AB Falls To Southern Virginia University 27-23

November 10, 2017

AB Runners-Up at Casperson Classic

November 11, 2017

All the weeekend action at Southern Virginia University, Beuna Vista, Virginia

BUENA VISTA, Va. — The Alderson Broaddus wrestling team finished with two first-place winners in this weekend's action at Southern Virginia University.

At 165 pounds, Logan Shurina received a first-round bye before pinning Ferrum's Matt Akers in the next round late in the first period. In the semifinals, Shurina recorded another pin at the 3-minute mark before he earned a 4-3 decision victory in the championship over Matthew Rohrdanz of Southern Virginia University.

Giovanni Sita received a first-round bye as well at 174 pounds before finishing with a 22-7 technical fall victory over Bo Branham. In the semis, Sita pinned Ferrum's Mark Allen and then won 16-5 in the finals against Keaton Gomez.


"Shurina and Sita looked great," said head coach Sam Gardner. "Logan being back on the mat after missing 2016-17 with an injury is wonderful to see. Gino Sita is a tremendous addition to the team. He's a guy people will want to come and see wrestle. Curtis and Boo were making their official debuts since transferring to AB last year. Both of them have been battling some injuries that may have affected their finals performances, but they gave a decent accounting of themselves in their first go wearing Battler singlets." Finishing in second place on Saturday for the Battlers was Nyonbou Farley and Curtis Cox. At 157 pounds, Farley had a first-period pin before recording back-to-back decision victories in the quarters and the semis. In the finals, Farley fell to Braxton May from Ferris 5-3.

Cox wrestled at 133 pounds for the Battlers and finished with pins in two of his first three matches to reach the finals. In the championship match, Brandon Woody from Averett topped Cox 4-1.

To close out Saturday's action, Sam Solmon fell in the semifinals to drop him to the elimination bracket. After an injury default victory, Solomon defeated Tyron Dudley of Greensboro 6-5 in the 3rd-place match to close his day. Also finishing in third place for the Battlers in Saturday's Casperson Classic was Alex Eaton. After his first-round loss 13-8, he finished with three pins in a row before recording an overtime victory in the consolation semis to reach the 3rd-place match. In the final match, Eaton recorded a pin to finish third. 

"I was exceptionally pleased with Alex Eaton's performance today," said Gardner. "Friday night he dropped a tough match in what was the deciding match of the dual meet. I knew he was hurting pretty bad last night, as we all were, but since he was the last guy who wrestled he felt like responsibility fell on him. It doesn't. It falls on me as the coach. Today he had an opportunity for a rematch with his SVU opponent in the second round and Alex hit one of the best moves of the tournament. an inside trip straight to his opponent's back to get the fall. I was so happy to see him hit that trip and get his hand raised. With 5 wins and 4 pins the kid had a great day." On Friday night, the Battlers wrestled in a dual match to Southern Virginia and fell 27-24. 

Earning victories for the Battlers was Cox (forfeit), Farley, Nick Sulhoff, Sita, and Solmon.

Farley, Solomon, and Sita each finished with major decisions for the Battlers while Sulhoff record a tech fall and Cox won in a forfeit.

"Last night's win was a tough one to swallow," said Gardner. "When you do this for a long enough time you will once in a while lose matches you think you have a good shot at winning, and you'll win matches that you probably shouldn't. Fortunately for the guys we didn't have to wait a week to get back out on the mat and exorcise the demons from Friday night's poor performance. We got to get back out on the mat 13 hours later and get back to work. The team I saw today was significantly better than the one I saw Friday night." Next weekend, the Battlers compete Green Terror Duals in Westminster, Maryland on Sunday. 

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