Jan. 20, 2007
FAIRFAX, VA -- ODU followed a 1-1 day at the CAA Duals with an impressive 3-0 performance against conference opponents on day two. Old Dominion ran its season record to 10-4 while going 5-1 in the conference this season. The Monarchs defeated Rider University 22-12, Boston University 37-6, and Sacred Heart University 36-4.
Nick Pullano continues to have the hot hand in dual competition this season as he goes a perfect 5-0 on the weekend to improve his dual season record to 14-0. Pullano notched two technical falls for a team-leading seven. Christian Staylor went 4-1 with his only loss coming by one to Hofstra's Lou Ruggirello. Staylor grabbed two major decisions and a technical fall.
"We were a little tired, but our boys did what they had to do," said Assistant Coach Lee Pritts. "But now we feel good, because now we can rest the guys for two or three days. We don't compete for two weeks." The Monarchs are back in action February 8th for the first wrestling match ever at the Ted Constant Convocation Center. Old Dominion hosts Virginia Tech.
Day Two:
Round Three: Old Dominion def. Rider University, 22-12
The Monarchs faced another true test at 11:00 am when Rider University was across the mat for a re-match. Last weekend, at the Virginia Duals, Old Dominion defeated Rider 19-18; this weekend, the Monarchs came away with a big 22-12 win. Rider is ranked in the CAA in all ten of the weight classes but the Monarchs did not shy away and took seven bouts en route to victory.
"I knew it was gonna be another war," said Pritts, "but the guys just stepped up and performed."
Kyle Hutter got the Monarchs out to a 3-0 lead with a 4-1 decision over Thomas Lorenzo. The score was identical to the bout they shared last weekend. Staylor, at 133-lbs. gathered another major decision against Polashuk, 9-1, as he continues to wrestle well in the place of Adam Koballa.
Don Fisch was able to trip up Ryan Williams for the second time as he won 4-10 but Kaylen Baxter put ODU back up by seven with a huge win in the re-match over Michael Kessler, 6-5. Kessler knocked off Baxter last weekend 6-9. Redshirt freshman Chris Brown answered with a 4-0 victory over Nate Galloway.
Pullano took a forfeit putting the lead all but out of reach at 19-3 with four bouts to go. However, Derek Coffey at 174-lbs. and Jesse Strawn at 184-lbs. both stumbled as Rider cut the lead back to ten, 19-9.
In the 197-lb. bout, though, David Mendoza sealed the victory with a 5-3 decision over top-ranked CAA grappler, T.J. Morrison. Nick Ciufo defeated Matt Pellar by one point to make the final score 22-12.
Match Results: ODU 22, RIDER 12
125 - Kyle Hutter (ODU) dec. Thomas Lorenzo (RU), 4-1
3-0 ODU
133 - Christian Staylor (ODU) maj. dec. Brian Polashuk (RU), 9-1
7-0 ODU
141 - Don Fisch (RU) dec. Ryan Williams (ODU), 10-4
7-3 ODU
149 - Kaylen Baxter (ODU) dec. Michael Kessler (RU), 6-5
10-3 ODU
157 - Chris Brown (ODU) dec. Nate Galloway (RU), 4-0
13-3 ODU
165 - Nick Pullano (ODU) wins by forf.
19-3 ODU
174 - Doug Umbehauer (RU) dec. Derek Coffey, 5-0
19-6 ODU
184 - Mike Miller (RU) dec. Jesse Strawn (ODU), 4-2
19-9 ODU
197 - David Mendoza (ODU) dec. T.J. Morrison (RU), 5-3
22-9 ODU
285 - Nick Ciufo (RU) dec. Matt Pellar (ODU), 3-2
22-12 ODU
Round Four: Old Dominion def. Boston University, 37-6
In the second match of the day, the Monarchs made a statement. After letting BU tie the match up after the 149-lb. bout, Old Dominion ran away with a 37-6 victory by winning the remaining six bouts. Winning eight of the ten weight classes, including three straight pins, the Monarchs battled for seed placement in the CAA Tournament next month.
Hutter earned his second decision of the day, 4-0 over Abbie Rush and Staylor also defeated Joey Whitaker 6-0 to put the Monarchs up six. Williams and Baxter stumbled and the Terriers tied up the team score, 6-6.
