Feb. 8, 2009
NORFOLK, Va. -- The 18th ranked ODU Monarchs (14-6) narrowly escaped with a 21-18 win over the Virginia Cavaliers (9-10) today, powered to victory by Chris Brown (Chesapeake, Va.) with a thrilling overtime win in the final match of the day. Top ten wrestlers James Nicholson (Des Moines, Iowa) and Ryan Williams (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) both scored bonus point victories in the win for the Monarchs.
The team score was tied at 18 headed into the final match of the day as the Monarchs sent #11 Chris Brown to the mat to face senior Mike Sewell for the Cavaliers. The match was tied headed into the third period with little action as Sewell had one takedown and Brown scored two escape points.
In the third, though, after Sewell went up 3-2 with an escape, the Monarch wrestler showed life taking several shots. Then, with just over 30 seconds remaining, Brown scored the go-ahead takedown on a shot near the edge. Brown tried to ride the Cavalier near the edge, but stalemate was called and Sewell escaped on the restart with just 10 seconds left. With the score tied at the end of regulation, the match went into sudden victory. Brown scored his second takedown of the match and won, giving ODU the three point victory.
The teams split the day, winning five matches apiece.
Virginia raced to a quick lead, winning the first three matches at 174, 184 and 197 lbs behind their two nationally ranked wrestlers Chris Henrich and Brent Jones. No. 9 Henrich at 174 lbs won a 5-4 decision over the Monarchs Eric Decker, scoring a late escape for the win. At 184 lbs, Rocco Caponi pinned ODU's Joe Budi.
Then, at 197 lbs, a pair of nationally ranked wrestlers went at it in another close match. ODU's Jesse Strawn led early with a takedown, but Brent Jones countered with a reversal. Strawn escaped to take a 3-2 lead after one, but Jones went ahead 4-3 with a reversal to start the second period. Strawn escaped to tie it up and again to start the third and go ahead, but Jones would add a takedown late in the third period to win it, 6-5.
Old Dominion would win four straight matches after that, removing the 12-0 UVA lead and turning it into an 18-12 lead. Roy Dragon III won a 3-2 decision with over three minutes in riding time to get ODU on the board. Then Nicholson won easily over Wyatt Anderson, posting an 18-0 technical fall in the second period, followed by a Kyle Hutter forfeit victory and a 13-5 major decision by Williams.
UVA would tie it up after a pair of decisions at 149 and 157, as Peter Ferrarra beat Joey Metzler, 8-6, and Kaylen Baxter was unable to fight off Jedd Moore in an overtime loss, 3-1. The team score was tied at 18, setting up the battle at 165 lbs.
Brown's win gives him 97 for his career and his ninth straight to improve to 22-6 overall. Nicholson and Williams posted their 29th wins of the season, leading the way for Old Dominion.
ODU will now hit the road to face Rider on February 14 at 2:00 pm with a chance to seal the regular season conference championship. The match against the Broncs is the last conference dual of the year for ODU, who is currently 4-0 against league opponents.
Final Results: #18 Old Dominion 21, Virginia 18
174: #9 Chris Henrich (UVA) dec. Eric Decker (ODU), 5-4; UVA leads 3-0
184: Rocco Caponi (UVA) fall Joe Budi (ODU), 3:55; UVA leads 9-0
197: #19 Brent Jones (UVA) dec. #15 Jesse Strawn (ODU), 6-5; UVA leads 12-0
285: Roy Dragon III (ODU) dec. Calvin Cardillo (UVA), 3-2; UVA leads 12-3
125: #6 James Nicholson (ODU) tech fall. Wyatt Anderson (UVA), 18-0, 4:17; UVA leads 12-8
133: Kyle Hutter (ODU) wins by forfeit; ODU leads 14-12
141: #7 Ryan Williams (ODU) maj. dec. Derek Valenti (UVA), 13-5; ODU leads 18-12
149: Peter Ferrarra (UVA) dec. Joey Metzler (ODU), 8-6; ODU leads 18-15
157: Jedd Moore (UVA) dec. Kaylen Baxter (ODU), 3-1 (SV); Team score tied 18-18
165: #11 Chris Brown (ODU) dec. Mike Sewell (UVA), 6-4 (SV); ODU wins 21-18
National rankings from USA Today/NWCA/InterMat poll.