The No. 20 Virginia wrestling team travels to Boone, N.C. tomorrow to face Appalachian State (10-3, 4-0 SoCon) with the goal of winning its seventh consecutive dual meet.
The last time Virginia (8-1, 4-1 ACC) took to the mat, the Cavaliers defeated a scrappy Rutgers squad 24-12 even while wrestling without two of their nationally ranked stalwarts, No. 11 redshirt junior Matt Snyder and No. 20 redshirt senior Matt Nelson.
"It was a really rough week for us and I just can't believe how these guys responded," Virginia coach Steve Garland said. "Our back was against the wall ... we were wrestling a team that's been ranked in the top-15 at different times, and my kids - whenever they face adversity - they always respond."
Virginia, without a viable replacement for Snyder, forfeited the 125-pound weight class against Rutgers while freshman Joseph Martinez held down the 133-pound weight class in Nelson's absence, earning a 7-5 win against Rutgers redshirt junior Joe Langel.
Sophomore Gus Sako, however, was the story of the day, as he upset then-No. 5 redshirt junior Mario Mason 5-3 at the 149-pound weight class. Sako's win brought the Memorial Gym crowd to its feet and gave Virginia a 9-6 lead the squad would not give back.
"It was awesome seeing the crowd go nuts," Sako said. "If I can put the team on my back and get a couple big wins like that, that's perfect for me. I work best under that pressure, and I enjoy it."
Sako's upset win earned the 149-pounder his first-ever ACC Wrestler of the Week title, marking the second consecutive week the ACC has recognized a Cavalier matman. Jedd Moore previously achieved the feat following his 5-3 decision against then-No.11 senior Kyle John of Maryland.
Virginia's other upset against Rutgers came two matches later at the 165-pound weight class where No. 17 redshirt freshman Nick Sulzer scored a 5-2 decision against then-No. 13 redshirt junior Scott Winston.
No. 20 senior Kyle Blevins of Appalachian State narrowly defeated Sulzer 2-0 at the Southern Scuffle in early January this year, ultimately winning third place in the tournament. Sulzer ended the competition in fifth place, so he is particularly eager for a shot at redemption this week against Appalachian State.
"I'm definitely looking forward to the rematch," Sulzer said. "The first time you wrestle somebody, it's almost like a feeling-out process in the beginning. You're kind of apprehensive, but after you wrestle somebody the first time, it's almost relaxing in a way. You can get down to just wrestling."
Another Cavalier excited for a rematch with the Mountaineers is No. 14 redshirt sophomore Jon Fausey. Fausey fell 7-3 in his quarterfinals match at the Southern Scuffle against No. 12 senior Austin Trotman, who went on to take fifth place.
Sako also faces a familiar foe in senior Savva Kostis, but unlike Sulzer and Fausey, Sako was victorious in his previous bout. He pinned Kostis in 4 minutes 31 seconds and knocked him out of medal contention. Sako, who placed seventh
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