Jan. 30, 2004

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Chris Hardy's pin in the 157-pound match closed a four-bout win streak that erased an early deficit and lifted Virginia Military Institute to a 29-7 victory over Maryland in a non-conference wrestling match Friday at Ritchie Coliseum.

The Keydets improved to 5-4 in dual matches with the victory, while the Terrapins fell to 2-5.

For Maryland, senior Matt Pandullo and junior John Antonelli scored victories at 125 and 165 pounds, respectively. The two serve as captains for the Terrapins.

Pandullo's 12-5 win over Juan Sanchez was his fifth in six dual matches and improved his record to 13-7 on the season. He expanded on an early 6-2 lead with a strong third period.

VMI won the next four bouts, but two were by a single point. Micah Amrozowicz beat Mike Lupa 4-3, highlighted by a reversal early in the second period. David Metzler then beat Maryland's Jason Gribschaw, 10-4, at 141 pounds, getting an early 5-0 lead that dwindled to 6-4 before putting away the victory in the third period.

Sam Alvarenga got a takedown with 41 seconds left and got a 7-6 victory over Jerad Villecco at 149, before Hardy pinned Maryland's Matt Kenny at 4:41 of the 157-pound bout. Hardy held a 5-1 lead at the time of the fall.

Antonelli held leads of 5-0 and 9-2 after the first two periods, scoring five takedowns to finish a 16-4 major decision over P.J. Newmann that brought Maryland within 15-7. But VMI capped the team victory with another four-bout win streak.

Aaron Kerkhof held off Pat Cissne at 174 pounds, using a decisive takedown with 20 seconds left to win 9-7. The final point was for stalling in a 10-9 victory for Corry Murray over Dan Scheets at 184 and came in the waning seconds.

Jason Cox (13-1 at 197) and Scott Buhman (11-1 at heavyweight) each got major decisions for the Keydets in the final two bouts.

"I think the guys wrestled hard and we're right there in terms of conditioning," said Maryland head coach Pat Santoro. "We lost a bunch of one-point matches and that's tough. In the first seven bouts, I thought we dominated, but we couldn't find a way to win... We had a lot of missed opportunities. That always gets you as a coach, but it's part of learning how to win."

Maryland hosts Duke and Rutgers next Saturday, Feb. 7 in its final home wrestling event of the season. First bout at Ritchie Coliseum will be at noon.

VMI 29, MARYLAND 7
125 - Matt Pandullo (MD) dec. Juan Sanchez, 12-5
133 - Micah Amrozowicz (VMI) dec. Mike Lupa, 4-3
141 - David Metzler (VMI) dec. Jason Gribschaw, 10-4
149 - Sam Alvarenga (VMI) dec. Jerad Villecco, 7-6
157 - Chris Hardy (VMI) pinned Matt Kenny, 4:41
165 - John Antonelli (MD) major dec. P.J. Newmann, 16-4
174 - Aaron Kerkhof (VMI) dec. Pat Cissne, 9-7
184 - Corry Murray (VMI) dec. Dan Scheets, 10-9
197 - Jason Cox (VMI) major dec. Jerry Afari, 13-1
285 - Scott Buhman (VMI) major dec. Barry Stein, 11-1

(Match started at 125 pounds)
Att - 288