Virginia 20, UNCG 15
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA ? The UNC Greensboro wrestling squad dropped a close 20-15 match to Virginia on Saturday afternoon at Memorial Gym.
Jeff Hedges, the Havre, MT native, put the Spartans (4-2, 2-0 SoCon) up 3-0 after recording a 5-2 decision over Ross Gitomer at 125 lbs. Virginia took the major decision victory at 133 lbs before junior Chris Bencivenga grabbed the 8-3 decision over Kellon Balum at 141 lbs. to give the Spartans back the lead. Sophomore Marcus Hannah added to the Spartan lead when he pulled off the 6-4 sudden victory decision over Drew DiPasquale at 149 lbs.
The Cavaliers responded with a decision victory at 157 lbs. to cut the Spartan lead to two. Virginia’s Damian Johnson put the Cavaliers up for good at 13-9 after he pinned Mark Ring at 165 lbs. UNCG came within one after senior Joe Lowe took the 10-4 decision over Mike Grogan at 174 lbs.
Virginia, however, tallied a major decision at 184 to go up 17-12. Kyle Narkiewicz took the close 8-6 decision over UNCG’s Nick Clark at 197 lbs. to give the Cavaliers the match. Junior Joe Sheffield closed out the afternoon with a 3-1 decision over Virginia’s Scott Smith at 285 lbs.
Hedges, Bencivenga and Lowe remain undefeated in dual matches with their victories in the respective weight classes.
UNCG returns to the mat on January 24 when it visits Davidson in a Southern Conference match up. Bouts begin at 7 pm.
AGATE
Virginia 20, UNC Greensboro 15
125 - Jeff Hedges (UNCG) dec. Ross Gitomer (UVa), 5-2 (TB2)
133 - Eric Albright (UVa) major dec. Mitchell Johnson (UNCG), 12-3
141 - Chris Bencivenga (UNCG) dec. Kellon Balum (UVa), 8-3
149 - Marcus Hannah (UNCG) dec. Drew DiPasquale, (UVa). 6-4,SV
157 - Mike Sewell (UVa) dec. Nathan Berryman (UNCG), 3-2
165 - Damian Johnson (UVa) fall Mark Ring (UNCG), 2:16
174 - Joe Lowe (UNCG) dec. Mike Grogan (UVa), 10-4
184 - Rocco Caponi (UVa) tech. fall Scott Snyder (UNCG), 14-0
197 - Kyle Narkiewicz (UVa) dec. Nick Clark (UNCG), 8-6
285 - Joe Sheffield (UNCG) dec. Scott Smith (UVa), 3-1