Feb. 16, 2000

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The University of Virginia wrestling team returned to dual match action tonight when the Cavaliers faced their Atlantic Coast Conference rivals, the Maryland Terrapins, in Memorial Gymnasium. UVa jumped out to an early 20-0 lead after the first five matches and cruised to a 27-10 ACC victory. The win was the Cavaliers first in the conference this season.

Virginia's Steve Mazzola (Cleveland, Ohio/St. Edwards) put UVa ahead 6-0 and for good in the opening match by pinning Maryland's Maike Tomaino at 4:25 in the 174 pound class. UVa's Ryan McGrath (Blairstown, N.J./Blair Academy) followed Mazzola's fall with a 14-6 major decision victory over Mark Reid in the 184 pound class to make it a 10-0 Virginia advantage.

The Cavaliers' Jimi Massey (Williamsport, Md./Williamsport) and Josh Etu (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) kept the momentum going for the 'Hoos by posting 5-3 victories in the 197 lbs. and heavyweight class, respectively. Massey topped Maryland's Bob Vorhies and Etu defeated Jeremy Duncan. Virginia's Steve Garland (Middletown, N.Y./Middletown), ranked 7th in the country, earned a 14-3 major decision win over the Terrapins' Matt Pandullo in the 125 pound class to give Virginia a 20-0 lead after claiming the first five consecutive matches of the evening.

Maryland finally got on the scoreboard when the Terrapins won back-to-back matches at 133 lbs. and 141 lbs. Maryland's Brandon York topped UVa's Toby MacDonald (Venice, Fla./Venice) by the score of 6-5 at 133 and the Terrapins' Mark Mansuetto recorded a 16-6 major decision victory over Virginia's Dave Takseraas (Seaford, N.Y./Seaford) at 141 lbs. to make the team score 20-7 in favor of UVa through seven matches.

However, the Cavaliers would go on to claim two of the last three matches after UVa's John Pozniak (State College, Pa./State College) posted a 12-4 major decision win over Grant Newman in the 149 pound class and Virginia's Don Carlo-Clauss (Rochester, N.Y./Greece Olympia) edged Maryland's Rob Booth by the score of 5-3 in the 157 pound class.

The Terrapins' Josh Weidman defeated the Cavaliers' Brian Muir (Toms River, N.J./Toms River North) by the score of 4-2 in the final match of the evening in the 165 pound class.

With the win, Virginia improves its record to 4-5 overall, 1-1 in the ACC. Maryland falls to 4-3 overall, 2-2 in the conference with the loss.

The Cavaliers will return to action on Sunday, February 20th when Virginia competes against the North Carolina State Wolfpack and the Duke Blue Devils. UVa will wrestle N.C. State at Reynolds Coliseum in Raleigh, N.C. at 2:00 p.m. Following Virginia's match with NCSU, the Cavaliers will travel to Durham, N.C. to face Duke in Cameron Indoor Stadium at 6:00 p.m. Both ACC dual matches were rescheduled after inclimate weather postponed the originally scheduled dates set for January 28th (Duke) and 29th (N.C. State).

Maryland will return to action on Saturday, February 19th when the Terrapins face Old Dominion and Delaware State at 2:00 p.m.