Dec. 4, 1997

Cavaliers Defeat VMI 31-13

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Virginia's Matt Roth (Wescosville, Pa./Parkland), John Pozniak (State College, Pa./State College), and Jim Harshaw (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) each pinned their opponents and paced the Cavaliers to a 31-13 defeat of in-state rival VMI tonight in Memorial Gymnasium. Virginia jumped out to a 31-0 lead after winning the first seven matches and held on to win their ninth consecutive dual match in a streak that reaches back to last year.

Mike Pacillo (Kenmore, NY/Kenmore West) started things for the Cavaliers with a 19-5 defeat of VMI's Tremayne Austin. The major decision put Virginia ahead 4-0 after the first bout. Roth won by fall just 1:36 into the match at 126, and Jason Mutarelli (N. Catasauqua, Pa./Catasauqua) defeated Frank Lucero 8-2 to push the margin to 13-0.

Pozniak and Harshaw both pinned their opponents in the next two bouts, staking Virginia to a 25-0 lead. Freshman Gregory Francesca (Union, N.J./Blair Academy) clinched the match for the Cavaliers as he defeated Gill Decher of VMI 5-2, giving Virginia an insurmountable lead of 28-0 with four matches remaining. Alex Leykikh (West Hartford, CT/Hall) scored the last win of the evening for the Cavaliers with a 9-5 decision over Matt Black.

David Budlong of VMI started the Keydet rally with a pin of Dan Geary (St. Louis, Mo./Christian Brothers) in the second period in the 177 match. Isaac Moore held on to defeat Martius Harding (Baltimore, Md./McDonough) at 190 pounds. Finally, VMI's Leslie Apedoe, ranked fifth nationally at heavyweight, defeated Jason Majestic (Patchogue, NY/Medford)14-5.

The Cavaliers return to action on Sunday, December 7 as they travel to Penn State to compete in the Penn State Open. 

 Wt Result                               Team Score (VA-VMI)
118 Pacillo (VA) maj. dec. Austin 19-5        4-0
126 Roth (VA) WBF Robert Magruder 1:36       10-0
134 Mutarelli (VA) dec. Lucero 8-2           13-0
142 Pozniak (VA) WBF Willie Barquero 6:46    19-0
150 Harshaw (VA) WBF Philip King 5:00        25-0
158 Francesca (VA) dec. Decher 5-2           28-0
167 Leykikh (VA) dec. Black 9-5              31-0
177 Budlong (VMI) WBF Geary 4:50             31-6
190 Moore (VMI) dec. Harding 6-3             31-9
HWT Apedoe (VMI) maj. dec. Majestic 14-5    31-13