Sport: Wrestling (@UVaWrestling)

Contact: Andy Fledderjohann

Web Link: http://wahoowa.net/1lo3Lwn 

Cavaliers and Terrapins square off for final time as ACC rivals

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The No. 13 Virginia wrestling team returns home to Memorial Gymnasium this weekend for a pair of duals, taking on Maryland at 7 p.m. Friday and Bucknell at 2 p.m. Sunday. There is no admission charge, and parking is free of charge in the Culbreth Road Garage. 

Live results will be available at VirginiaSports.com.

Virginia (13-3, 2-1 ACC) had its six-match win streak snapped last Friday with a 25-9 defeat at No. 8 Pittsburgh. Seven of the 10 weight classes were determined by two points or fewer, but UVa won just two of the close bouts in suffering its first conference loss of the year.

Joseph Martinez (R-So., Platteville, Colo.), Blaise Butler (R-So., Belvidere, Ill.) and Nick Sulzer (R-Jr., Cleveland, Ohio) each scored wins for Virginia.

Six Cavaliers are ranked this week, as each of UVaÂ’s wrestlers from 141 through 184 pounds earned a ranking from at least one of the national organizations once again. Sulzer (25-1) is ranked No. 2 at 165 pounds, while Gus Sako (R-Jr., Cleveland, Ohio) is No. 9 at 149 in the Amateur Wrestling News rankings; Sako is expected to return to action Friday after missing a few weeks because of an injury.

Joe Spisak (R-Jr., Boiling Springs, Pa.) and Butler stand No. 15 at 141 and 157, respectively, while Stephen Doty (R-Sr., St. Louis, Mo.) is ranked 12th at 174 by InterMat and 17th by AWN. Jon Fausey (R-Sr., Dalmatia, Pa.) earned a No. 18 ranking at 184 from InterMat.

Virginia and Maryland will be squaring off for the final time as conference rivals, with the Terrapins leaving the ACC for the Big Ten Conference next season. Maryland holds a 40-22 edge in the all-time series, although the Cavaliers have won the last two meetings, including a 21-19 decision last season in College Park.

Maryland owns a 5-7 dual record, including a 1-2 mark in the ACC. The Terps boast three of the premier wrestlers in the nation, including the top-ranked wrestler at 184 pounds, unbeaten Jimmy Sheptock. Christian Boley is ranked eighth at 197 pounds, while Spencer Myers is sixth at heavyweight. Sheptock and Myers each are returning All-Americans.

UVa holds a 7-2 lead in its series with Bucknell (5-8, 2-2 EIWA). The teams wrestled at the 2013 Virginia Duals, with the Cavaliers winning by a 31-6 count. The BisonÂ’s lineup is highlighted by 20th-ranked Joe Stolfi at heavyweight, while Paul Petrov owns a 21-6 season record at 125 pounds. Bucknell will wrestle American at home Friday evening, then travel to George Mason for a 9 a.m. Sunday match before trekking to Charlottesville. 

Virginia wraps up its 2013-14 home schedule next Friday (Feb. 7) with a 7 p.m. match against North Carolina. Senior Night ceremonies will be conducted prior to the match. UVa closes the regular season with duals at NC State (Feb. 9) and George Mason (Feb. 16).

125: Nick Herrmann (12-6)

133: Joseph Martinez (10-11)

141: No. 15/17 Joe Spisak (15-9)

149: No. -/9 Gus Sako (14-1)

157: No. 15/15 Blaise Butler (13-6)

165: No. 2/2 Nick Sulzer (25-1)

174: No. 17/12 Stephen Doty (20-7)

184: No. -/18 Jon Fausey (12-6)

197: Zach Nye (14-7)

285: Ethan Hayes (13-11) or Collin Campbell (3-5)

125: Billy Rappo (12-9) 

133: Tyler Goodwin (9-6)

141: Shyheim Brown (13-6)

149: Frank Goodwin (8-6)

157: Ben Dorsay (10-8) or Danny Orem (7-8)

165: Josh Snook (4-9)

174: Ty Snook (2-0) or Tony Gardner (5-8)

184: No. 1/1 Jimmy Sheptock (21-0)

197: No. 8/13 Christian Boley (16-2)

285: No. 6/8 Spencer Myers (18-2)

125: Paul Petrov (21-6)

133: Grim Gonzalez (13-18)

141: Connor Lapresi (10-16)

149: Victor Lopez (14-15)

157: Ray Schlitt (17-16)

165: Rustin Barrick (13-15)

174: Joey Krulock (7-12)

184: Rory Bonner (7-12)

197: Tyler Lyster (14-12)

285: No. 20/20 Joe Stolfi (21-6)

Rankings: AWN/InterMat