Dec. 8, 1999

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The University of Virginia wrestling team participated in its first dual match competition of the 1999-2000 season when the Cavaliers hosted the Virginia Military Institute (VMI) Keydets at Memorial Gymnasium. After falling behind to the Keydets 6-0 after two events, it was all Cavaliers from that point on, as UVa scored 31 unanswered points to earn its first dual match win of the season.

VMI opened up an early 6-0 lead over Virginia when Matt Erwin defeated Brian Muir (Toms Rivers, N.J./Toms River North) by a score of 7-4 at 165 and Austen Palmer topped Steve Mazzola (Cleveland, Ohio/St. edwards) by the count 9-7 at 174. However, the Cavaliers took control from there and posted wins in the next eight weight classes. UVa gathered its first points of the evening when Ryan McGrath (Blairstown, N.J./Blair Academy) earned a major decision win over Brian Toney by a count of 9-1 at 184. In the 197 weight class, the Cavaliers' Jimi Massey (Williamsport, Md./Williamsport) handed the Keydets' Dale Griffin a 10-5 loss and UVa's Josh Etu (Queensbury, N.Y./Queensbury) defeated VMI's David Walker by the count of 5-1 in the heavyweight class to give Virginia a 10-6 lead.

In the next match at 125, #5th ranked Steve Garland (Middleton, N.Y./Middleton) led the way for UVa as he man-handled VMI's Bryan Wacker en route to a pin at 3:58 to extend the Cavaliers lead to 16-6. The win gave Garland his tenth victory of the season and improved his record to 10-1 overall. After Virginia's Toby MacDonald (Venice, Fla./Venice) won by forfeit at 133, UVa's David Santamaria (Holmdel, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) defeated VMI's Oliver Ruiz by a score of 10-6 in the 141 class. The Cavaliers' John Pozniak (State College, Pa./State College) pulled out a 2-0 win over the Keydets' Adam Britt at 149 and Virginia's Jeremy Kirk (Flemington, N.J./Blair Academy) topped VMI's Gill Decher 3-1 in the 157 class to give UVa a convincing 31-6 decision over the Keydets.

With the victory, Virginia improves its record to 1-0 on the season. The Cavaliers will return to action on Friday, January 7th when UVa begins competition in the 2000 Virginia Duals in Hampton, Va. The meet will begin on the seventh of January and will continue through Saturday, January 8th. Competition is scheduled to run all day during both days of competition.