January 12, 2007

HAMPTON, Va. - The Virginia Tech wrestling team resumed competition at the 27^th annual Virginia Duals Friday afternoon, staying alive with a 20-17, come-from-behind victory over the University of Wyoming in the consolation bracket.

Each team won five matches, but Tech used an unexpected technical fall from Derek Gallagher to spark a comeback from an 11-0 deficit. The Hokies forfeited at 125 pounds and Corey VomBaur battled back from a 3-0 deficit to Tech's Matt Rosen to win 4-3. But during the match, Wyoming's bench cost the Cowboys a team point for unsportsmanlike conduct to make it 8-0. After Garrett Desmond beat Tech's Andre Johnson 5-3 at 141 pounds, the Hokies began their conduct, down 11-0.

The comeback started at 149 pounds, where Jon Bonilla-Bowman rolled to a 14-7 decision over Carter Downing. He had a chance for the major decision, but couldn't convert a late takedown attempt. For the match, he had six takedowns.

Then came the surprise at 157 pounds, where Gallagher used a late flurry to pick up a 22-7 technical fall over Alex Rieder. The freshman from Chesapeake picked up five takedowns in the first period to take a 10-5 lead. In the second stanza, he got a reversal and took a 12-6 lead into the final period. After he escaped to start the period, he got a takedown and two near-fall points. As time was winding down, he picked up two takedowns in the last 15 seconds, including one at the final buzzer to pick up the 22-7 win and thus earning five team points for the Hokies.

Trailing 11-8, freshman Eric Decker picked up an 8-5 decision over Kyle Morrow to tie the match up. Moving to 174 pounds, Bryan Bernal of Wyoming handed Steve Ratley a 5-2 loss to give the Cowboys a 14-11 lead heading into the final three matches.

Senior Steve Borja was controlling the action at 184 pounds against Chet Slevin when Slevin went down with an injury. He finished the period, but as soon as the second period began, trailing 6-3, Slevin aggravated the injury and had had to take an injury default at the 3:04 mark. Those six points swung the score in Tech's favor by three points.

At 197 pounds, redshirt freshman Kevin O'Connor picked up his first collegiate victory by dominating Preston Pavich and picking up a 10-4 win. He took a 2-1 lead into the second period, where he widened the lead to four with a reversal and a takedown. In the third period got another takedown en route to the win.

In the final match, all Jim Powers had to do was to not get pinned for Tech to pick up the win. He battled hard throughout, but fell 3-0 to Jason Still to account for the final score.

The victory broke a seven-match losing streak at the Virginia Duals for Tech dating back to the 2002 event. The Hokies will be back in action on Saturday, taking on eighth-seeded Bloomsburg at 10 a.m. The winner of that match will march on and face the winner of fifth-seeded Arizona State and Liberty while the loser will be eliminated.

Virginia Tech (5-4)    20
Wyoming (0-5)          17

125: Nick Ramirez (W) wins by forfeit
133: Corey VomBaur (W) dec. Matt Rosen, 4-3*
141: Garrett Desmond (W) dec. Andre Johnson, 5-3
149: Jon Bonilla-Bowman (VT) dec. Carter Downing, 14-7
157: Derek Gallagher (VT) tech fall Alex Rieder, 22-7 (7:00)
165: Eric Decker (VT) dec. Kyle Morrow, 8-5
174: Bryan Bernal (W) dec. Steve Ratley, 5-2
184: Steve Borja (VT) inj. def. Chet Slevin, 3:04
197: Kevin O'Connor (VT) dec. Preston Pavich, 10-4
285: Jason Still (W) dec. Jim Powers, 3-0

* - one team point deducted from Wyoming for unsportsmanlike conduct