2019 Virginia Duals

HAMPTON, Va. -- Ferrum College finished second at the 2019 Virginia Duals, held Friday and Saturday, Jan. 11-12, at Hampton Coliseum. Now in its 39th year, the Virginia Duals is one of the longest-running college wrestling tournaments in the country.

SCORES
Quarterfinals: Ferrum 39, Greensboro 6
Semifinals: Ferrum 24, #9 Div. II LIU-Post 21
Championship: #16 (Div. II) Kutztown 27, Ferrum 14

THE BASICS
The Panthers (8-2) earned a 39-6 quarterfinal win Friday over Greensboro College, with Andrew Tolbert (165), Blake Rosenbaum (174) and Antavian Leary (197) posting pins. Ferrum then eked out a 24-21 semifinal win over #19 Div. II Long Island University-Post Saturday afternoon. Austin Smith (157) and Alveno Matthews (285) each posted pins. Matthews' first-period pin over Timothy Nagusky erased a three-point team score deficit and sent the Panthers on to the title match.

In the championship Saturday night, #22 Div. III Ferrum faced #16 Div. II Kutztown University and fell 27-14. Mario Vasquez (141) and Tolbert (165) posted pins. Tolbert went 3-0 on the weekend with two pins and a technical fall, and Levi Englman (133) also went 3-0 for the Panthers.

Ferrum finished third a year ago in the Virginia Duals. The Panthers lost to Kutztown in the 2017 Virginia Duals, falling 27-12 in the title match.

BEHIND THE WHISTLE
"I thought we wrestled pretty well this weekend. To make the finals was a team effort. I do believe this is a special team and we are getting closer to where we want to be. Obviously disappointing to finish with a loss, but that's a team that I believe we can beat." --Head Coach Nate Yetzer

BACK ON THE MAT
Yetzer's matmen return to the mat Tuesday, Jan. 15, at home against Bluefield College, starting at 7:00 p.m. at Swartz Gym. Prior to the match, the Panthers will honor five graduating wrestlers with a Senior Night ceremony.