University of Virginia Library

Grapplers Trample
VCU, N. Carolina

By FLETCHER THOMPSON

The University wrestling
team began its dual meet
season with easy victories over
Virginia Commonwealth
University and North Carolina
this weekend.

With his eye obviously on
next Wednesday's match
against returning ACC
champion Maryland. Coach
George Edwards rested most of
his front line and employed a
bevy of second-stringers.

The Cavaliers got off on the
right foot by crushing VCU
Friday night in Richmond,
36-9. Ed Fink at 118 and Dave
Wendell at 126 gave the
Cavaliers a 6-0 lead with
lopsided decisions. Captain
John Pitas at 134 followed suit
by defeating his VCU
counterpart. 14-5, and Tom
Derrickson gave the Cavaliers
added impetus with the first
pin of the night, 20 seconds
into the second period.

After Larry Sullivan's
hard-fought decision in the
167-pound class. Bill Voliva
added six more points to the
Cavalier total with a
second-period fall over VCU's
John Drinkwater. Forfeits to
Steve Schmidt at 142 and
Kevin Michaels at 190 rounded
out the Virginia scoring, as
VCU managed to fill only eight
of ten weight classes.

The matmen had an equally
easy time on Saturday night as
they knocked off a weak UNC
squad, 26-14, following the
basketball game.

The Cavaliers put the match
on ice early by building up a
17-2 lead in the lower weights
and held off the Tar Heels
from there. The visitors could
manage only three victories in
ten matches and generally
looked unskilled and out of
shape.

Fink again started at 118
and gained a slim edge over
Tony Cornachione after the
first two periods but was
unable to stave off the Tar
Heel, who staged a third period
comeback to bring about a 9-9
tie.

Wendell kicked off a string
of five Virginia wins with an
impressive 8-0 victory over a
stalling Carolina opponent.
First-yearman Denis Kirshner
at 134 and Shelley Zablow at
142 easily disposed of their
opponents with 7-1 and 11-5
decisions, respectively.

Benny Bittenbender scored
the first pin of the evening
with nine seconds left in the
second period of his 150 pound
bout. After falling behind, 2-0,
early in the second period
Bittenbender returned to his
state championship form and
pinned the slippery Tar Heel
with a head scissors.

After Tom Derrickson's loss
at 158 gave UNC its first
victory of the night. Larry
Sullivan got the Cavs back on
the winning track with a 3-0
win. Sullivan broke a scoreless
tie with a third period reversal
and added another point for
time advantage by riding out
the tiring Tar Heel.

Michaels accounted for
Virginia's final six points with
a fall in the 190 pound
division. He outclassed his
Carolina counterpart from the
start and put him away after
2:04 of the second period.

The grapplers first major
challenge of the season comes
against Maryland this
Wednesday afternoon in
Memorial Gym. Terrapin
Coach Sully Krouse brings with
him most of last year's ACC
championship team, which had
ten finalists and six champions.
Maryland has lost only one
dual meet to a conference team
in the history of the ACC and
that occurred two years ago in
Memorial Gym. A packed
house could help bring off
another one.

Cavalier Matmen Notched Two Big Wins This Weekend

Three Wahoo Competitors Won Both Their Matches