COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland wrestling team completed its perfect ACC regular season with a 30-12 win against Virginia on February 16 at Comcast Pavilion. The Terrapins improved to 16-5 on the season and went unblemished in the conference at 5-0. Maryland clinched its first outright ACC dual meet championship since 1974.

Maryland honored its five seniors prior to the match for their dedication to the Terrapins program. Jerry Afari and Jason Kiessling celebrated appropriately with wins in the night. Mike Maceroli, Jeff Oldham, and Jerad Villecco were also honored for their careers.

The Terps are now just one win away from matching the best mark in program history as they finished the 1990 season with 17 wins. Maryland will have a chance to match that record tomorrow when it hosts George Mason at 1:00 p.m. on Alumni Day.

Virginia started out the night hot by winning four of the first five matches before the intermission. The Cavaliers built a 9-0 lead on the strength of three-straight decisions. Ross Gitomer began the night with a close 3-2 win at 125 pounds. Eric Albright followed suit with an overtime takedown at 133 and then Kellon Balum won at 141.

Junior Andrew Schlaffer started the comeback for Maryland as he fired out of the gates with a takedown less than 20 seconds into his match at 149. Schlaffer parlayed the takedown into a pin just 1:14 in and closed the deficit to 9-6.

Mike Sewell came away with another close decision victory for UVA when he won 7-5 at 157 pounds to make it 12-6 going into intermission. Three of Virginia's four decisions came by two points or less.

Kiessling started the second half domination for Maryland with a 14-5 major decision against Beau Fisher. Kiessling recorded six takedowns during the course of the match for the win.

Freshman Mike Letts piled on with a technical fall of Mike Grogan at 174 pounds. Letts took care of his counterpart in 6:38 by a score of 19-3. He notched four takedowns and a couple of near falls en route to giving Maryland its first lead of the night at 15-12.

Virginia had to forfeit at 184 pounds and redshirt freshman Hudson Taylor added to the advantage with a pin as time expired in the first period. Kyle Narkiewicz tried to escape from Taylor's grasp, but Taylor stopped the escape and turned it into a pin to make it 27-12.

Afari closed out the night with a 9-3 win against Scott Smith at heavyweight. Afari compiled three takedowns and did not allow one to Smith.

Maryland 30, Virginia 12:
125 - Ross Gitomer (UVA) dec. James Knox, 3-2 (0-3)
133 - Eric Albright (UVA) dec. Jon Kohler, 8-6 ot (0-6)
141 - Kellon Baluum (UVA) dec. Charlie Pinto, 12-6 (0-9)
149 - Andrew Schlaffer (MD) pinned Drew DiPasquale, 1:14 (6-9)
157 - Mike Sewell (UVA) dec. Mike McGillm 7-5 (6-12)
165 - No. 13 Jason Kiessling (MD) major dec. Beau Fisher, 14-5 (10-12)
174 - No. 13 Mike Letts (MD) tech. fall Mike Grogan, 19-3/6:38 (15-12)
184 - Josh Haines (MD) won by forfeit (21-12)
197 - No. 15 Hudson Taylor (MD) pinned Kyle Narkiewicz, 2:59 (27-12)
HWT - Jerry Afari (MD) dec. Scott Smith, 9-3 (30-12)