North Carolina State University Athletics
NC State
Duke
NC State Wrestling Wraps Up Regular Season With 29-15 Win At Duke
2/26/2003 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 26, 2003
DURHAM, N.C. - Junior 157-pounder Scott Garren wrapped up an undefeated regular season with his first pin of the year as the NC State wrestling team downed Duke 29-15 on Wednesday at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The match was the final match of the regular season for both teams. Next up for the Wolfpack and Blue Devils will be the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament on March 8 at Boone, N.C.
The Wolfpack improved to 8-10 overall with the win and 2-3 in the ACC. Duke fell to 10-10 overall and 1-3 in the conference. The match was part of a simultaneous doubleheader for the Blue Devils, who defeated UNC Greensboro 23-19.
The first bout of the evening for the Pack was at 125 pounds, where senior starter George Cintron is out at least until the ACC Tournament following knee surgery. In his place, freshman Brian Conyer was pinned by Duke's Tommy Hoang at 0:53 of the first period. A 15-5 major decision by Daniel Pacitti over Andy Soliman at 133 narrowed the Duke lead to 6-4, and Ryan McCallum's 3-2 decision over Adam Benitez gave NC State the lead for good at 7-6.
At 165 pounds, 12th-ranked Dustin Kawa topped Duke's Michael Mitchell 10-7 in the best match of the evening. Kawa improved to 20-4 overall for the season and 16-2 at 165. He has won four in a row and 16 of his last 17 bouts, and now is 60-27 for his career. Holding an 8-7 lead in the final seconds, Kawa closed the match with a takedown as time expired to give the Wolfpack a 10-6 advantage.
Tom Cass narrowed the margin to 10-9 with a 12-5 win over Jon Godwin at 184 pounds. The Wolfpack collected 10 points in the next two matches as junior 141-pounder Jake Giamoni won his 11th match in a row, a new career high, and his 13th in his last 14 bouts with a an 18-6 major decision over Brandon Foose. Giamoni is 18-8 for the season.
Garren, ranked 18th nationally, was up next and easily pinned Ben Balmages at 2:06 of the first period. Despite battling a rash of injuries this season, including a concussion and a balky knee, Garren wound up with a perfect 14-0 mark. The pin of Balmages was his 50th career win at NC State and his eighth career pin.
Duke's Tim Marcantonio trimmed the lead to 20-15 with a pin of Courtney Bird in 4:13 in the 174-pound match, but the Blue Devils quickly gave back the points by forfeiting to Daniel Humphries at 197 pounds. NC State heavyweight Leroy Harris scored a 3-1 decision over Roy Williams in the final match of the evening to secure the 29-15 win for NC State.
NC State 29, Duke 15
125-Tommy Hoang (Duke) wbf Brian Conyer, at 0:53
133-Daniel Pacitti (NCS) maj. dec. Andy Soliman, 15-5
141-Ryan McCallum (NCS) dec. Adam Benitez, 3-2
165-Dustin Kawa (NCS) dec. Michael Mitchell, 10-7
184-Tom Cass (Duke) dec. Jon Godwin, 12-5
149-Jake Giamoni (NCS) maj. dec. Brandon Foose, 18-6
157-Scott Garren (NCS) wbf Ben Balmages, at 2:06
174-Tim Marcantonio (Duke) wbf Courtney Bird, at 4:13
197-Daniel Humphries (NCS) wins by forfeit
Hwt-Leroy Harris (NCS) dec. Roy Williams, 3-1
