

HAMPTON, Va. - The Virginia Tech wrestling team opened up competition at the 27^th annual Virginia Duals Friday morning with a 43-0 loss to second-seeded and nationally 12^th-ranked Edinboro. The loss drops the Hokies into the consolation bracket, where they will face the University of Wyoming at 3 p.m.

After Tech forfeited at 125 pounds, 16^th-ranked Ricky Deubel picked up a 13-3 major decision over Tech's Sheridan Moran. Moran got the first takedown of the match, but Deubel proceeded to score the next 11 points to put it out of reach. After Joel Webster pinned Andre Johnson in the first period, fifth-ranked Gregor Gillespie picked up a 12-5 decision over Jon Bonilla-Bowman at 149 pounds to make it 19-0. Bonilla-Bowman trailed big late, but used an escape and takedown in the final seconds to bring it down from a major decision to a decision and save the team a point.

Local product Derek Gallagher, from nearby Chesapeake, took to the mats next for the Hokies, but fell to 10^th-ranked Matt Hill, 16-1 for a technical fall, at 157 pounds. Up next at 165 pounds, Edinboro All-American and eighth-ranked Deonte Penn picked up a hard-fought 7-2 win over freshman Eric Decker.

At 174 pounds, Edinboro's Phil Moricone used three takedowns early to spark him to a 12-1 major decision over Steve Ratley.

The featured match at 184 pounds didn't disappoint as 11^th-ranked Alex Clemsen of Edinboro and Tech's Steve Borja battled to the end. After a scoreless first period, Clemsen took a 2-1 lead into the final period. Borja tied it up early in the third period with an escape and nearly got a takedown with a minute left, but Clemsen managed to avoid the danger and keep the action neutral. Clemsen eventually converted a deep shot into a takedown with 20 seconds left to pick up the 4-2 win.

At 197 pounds, Tech put Kevin O'Connor on the mat for his first dual meet action. He wrestled hard and to the end tied at 3-3, but Edinboro's Pat Bradshaw had 1:56 of riding time to account for the 4-3 win. The final match saw 19^th-ranked Joe Fendone of Edinboro pin Jim Powers at the 2:11 mark.

#12 Edinboro (9-1)     43

Virginia Tech (4-4)    0

125: Eric Morrill (EU) wins by forfeit

133: #16 Ricky Deubel (EU) maj. dec. Sheridan Moran, 13-3

141: Joel Webster (EU) fall Andre Johnson, 2:42

149: #5 Gregor Gillespie (EU) dec. Jon Bonilla-Bowman, 12-5

157: #10 Matt Hill (EU) tech fall Derek Gallagher, 16-1 (5:54)

165: #8 Deonte Penn (EU) dec. Eric Decker, 7-2

174: Phil Moricone (EU) maj. dec. Steve Ratley, 12-1

184: #11 Alex Clemsen (EU) dec. Steve Borja, 4-2

197: Pat Bradshaw (EU) dec. Kevin O'Connor, 4-3 

285: #19 Joe Fendone (EU) fall Jim Powers, 2:11