Nov. 10, 2006

The Virginia Wrestling team kicks of the 2006-07 season when the Cavaliers host a quad meet Saturday beginning at 9 a.m. at Memorial Gymnasium. UVa welcomes Delaware State, Liberty and George Mason. Admission is free to the public.

Virginia finished the 2005-06 season 12-5 and 4-1, which tied for first place in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Cavaliers return six starters in 2006-07 led by 2006 ACC Freshman of the Year, Eric Albright, who is ranked as high as No. 18 nationally at 133 pounds. Damian Johnson at 165 pounds, Drew DiPasquale at 149 pounds and Mike Grogan at 174 pounds all were 2006 ACC Finalists.

The Cavaliers begin a new era with first-year head coach Steve Garland, a former All-American at UVa. Garland was named the 2005-06 NWCA Assistant Coach of the Year at Cornell, where coached for six seasons and helped the Big Red to a top five finish at the NCAA Tournament last season. The Cavaliers' 2006 recruiting class was ranked No. 22 in the nation by InterMat Wrestling's Top-25 recruiting class ranking.

Virginia's probable starting line-up for Saturday is Ross Gitomer at 125 pounds, Albright at 133 pounds, freshman Kellon Balum at 141 pounds, DiPasquale at 149 pounds, Mike Sewell at 157 pounds, Johnson at 165 pounds, Grogan at 174 pounds, Rocco Caponi at 184 pounds, Kyle Narkiewicz at 197 pounds and Scott Smith at heavyweight.

Here is the schedule for Saturday's quad meet:
Mat 1
UVA vs. Delaware St., 9 a.m.
UVA vs. Liberty, 11 a.m.
UVA vs. George Mason, 1 p.m.
Mat 2
Liberty vs. George Mason, 9 a.m.
George Mason vs. Delaware St., 11 a.m.
Liberty vs. Delaware St., 1 p.m.