GREENSBORO, NC – After two days of wrestling, the team from Cornell walked away with the 2008 UNCG Southern Scuffle championship and claimed their first team title at the event. The Big Red also won two individual titles. UNCG had two wrestlers place as senior Chris Bencivenga finished his day by claiming sixth place, while sophomore Mikal McKee continued his climb through the consolation bracket to finish in seventh place.

Bencivenga began his day by losing to NC State’s Joe Caramanica in the quarterfinals. He bounced back to record a, 17-2, technical fall over Rob Tate from Gardner-Webb. He followed that up with an, 8-3, decision over Corey Manson from Cornell before falling 7-3 to North Carolina’s Vincent Ramirez. Bencivenga was pinned in 5:40 by No. 11 Chris Diaz from Virginia Tech to claim sixth place in his final match of the afternoon.

Mikal McKee started his afternoon with a major decision over Brian Shaw from Bloomsburg, 15-7. He then defeated Joe Budi from Old Dominion, 8-4, before losing to No. 17 Justin Kerber from Cornell by fall at 3:49. 

Junior Mitchell Johnson was eliminated from the tournament after he lost to Steve Bonanno of Hofstra, 9-1, in his first match of the day. Fellow junior Ryan Sughrue was also eliminated after one match after losing, 8-0, to Tom Kocher from Lock Haven.

In the championship finals, Paul Donahoe kicked off his Edinboro career by claiming the title at 125 pounds. He controlled the entire match as was able to defeat fellow teammate Kyle Fluke, 21-5, for a technical fall.  At 133 pounds, Ricky Deubel from Edinboro used a third period takedown to defeat No. 10 Lou Ruggirello from Hofstra, 2-1.

NC State’s Joe Caramanica continued his impressive return to the mat this week as he defeated Kent State’s Drew Lashaway, 4-2, behind a first period takedown to take the 141 pound crown.  At 149 pounds, No. 3 Darrion Caldwell continued the momentum for NC State as he used a cradle to pin No. 5 Bryce Saddoris in 2:05.

Edinboro’s Gregor Gillespie helps the Fighting Scots claim their third individual title after he defeated No. 9 Matt Moley from Bloomsburg, 6-1, at 157 pounds.  Cornell’s Mack Lewness, ranked No. 1 nationally at 165 pounds, took down No. 6 Jarrod King from Edinboro late in the third period to win, 3-2. 

No. 5 Steve Anceravage from Cornell took the title at 174 pounds in perhaps the most controversial finish of the evening.  After Anceravage and No. 11 Chris Henrich from Virginia couldn’t break a deadlock in regulation the two went into overtime tied at 4.  As each wrestler had a leg, the two began scrambling as each looked for the winning takedown.  As Henrich was on his back the referee called a quick pin and awarded the win to Anceravage at the 7:30 mark.  At 184 pounds, No. 6 Dustin Kilgore from Kent State defeated No. 14 Josh Patterson from Binghamton, 10-5.

At 197 pounds, Cal State Bakersfield’s Brandon Halsey, ranked No. 16 nationally, survived a takedown attempt from No. 6 Cayle Byers from George Mason that was just off the mat in the final seconds to win 5-4.  In the final match of the evening, No. 9 Jermail Porter from Kent State defeated No. 12 Scott Steele from Navy after Steele was forced to withdraw due to a shoulder injury at the 6:28

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- UNCG -

AGATE

2008 Southern Scuffle Champions

Team

Cornell Big Red

Individual

125: Paul Donahoe (Edinboro)

133: Ricky Deubel (Edinboro)

141: Joe Caramanica (NC State)

149: No. 3 Darrion Caldwell (NC State)

157: No. 1 Gregor Gillespie (Edinboro)

165: No. 1 Mack Lewnes (Cornell)

174: No. 5 Steve Anceravage (Cornell)

184: No. 6 Dustin Kilgore (Kent State)

197: No. 16 Brandon Halsey (Cal State Bakersfield)

285: No. 9 Jermail Porter (Kent State)

Most Outstanding Wrestler

Darrion Caldwell (NC State)

Final Team Standings

1          139       Cornell

2          134       Edinboro

3          126       Kent State

4          107.5    Virginia Tech

5          104       North Carolina

6          98         Navy

7          88         Virginia

8          80         Hofstra

9          79.5      Cal State Bakersfield

10         73.5      NC State

11         57         George Mason

12         53         Bloomsburg

13         44.5      Duke

14         38.5      Binghamton

15         32.5      UNC Greensboro

16         32         Liberty

17         30         Boston

18         29         Gardner-Webb

19         24.5      Appalachian State

20         23.5      Old Dominion

21         22.5      The Citadel

22         22         Ohio

23         19.5      Lock Haven

24         17.5      East Stroudsburg

25         16.5      Franklin & Marshall

26         15.5      Princeton

27         13.5      Campbell

28         11         Davidson

UNCG Southern Scuffle Day 2 results:

125 Pounds:

Steve Bonanno (Hofstra) maj. dec. Mitchell Johnson (UNCG), 9-1

141 Pounds:
Joe Caramanica (NC State) fall Chris Bencivenga (UNCG), 5:55

Chris Bencivenga (UNCG) tech. fall Rob Tate (Gardner-Webb), 17-2

Chris Bencivenga (UNCG) dec. Corey Manson (Cornell), 8-3

Vincent Ramirez (North Carolina) dec. Chris Bencivenga (UNCG), 6-3

No. 11 Chris Diaz (Virginia Tech) fall Chris Bencivenga (UNCG), 5:40

184 Pounds:

Mikal McKee (UNCG) maj. dec. Brian Shaw (Bloomsburg), 15-7

Mikal McKee (UNCG) dec. Joe Budi (Old Dominion), 8-4

No. 17 Justin Kerber (Cornell) fall Mikal McKee (UNCG), 3:49

Mikal McKee (UNCG) dec. John Barone (Duke), 9-5

Tom Kocher (Lock Haven) maj. dec. Ryan Sughrue (UNCG), 8-0