Dec. 3, 2005

LAS VEGAS, NV -

The Virginia Wrestling team had four wrestlers advanced to the round of 16 and the Cavaliers placed 30th at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational during the two-day event. Eric Albright, Andrew DiPasquale, Mike Grogan and Nick Smith all advanced to the round of 16 for Virginia.

Virginia recorded 24 team points. Michigan paced the 52-team field with a total of 127.0 points. Cornell (110.0), Missouri (97.5), Edinboro (92.0) and Arizona State (91.0) round out the top five.

Individually, Albright led the Cavaliers at 133 pounds. He went 3-2 in the tournament. He won his opening match over San Francisco State's Virgil Lockett, 9-2. In the round of 32, Albright defeated Illinois' Dan Manzella, 5-1, before falling in the round of 16 to Cal Poly's Darrell Vasquez, 10-2.

DiPasquale pickekd up two wins in the tournament. He won his match in the round of 32 over San Francisco State's Jeff Johnson, 7-5, before suffering a technical fall in the round of 16 to Edinboro's Gregor Gillespie, 15-0. DiPasquale also earned a decision over Dickinson State's Matt Pridgeon, 9-2.

Grogan opened the tournament by pinning Utah Valley State's Gerrat Story at 174 pounds. He earned a decision over Missouri Valley's Josh Johnston, 2-0.

Smith was awarded a win in the round of 32 when Wisconsin's Kyle Massey defaulted. Smith fell in the round of 16 to Boise State's Andy Patrick.

Virginia sent a group of wrestlers to the Nittany Lion Open that takes place Sunday. After this weekend's tournaments, the Cavaliers will return to action Dec. 29-30 at the Southern Scuffle in Greensboro, N.C.

Cavalier Results from Cliff Keen Invitational:

125 pounds
Pigtails
Stevenson, Eric (Oregon State) Decision Burke, Anthony (Virginia), 4-1
Wrestleback 4
Charbonneau, Trevor (Nebraska-Kearney) Decision Burke, Anthony (Virginia), 3-1 OT
Wrestleback 3
Burke, Anthony (Virginia) Maj. Dec. Marvin, Alan (South Dakota State), 10-1
Wrestleback 2
Burke, Anthony (Virginia) Decision Costello, Nathan (Ohio State), 9-4
133 pounds
Round of 16
Vasquez, Darrell (Cal Poly) Maj. Dec. Albright, Eric (Virginia), 10-2
Round of 32
Albright, Eric (Virginia) Decision Manzella, Dan (Illinois), 5-1
Pigtails
Albright, Eric (Virginia) Decision Lockett, Virgil (San Francisco State), 9-2
Wrestleback 4
Tadzhimetov, Erkin (Utah Valley State) Decision Albright, Eric (Virginia), 3-1
Wrestleback 3
Albright, Eric (Virginia) Decision Benza, Matthew (Air Force), 8-7
141 pounds
Pigtails Barnes, Heinrich (North Idaho) Decision Alparone, Nick (Virginia), 11-7
Wrestleback 1
Gingerich, Dana (Buffalo) Pinned Alparone, Nick (Virginia), 5:20
149 pounds
Round of 16
Gillespie, Gregor (Edinboro) Tech. Fall DiPasquale, Andrew (Virginia), 15-0
Round of 32
DiPasquale, Andrew (Virginia) Decision Johnson, Jeff (San Francisco State), 7-5
Pigtails
DiPasquale, Andrew (Virginia) Decision Pridgeon, Matt (Dickinson State), 9-2
Wrestleback 3
Payne, Pat (Arizona State) Decision DiPasquale, Andrew (Virginia), 5-0
157 pounds
Pigtails
Yost, Jake (Chattanooga) Decision Sewell, Mike (Virginia), 9-2
Wrestleback 2
Harrington, Cody (UNC Greensboro) Decision Sewell, Mike (Virginia), 8-3
165 pounds
Round of 32
Penn, Deonte (Edinboro) Pinned Johnson, Damian (Virginia), 1:02 Pigtails
Johnson, Damian (Virginia) M Decision Clark, Jonathan (UC-Davis), 14-6
Wrestleback 2
Johnson, Damian (Virginia) Decision Schlecht, Stanton (Dickinson State), 8-1
Wrestleback 3
Blake,Ray (Stanford) Tech. Fall Johnson, Damian (Virginia), 15-0;6:00
174 pounds
Round of 16
Askren, Ben (Missouri) Tech. Fall Grogan, Mike (Virginia), 18-1
Round of 32
Grogan, Mike (Virginia) Decision Johnston, Josh (Missouri Valley), 2-0
Pigtails
Grogan, Mike (Virginia) Pinned Story, Gerrat (Utah Valley State), 3:50
Wrestleback 3
Pipher, Charlie Western State M Decision Grogan, Mike Virginia 12-0
184 pounds
Round of 32
Rovelli, Joe (Hofstra) Decision Narkiewicz, Kyle (Virginia), 4-3
Wrestleback 2
Narkiewicz, Kyle (Virginia) Decision McClure, John (Eastern Michigan), 8-3
Wrestleback 3
Alex Picazo (Ohio State) DEC Kyle Narkiewicz (Virginia), 5-3
197 pounds
Pigtails Villers, Jared (West Virginia) Decision Jones, Brent (Virginia), 10-4
Wrestleback 4
Moore, Nathan (Purdue) Decision Jones, Brent (Virginia), 4-2
Wrestleback 3
Jones, Brent (Virginia) Pinned Havens, Malcom (Wyoming), 1:59
Wrestleback 2
Jones, Brent (Virginia) Decision Mumma, Cody (Western State), 6-5
Jones, Brent (Virginia) Decision Eliot Kelly (Cal Davis), 8-6
HWT
Round of 16
Patrick, Andy (Boise State) Decision Smith, Nick (Virginia), 6-3
Round of 32
Smith, Nick (Virginia) Default Massey, Kyle (Wisconsin), 0-0
Wrestleback 4
Parker, Cody (Oregon) M Decision Smith, Nick (Virginia), 12-4
Wrestleback 3
Bietz, Kris (Augustana (SD)) Decision Smith, Nick (Virginia), 7-6