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Virginia wrestling preps for weekend contests

Cavaliers to face ACC rivals Duke Friday and Pittsburgh Sunday

<p>Zach Nye and Virginia will face Duke and Pittsburgh this weekend.</p>

Zach Nye and Virginia will face Duke and Pittsburgh this weekend.

The No. 17 Virginia wrestling team will look to bounce back after its road loss to No. 3 NC State over the weekend.

The Cavaliers (5-3, 0-1 ACC) will look to pick up their first ACC win when unranked Duke visits Charlottesville Friday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.

Prior to starting ACC competition, Virginia took on a challenging out of conference schedule, coming out 5-2.

“We have had big match after big match — week in and week out,” coach Steve Garland said. “It has been crazy. So these guys are used to those big moments now.”

The Cavaliers will look to have yet another big moment when they take on the Blue Devils (2-5 ACC) in their first ACC match at home.

Virginia has two nationally ranked wrestlers on the roster who have been consistently picking up wins with junior George DiCamillo, ranked No. 6 at 133 pounds, and senior Zach Nye, who is ranked No. 10 at 197 pounds. The two wrestlers were also the only two competitors to pick up victories for the Cavaliers against NC State.

On the other hand, Duke has a pair of nationally ranked sophomores who will challenge the Cavaliers. The Blue Devils will look to No. 17 ranked Jake Faust in the 165 pound weight class, and No. 14 ranked Mitch Finesilver at 149 pounds to pick up some points.

Virginia faces a quick turnaround after Friday’s competition, as it will hit the road to face No. 18 Pittsburgh Sunday, Jan. 24 at 2 p.m.

The Panthers (9-2, 1-0 ACC) have a duo of nationally ranked wrestlers themselves. Sophomore Ryan Solomon will compete for Pitt ranked No. 20 in the heavyweight class. There will likely be a showdown in the 133 pound weight class as Virginia’s No. 6 DiCamillo will take on No. 16 sophomore, Dom Forys, who has only lost one match this season.

Coach Steve Garland will be expecting a lot from every member of the Virginia squad this weekend with the end of the ACC regular season approaching in just over two weeks.

“We have an opportunity to respond,” Garland said.

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