Wrestling ACCtion: Sunday, January 27 :: Virginia Tech upsets Virginia, 18-16, at Rumble on the River.

Jan. 27, 2008

Hokies Upset Cavaliers at Rumble, 18-16

GLEN ALLEN, Va. - On a day when three of the Hokies' most-experienced wrestlers - Eric Decker, Matt Epperly and Justin Staylor - all lost, the youngsters on the Virginia Tech wrestling squad stepped up to lead Tech to an 18-16 upset win over the University of Virginia Sunday at Deep Run High School in the "Rumble on the River."

The Hokies got on the board in the second match when true freshman Tommy Spellman upset 10th-ranked Rocco Caponi, 5-2, at 184 pounds. Caponi entered the match 30-1 on the year, but Spellman used a inside trip midway through the third period for a takedown and put him straight to his back for two back points and held on late for the upset win.

The upsets continued one match later as Kevin O'Connor upended 16th-ranked Brent Jones, 5-2, at 197 pounds. O'Connor fell behind 4-1 in the second stanza, but got a reversal and two near-fall points. In the third period, he picked up an escape and a takedown to propel him to the win.

At heavyweight, freshman David Marone put the Hokies up 9-3 with a 3-1 sudden victory over Jack Danilkowicz. Tied 1-1 in overtime, Marone was awarded the takedown as the buzzer sounded to give him the win.