Wrestling: Hoos open Virginia Duals with win over Kent State

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Posted on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024, 12:00 am

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Courtesy UVA Media Relations

Photo: UVA Athletics

The Virginia wrestling team opened competition at the Virginia Duals with a victory on Friday when the Cavaliers took a 27-12 victory over Kent State at the Hampton Coliseum.

HOW IT HAPPENED

Virginia (5-1) jumped out to the quick lead, picking up victories at the first two weight classes with Kyle Montaperto taking a win by tech fall before Gable Porter claimed a decision for his first win in a dual match this season.

Kent State (2-12) answered with two wins of its own before the Cavaliers grabbed three straight decisions from Nick Sanko (157), Mason Stefanelli (165) and Justin McCoy (174). Kent State then took a decision at 184 pounds for its final individual victory of the dual.

Colden Dorfman (197) and Ryan Catka (285) closed out the dual with consecutive wins by technical fall.

NOTES

  • The Cavaliers took the lead in the all-time series with Kent State 6-5 with the victory on Friday afternoon.
  • Justin McCoy improved to 12-1 on the season with his victory over AJ Burkhart.
  • Dylan Newsome made his first appearance for the Cavaliers when he wrestled at 184 pounds.
  • Ryan Catka improved to 8-2 on the season and has six bonus-point victories in his eight total wins this year.
  • Virginia posted three bonus-point victories in the dual – all of them technical falls.

FROM HEAD COACH STEVE GARLAND

“With everything we have been going through and the adversity that has hit our team of late, I’m really proud of our guys. This trip was about finding a way and they found a way today. We had so many guys step up. Big highlights today were Gable Porter, Mason Stefanelli and Colden Dorfman. Kyle Montaperto got back on track with a big bonus-point win. Justin McCoy and Ryan Catka led like they have been doing all year. We have another big dual tomorrow.”

UP NEXT

Virginia returns to action at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, when the Cavaliers take on Wisconsin. The dual will be streamed on FloWrestling.com.

VIRGINIA 27, KENT STATE 12
125: Kyle Montaperto tech fall Adán Benavidez (KSU), 19-4 (6:28) – UVA 5, KSU 0
133: Gable Porter dec. Pablo Castro (KSU), 7-4 (sv-1) – UVA 8, KSU 0
141: Billy Meiszner (KSU) tech fall Joe Haynes, 18-2 (6:07) – UVA 8, KSU 5
149: Matt Ryan (KSU) major dec. Luca Errico, 17-5 – KSU 9, UVA 8
157: Nick Sanko dec. Keegan Knapp (KSU), 11-4 – UVA 11, KSU 9
165: Mason Stefanelli dec. Aaron Ferguson (KSU), 4-2 – UVA 14, KSU 9
174: No. 13 Justin McCoy dec. AJ Burkhart (KSU), 7-2 – UVA 17, KSU 9
184: Kyle Snider (KSU) dec. Dylan Newsome, 8-4 – UVA 17, KSU 12
197: Colden Dorfman tech fall Blake Schaffer (KSU), 21-4 (5:34) – UVA 22, KSU 12
HWT: Ryan Catka tech fall Josh Boggan (KSU), 18-3 (5:49) – UVA 27, KSU 12