Jan. 14, 2002

LARAMIE, Wyo. -

Competing in its second high-profile tournament in two weeks, the University of Wyoming wrestling team came away with a 1-2 record at the Virginia Duals Invitational Tournament in Hampton, Va.

Wyoming was seeded 10th in the 16-team tournament which also includes No. 9 ranked Missouri, 20th rated Pittsburgh, 23rd-ranked Penn State and 24th-ranked Hofstra.

In UW's first dual they were edged by 6th-seeded Rider University 21-19. The Pokes were able to manage five victories out of the ten matches wrestled. Senior Kelly McConville won his 133-pound match 4-0, senior Mark Hamrick won at 141 pounds by a major decision (10-2), junior Thad Trujillo won at 149 pounds (5-4), sophomore Kevin Kessner won at 184 pounds (7-2) and junior Brad Steele won the heavyweight match by pinning his opponent.

The loss dropped the Cowboys to the consolation bracket where they next took on North Carolina State, who fell to Hofstra 30-10 in the first-round of competition. Wyoming bounced back from the Rider loss with a solid 24-14 victory over the Wolf Pack, ending its four-match losing streak.

The Pokes picked up six wins over N.C. State with McConville, Hamrick and Trujillo each winning their second consecutive matches of the day. McConville won 5-2, Hamrick won 3-1 and Trujillo won by major decision, 18-7. Redshirt freshman E.K. Waldhaus won his 174-pound match by technical fall 22-6, Kessner won 15-10, freshman Malcolm Havens won 3-2 at 197 pounds and junior Brad Steele won the heavyweight match 8-6.

Wrestling to stay alive in the consolation bracket the Cowboys came up short against Army falling 21-17. With the loss UW was eliminated from the the two-day tournament.

Wyoming won four matches against the Black Knights with Kelly McConville winning the 133-pound match (4-0), E.K. Waldhaus winning the 174-pound match by a major decision (11-3), Kevin Kessner winning the 184-pound match by major decision (16-8) and Brad Steele winning the heavyweight match (9-3).

Wyoming's overall season dual record is now 3-7.

Complete Wyoming Results from Virginia Duals:

Rider 21, Wyoming 19
125- Limongelli (Rider) defeated Reynold Candelaria (UW), 12-3
133- Kelly McConville (UW) defeated Smith (Rider), 4-0
141- Mark Hamrick (UW) defeated Robinson (Rider), 10-2
149- Thad Trujillo (UW) defeated Harryton (Rider), 5-4
157- Jenkins (Rider) defeated Jason Waneka (UW), 16-1
165- Debias (Rider) defeated Justin Salas (UW), 9-5
174- Cutone (Rider) defeated Waldhaus (UW), 7-6
184- Kevin Kessner (UW) defeated Piana (Rider), 7-2
197- Sawyer (Rider) defeated Havens (UW), fall 1:22
HWT- Brad Steele (UW) defeated D'agostino (UW), fall 1:42

Wyoming 24, North Carolina State 14
125- Cintron (NCS) defeated Reynold Candelaria (UW), 16-6
133- Kelly McConville (UW) defeated McCallum (NCS), 5-2
141- Mark Hamrick (UW) defeated Giamoni (NCS), 3-1
149- Thad Trujillo (UW) defeated Ledbetter (NCS), 18-7
157- Gabrielson (NCS) defeated Jason Waneka (UW), fall 5:18
165- Pryor (NCS) defeated Justin Salas (UW), 14-3
174- E.K. Waldhaus (UW) defeated Davanzo (NCS), 22-6
184- Kevin Kessner (UW) defeated Godwin (NCS), 15-10
197- Malcolm Havens (UW) defeated Gore (NCS), 3-2
HWT- Brad Steele (UW) defeated Collins (NCS), 8-6

Army 21, Wyoming 17
125- Maginnis (Army) defeated Reynold Candelaria (UW), 7-3
133- Kelly McCoville (UW) defeated Grider (Army), 4-0
141- Simpson (Army) defeated Mark Hamrick (UW), 5-2
149- Perrin (Army) defeated Thad Trujilo (UW), 7-4
157- Conner (Army) defeated Jason Waneka (UW), fall 3:25
165- Pryor (Army) defeated Justin Salas (UW), fall 5:06
174- E.K. Waldhaus (UW) defeated Bernard (Army), 11-3
184- Kevin Kessner (UW) defeated Cooper (Army), 16-8
197- Paxton (Army) defeated Malcolm Havens (UW), 8-1
HWT- Brad Steele (UW) defeated Baird (Army), 9-3