A pin by Pat Gillen (Shelton, Conn.) at heavyweight set the tone early on Sunday (Nov. 15) as No. 23 Virginia defeated No. 15 Old Dominion by a score of 21-16 in the first home dual meet of the season for the Cavaliers.
Facing its second nationally-ranked foe of the weekend, and fourth in six matches, the Virginia (4-2) used the pin by Gillen to surge in front of Old Dominion (0-1) and never trailed again in the match. With the Cavaliers leading by two points heading into the final bout, freshman Fox Baldwin (Kissimmee, Fla.) closed things out with a decision at 174 pounds to seal the win.
“It’s a big win today with a great crowd,” said Virginia head coach Steve Garland. “We just beat the 15th-ranked team in the nation with three All-Americans in their lineup. We were coming off a tough loss and the guys came out today ready to rock. Pat (Gillen) really set the tone for the whole day.”
After dropping the first contest of the afternoon at 184 pounds by major decision, the Cavaliers clawed back into the match when 10th-ranked Zach Nye (Enola, Pa.) picked up a decision at 197 pounds to pull Virginia within one point.
Gillen recorded his fall in 3:22 to pick up six points for the Cavaliers as Virginia surged in front of the Monarchs. The heavyweight wrestled decisively, using a pair of takedowns, a two-point near fall and an escape to build a commanding lead before pinning John D’Agostino.
Nick Hermann (Amarillo, Texas) and 10th-ranked George DiCamillo both earned decisions to help the Cavaliers build the lead before Old Dominion would begin working its way back into the match.
The Monarch’s sixth-ranked Chris Mecate picked up a decision at 141 pounds, while fourth-ranked Alexander Richardson vaulted Old Dominion to within two points with a fall at 147 pounds.
Andrew Atkinson (Lynchburg, Va.) pushed the Cavaliers back out to a five-point lead in the match with a 10-4 decision at 157 pounds, only to see Old Dominion again close the gap with a decision at 165 pounds.
Baldwin stepped out on the mat with the Cavaliers holding to a slim 18-16 lead in the overall score and the match on the line. The freshman grabbed the advantage quickly with a takedown and then held the lead from there, picking up the 6-1 decision at 174 pounds to secure the victory.
Virginia will return to action Sunday, Nov. 22 when the Cavaliers compete at the Mat Town Open in Lock Haven, Pa.
No. 23 Virginia 21, No. 15 Old Dominion 16
184: No. 7 Jack Dechow (ODU) maj dec. Tyler Askey (ODU), 14-2; ODU 4-0
197: No. 10 Zach Nye (UVA) dec. Austin Coburn (ODU, 5-2; ODU 4-3
285: Pat Gillen (UVA) fall John D’Agostino (ODU), 3:22; UVA 9-4
125: Nick Herrmann (UVA) dec. Brandon Jeske (ODU), 5-2; UVA 12-4
133: No. 10 George DiCamillo (UVA) dec. Emilio Saavedra (ODU), 8-2; UVA 15-4
141: No. 6 Chris Mecate (ODU) dec. Zach Watson (UVA), 4-0; UVA 15-7
149: No. 4 Alexander Richardson (ODU) fall Chris Yankowich (UVA), 4:07); UVA 15-13
157: No. 19 Andrew Atkinson (UVA) dec. Ausitn Eads (ODU), 10-4; UVA 18-13
165: Seldon Wright (ODU) dec. Garrett Peppelman (UVA), 9-5; UVA 18-16
174: Fox Baldwin (UVA) dec. Brooks Climmons (ODU), 6-1; UVA 21-16
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