Jan. 27, 2006
ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- The No. 19-ranked Navy wrestling team will begin its stretch run with dual meets against a pair of schools from the Old North State. The Mids will battle North Carolina State at 3:00 p.m., then host North Carolina at 5:00 p.m., at Halsey Field House. Navy currently sports a 9-2 record, its best start since the 1990-91 season. Saturday's matches will be broadcast online via Takedown Radio.
Navy Splits In EIWA Action Last Time Out...
• Navy won the final nine matches of the night to breeze past East Stroudsburg, 30-3, on Jan. 13. Navy got major decisions from Alex Usztics (125), Spencer Manley (141) and Jonny Kane (184) to roll to its 10th win over East Stroudsburg in as many tries.
• On Saturday, Jan. 14, Navy couldn't hold on to an early lead and 11th-ranked Lehigh rallied for a 20-12 decision. Navy lead 6-0 after an upset win by Chris Pogue (197) and Tanner Garrett's (HWT) 32nd straight dual-meet victory. Lehigh won the next three matches, but Navy stayed in the match with victories by John Cox and Craig Dziewiatkowski. Lehigh put the match out of reach with a win by Travis Frick at 174 pounds. It was Navy's 10th straight loss to Lehigh.
A Look at the Series...
• Navy and North Carolina State have wrestled 28 previous times, with the Mids holding a 20-8 advantage, including last year's 34-6 win in Raleigh. In that meet, Matt Stolpinski and Adam Brochetti won by fall, while Sam Gray scored a tech fall to help Navy cruise to the win.
• Navy has won the last six matches and 17 of the last 22 contests, dating back to 1983. During the current six-match run, the Mids have outscored the Wolfpack, 157-66 (26.2 to 11 per match). • Navy leads the all-time series with North Carolina, 31-16-1. The 48 matches against the Tar Heels are fifth most against one opponent.
• Navy has won four in a row against North Carolina, which ended an eight-match run by the Tar Heels.
• In last year's 27-10 win over North Carolina, Stolpinski won his match by fall, Pat Lukanich recorded a tech fall and Jonny Kane added a major decision to lead the 21st-ranked Mids.
Coming Up...
• After hosting North Carolina and North Carolina State on Saturday, Jan. 28, in Annapolis, beginning at 3:00 p.m., in Halsey Field House. Navy will then head to Kings Point, N.Y., in search of its third straight, and sixth in 11 years, at the All-Academy Championships on Feb. 4. The Mids won last year's tournament in impressive fashion, claiming five individual titles.
• Navy will then use the next two weeks following the All-Academy Championships to wrap up its dual-meet season, traveling to American on Feb. 10, and hosting arch-rival Army on Feb. 18. The Army match will be televised nationally on CSTV (College Sports Television) at Alumni Hall, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
# GO NAVY #
