Jan. 24, 2009

RALEIGH, N.C. - Heavyweight Patrick Gilmore broke an 18-18 tie with a 3-2 decision in the final match and the University of Maryland wrestling team earned its first Atlantic Coast Conference victory of the season, 21-18, Saturday afternoon at NC State.

Maryland (5-7-1, 1-1 ACC) won three consecutive decision in the lower weights to grab a 9-0 lead on the Wolfpack (3-8-1, 0-2 ACC). Brendan Byrne defeated Mike Moreno, 8-1. No. 8 Steven Bell battled through injury to edge Darrius Little, 3-2, and No. 13 Alex Krom bested No. 15 Joe Caramanica, 9-3.

However, NC State quickly erased the nine-point deficit.

Third-ranked Darrion Caldwell pinned Dex Lederer in 2 minutes, 24 seconds, and Kody Hamrah took a major decision against Kyle John at 157 pounds, giving the Wolfpack a 10-9 lead halfway through the match.

Brian Letters picked up a big win for Maryland at 165 pounds, 4-0, over Ray Ward to stem the tide, but Jake Burge quickly got it back with a five-point technical fall at 174 pounds. After a Mark Jahad decision at 184 pounds, NC State led by six points with two matches to go.

However, No. 10 Hudson Taylor went unopposed at 197 pounds, giving Maryland the six forfeit points it needed to tie the match heading into the heavyweight bout.

Gilmore went up 3-0 on Bobby Isola and managed to hold Isola off in the closing moments to keep his lead and give the Terps their first conference victory of the season.

Maryland has another conference match later tonight in Raleigh, as it will face the Duke Blue Devils at 7 p.m. The dual will be broadcast live online via ACC Select.

MARYLAND 21, NC STATE 18
125 - Brendan Byrne (MD) dec. Mike Moreno, 8-1 (3-0)
133 - No. 8 Steven Bell (MD) dec. Darrius Little, 3-2 (6-0)
141 - No. 13 Alex Krom (MD) dec. No. 15 Joe Caramanica, 9-3 (9-0)
149 - No. 3 Darrion Caldwell (NCST) fall over Dex Lederer, 2:24 (9-6)
157 - Kody Hamrah (NCST) major dec. Kyle John, 12-4 (9-10)
165 - Brian Letters (MD) dec. Ray Ward, 4-0 (12-10)
174 - Jake Burge (NCST) tech. fall over Patrick Klenkel, 19-4 (12-15)
184 - Mark Jahad (NCST) dec. Bradley Nielson, 10-15 (12-18)
197 - No. 10 Hudson Taylor (MD) wins by forfeit (18-18)
HWT - Patrick Gilmore (MD) dec. Bobby Isola, 3-2 (21-18)

-TERPS-