Courtesy UVA Media Relations
Virginia jumped out to the early lead and led through nine weight classes before a pin flipped the dual and the Cavaliers fell 19-17 at No. 9 NC State on Friday.
NOTING THE HOOS
- Freshman Rocco Hayes picked up his first dual win of his career as he took the major decision over Brad Yokam at 125 pounds to start the dual.
- The Cavaliers (8-4, 0-1 ACC) won the first three weight classes – and four of the first five – to take a 14-3 lead on the Wolfpack (9-3, 1-0) as two of the wins came by major decision.
- Marlon Yarbrough saw his first action of the season with a win over No. 32 Troy Hohman at 133 pounds.
- Gable Porter picked up a top-10 victory with a 4-2 decision over No. 8 Ryan Jack at 141 pounds to improve to 7-1 on the year in dual action.
- Colton Washleski added the Hoos’ second bonus-point victory of the night with a 13-4 major decision.
- Steven Burrell picked up a ranked with an 11-8 decision over No. 25 Patrick Brophy to put Virginia up by four points heading into the final weight class.
- Virginia had four wrestlers make their ACC debut as Rocco Hayes (125), Wynton Denkins (149), Colton Washleski (157) and Brenan Morgan (285) all wrestled in their first ACC dual match.
FROM HEAD COACH STEVE GARLAND
“Holy smokes that was a match. I am really proud of our team. For the most part we wrestled really well. We wrestled tough – getting the first takedown, getting riding time, getting them hit for stalling. The mentality was great. We beat some ranked guys tonight. We had several ranked wins and we will build on that. Again, we split five and five with a nationally-ranked team. We are right there. We just have to find a way to finish it off. We’re so close…