Caponi, Henrich End Run at NCAA Championships

Courtesy: David Petkofsky/UVa Media Relations Rocco Caponi recorded two falls at the NCAA Championships.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia wrestling team wrapped up its record-setting season Friday at the 2008 NCAA Championships at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis. Chris Henrich (Fr., Lansdale, Pa.) and Rocco Caponi (Jr., Uniontown, Ohio) each competed for Virginia Friday and were eliminated from the championships. The Cavaliers ended the evening session in 40th place in the team competition with seven points.

Caponi (39-4), the No. 11 seed at 184 pounds, started the day strong with a pin of Penn’s Lior Zamir in the third consolation round. He needed just 2:11 to finish off Zamir. The fall was Caponi’s 13th pin this season – tied for second most in a single season in UVa history.

In the fourth consolation round, Caponi dropped a 13-3 bout to third-seeded Tyrel Todd of Michigan. Caponi finishes his impressive season with 39 wins, which ranks fifth in a single season at Virginia. He will enter his senior season with 94 career wins – sixth-most at Virginia and 22 shy of the school record.

Henrich (26-10) lost to Illinois’ John Dergo, 5-1, on Friday morning. The freshman caught fire after the new year, going 17-4 while moving into the national rankings for the final eight weeks of the season. His 10 losses all came by five points or fewer.

Cavaliers at the NCAA Championships
Rocco Caponi
W Christopher Honeycutt (Edinboro), Fall 4:04
L No. 6 seed Raymond Jordan (Missouri), 8-2
W Lior Zamir (Penn), Fall 2:11
L No. 3 seed Tyrel Todd (Michigan), 13-3

Chris Henrich
L No. 3 seed Brandon Browne (Nebraska), 8-3
W Randy Oates (George Mason), 10-6
L John Dergo (Illinois), 5-1

Ross Gitomer
L Luke Smith (Central Michigan), 1-0
L Joey Fio (Oklahoma), 8-6