NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion University wrestling team kicked off its 2014-15 campaign Wednesday night with its annual Blue-Silver Intrasquad scrimmage in the Jim Jarrett Administration Building Gymnasium.
The Wrestling Monarchs began the night with a preliminary round of wrestle-offs in the ODU wrestling room. Sophomore Brandon Jeske took the first match at 125 lbs. by a 7-1 decision over freshman Josh Markham. Senior Jacob Kingett earned a fall over freshman Dylan Hunziker at the 2:21 mark in the first 141 lbs. match and freshman Tanner Stephens earned a close 5-4 decision over senior Nathan Coburn in the other 141 weight class matchup. Freshman Jared Swan had no problems with classmate McKinnis Spadoni, winning an 11-2 major decision at 165 pounds.
With more than two hundred people in attendance, junior Kevin Johnson began the 7:00 o’clock wrestle-offs with an 8-1 decision over sophomore Zach Wilson at 149 pounds. Johnson then went on to compete against junior Lenny Richardson in the second 149 pound matchup of the night, and dropped a very close overtime decision to the two-time NCAA qualifier.
At 174 pounds and the only freshman match up of the night, Joey Balboni beat Alexandria, Va. native Kaleab Fetahi by a 5-3 decision. In match three, sophomore Michael Hayes accumulated over 3 minutes of riding time, as he defeated freshman Emilio Saavedra via a 6-3 decision in the 133 weight class.
Freshman TC Warner had an impressive showing in the 157-pound matchup, taking down sophomore Austin Eads via a 6-0 decision, with the sixth point coming from riding time. Kingett recorded his second win and second fall of the day, this time over Stephens at the 3:41 mark.
Senior Tristan Warner, a three-time NCAA qualifier, got the better of Swan in the 165-pound matchup, earning an impressive first-period 16-0 tech fall over the freshman. In the only heavyweight battle, senior Jacob Henderson came out on top via a 5-3 decision over classmate Matt Tourdot.
In the last match of the night, junior Austin Coburn took down Balboni, the winner of match two, via a close 8-6 decision.
Wednesday’s Intrasquad served as a precursor to the Monarchs’ season opener next weekend in Binghamton, N.Y., where ODU will head to the Jonathan Kaloust Bearcat Open to officially start the season.
The Bearcat Open will begin at 9:00 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 9. ODU will then head south Sunday, Nov. 16, for the NC State Open.
Practice Room Wrestle-Off Results
125 lbs: Brandon Jeske dec. over Josh Markham – 7-1
141 lbs: Jacob Kingett fall over Dylan Hunziker (2:21)
141 lbs: Tanner Stephens dec. over Nathan Coburn – 5-4
165 lbs: Jared Swan major dec. over Spadoni – 11-2
Jim Jarrett Gym Wrestle-Offs
Kevin Johnson dec. over Zach Wilson – 8-1
Joey Balboni dec. over Kaleab Fetahi – 5-3
Michael Hayes dec. over Emilio Saavedra – 6-3
TC Warner dec. over Austin Eads – 6-0
Jacob Kingett fall over Tanner Stephens (3:41)
Tristan Warner major dec. over Jared Swan – 16-0 (first period)
Jacob Henderson dec. over Matt Tourdot – 5-3
Lenny Richardson defeats Kevin Johnson 3-2 - OT Tiebreaker 1
Austin Coburn dec. over Joey Balboni – 8-6
Season tickets are still available for purchase. Please go to YNOTtix.com and purchase your 2014-15 ODU Wrestling season ticket voucher book for only $25! Each voucher book contains 12 undated ticket vouchers good for any home wrestling match during the upcoming season.
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