It was then Chris Brown ignited the six straight victories with a 14-2 major decision over A.J. Detwiler. Brown was followed by Pullano with his sixth technical fall on the season without giving up a single point to C.J. Inglin in 4:47.
Derek Coffey (174) earned his second pin on the year in 5:36 over Eli Vidal to start what would be a theme in the upper weights. Jesse Strawn grabbed a fall of his own 2:30 into the 184-lb. bout and David Mendoza earned his team-leading 10th fall just 1:33 into the 197-lb. bout.
Matt Pellar made it a clean sweep in the upper weights with an 8-0 major decision over Orey Hall.
Match Results: ODU 37, BOSTON U. 6
125 - Kyle Hutter (ODU) dec. Abbie Rush (BU), 4-0
3-0 ODU
133 - Christian Staylor (ODU) dec. Joey Whitaker (BU), 6-0
6-0 ODU
141 - Carlo Ferrandino (BU) dec. Ryan Williams (ODU), 10-8
6-3 ODU
149 - Mike Roberts (BU) dec. Kaylen Baxter (ODU), 3-2
6-6 Tie
157 - Chris Brown (ODU) maj. dec. A.J. Detwiler (BU), 14-2
10-6 ODU
165 - Nick Pullano (ODU) tech. fall C.J. Inglin (BU), 15-0 (4:47)
15-6 ODU
174 - Derek Coffey (ODU) fall Eli Vidal (BU), 5:36
21-6 ODU
184 - Jesse Strawn (ODU) fall Carmen Rondash (BU), 2:30
27-6 ODU
197 - David Mendoza (ODU) fall Jim Connors (BU), 1:33
33-6 ODU
285 - Matt Pellar (ODU) maj. dec. Orey Hall (BU), 8-0
37-6 ODU
Round Five: Old Dominion def. Sacred Heart, 36-4
It would be hard to improve on the earlier performance against Boston University, but improve the Monarchs did, going 9-1 against Sacred Heart to win 36-4. Matt Pellar, at 285-lbs., was the only Monarch to take a loss, as he went down in a major decision to the 16th ranked heavyweight in the country.
After Hutter earned a forfeit at 125, Christian Staylor continued to excel at 133. He tallied a 15-0 technical fall over Paul Galipeau in 4:16 to put the Monarchs up 11-0 early.
Ryan Williams took the dual off after a rough weekend and Cam Watkins earned a 5-4 decision over Cory Dunn as Old Dominion rushed to a 14-point lead in three bouts. Kaylen Baxter also took a 5-4 decision against Chris Davis and the shutout continued.
Conference Rookie of the Week Chris Brown earned another major decision to add to his team-leading total and CAA Wrestler of the Week Nick Pullano earned his second technical fall of the weekend adding to his team-leading total.
Coffey (174) just missed a technical fall when he won 16-2 over Jed Giguere while Jesse Strawn and David Mendoza made the lead 36-0 after the 197-lb. bout.
The final score was set at 36-4 when Payam Zarrinpour earned a major decision over Pellar.
Match Results: ODU 36, SACRED HEART 4
125 - Kyle Hutter (ODU) wins by forf.
6-0 ODU
133 - Christian Staylor (ODU) tech. fall Paul Galipeau (SHU), 15-0 (4:16)
11-0 ODU
141 - Cam Watkins (ODU) dec. Cory Dunn (SHU), 5-4
14-0 ODU
149 - Kaylen Baxter (ODU) dec. Chris Davis (SHU), 5-4
17-0 ODU
157 - Chris Brown (ODU) maj. dec. Sean Eagan (SHU), 10-1
21-0 ODU
165 - Nick Pullano (ODU) tech. fall Patrick Nappi (SHU), 16-0 (4:41)
26-0 ODU
174 - Derek Coffey (ODU) maj. dec. Jed Giguere (SHU), 16-2
30-0 ODU
184 - Jesse Strawn (ODU) dec. Andrew Silber (SHU), 3-1
33-0 ODU
197 - David Mendoza (ODU) dec. Kevin Fox (SHU), 5-1
36-0 ODU
285 - Payam Zarrinpour (SHU) maj. dec. Matt Pellar (ODU), 12-3
36-4 ODU