Wrestling Picks Up Second ACC Win With 30-9 Rout Of Virginia Tech

Jan. 20, 2007

BLACKSBURG, Va. - The Maryland wrestling team topped Virginia Tech, 30-9, on January 20 at Cassell Coliseum to improve to 2-0 in the ACC. The Terrapins won seven matches on the day led by redshirt freshman Hudson Taylor who won by fall. The triumph against the Hokies gives the Terrapins 12 dual wins this year which is the most since the 1995 season when Maryland won 14.

Maryland is now 12-5 overall in dual competition this season. It marks the 12th time since the program's inception in 1954 that the squad has won a dozen duals in a year.

Maryland was spotted a 6-0 lead as the Hokies forfeited the first match of the day at 125. Sheridan Moran cut that deficit in half with a decision for Virginia Tech at 133 before sophomore Alex Krom pushed the lead to 10-3 with a major decision against Matt Rosen. Krom easily defeated Rosen by shutting him out 10-0.

Jon Bonilla-Bowman cut the lead again for Virginia Tech with a decision at 149 pounds to make it 10-6. Sophomore Mike McGill started the decisive run for the Terps with a 6-4 decision at 157. He held off Gallagher's push late in the match to score a winning takedown.

Senior Jason Kiessling, the ACC Wrestler of the Week, moved his winning streak to 13-straight wins in dual matches with a close 3-2 win at 165 pounds. Freshman Mike Letts scored the second major decision of the day for the Terrapins to extend the lead to 20-6. He used five takedowns and a reversal to take care of Steve Ratley, 13-4.

Steve Boria gave the Hokies their final win of the day at 184 with a 5-1 decision to give Virginia Tech a chance at 20-9, but Taylor sealed the win for Maryland when he pinned Kevin O'Connor in 4:35. Senior Jerry Afari wrapped up the match on a winning note with an impressive 16-5 major decision at heavyweight.

The Terrapins are back in action next Saturday, January 27 with a pair of ACC matches against NC State and Duke on the road.

Results:
125 - James Knox (MD) wins by forfeit (6-0)
133 - Sheridan Moran (VT) dec. Jon Kohler, 12-5 (6-3)
141 - No. 13 Alex Krom (MD) major dec. Matt Rosen, 10-0 (10-3)
149 - Jon Bonilla-Bowman (VT) dec. Andrew Schlaffer, 12-10 (10-6)
157 - Mike McGill (MD) dec. Derek Gallagher, 6-4 (13-6)
165 - No. 13 Jason Kiessling (MD) dec. Eric Decker, 3-2 (16-6)
174 - No. 11 Mike Letts (MD) major dec. Steve Ratley, 13-4 (20-6)
184 - Steve Borja (VT) dec. Josh Haines, 5-1 (SV-1) (20-9)
197 - No. 18 Hudson Taylor (MD) fall Kevin O'Connor, 4:35 (26-9)
HWT - Jerry Afari (MD) major dec. Jim Powers, 16-5 (30-9)