Lexington, Va. -- The University of Virginia took first place at the 2003 Virginia State Intercollegiate Wrestling Championships on Sunday at VMI's Cocke Hall, claiming its eighth team title. The Cavaliers scored 94.5 points VMI, which led after the semifinal rounds finished second with 86 points. Old Dominion placed third (80 points), George Mason came in fourth (65 points), James Madison in fifth (60 points) and the Apprentice School in sixth (18 points). VMI head coach John Trudgeon was named the state's coach of the year by his peers.


Old Dominion's senior 174-pounder Ben Summerlin was named the tournament's most outstanding wrestler. In the championship of his bracket, he pinned VMI's senior Matt Erwin (South Vienna, Ohio/ St. Paris Graham) in 2:04. Erwin beat Virginia's Peter Kang by technical fall, 15-0 and Jeremy Rankin of JMU, 14-0 to reach the final.

UVA won four individual titles, leading the pack. Old Dominion and James Madison won two titles a piece, while VMI and George Mason each took home one.

Junior Adam Britt (Mechanicsville, Va./ Atlee) was the sole Keydet to win his bracket, doing so for the second consecutive year. Britt defeated Tim Foley of Virginia, 7-2 in the 157 lb. championship in a rematch of last year's title match. Britt pinned UVA's Conor Manley in 2:11 and George Mason's Sean Early in 4:33 en route to the championship match.

Two other Keydets besides Erwin placed second. 141-pound freshman Chris Seta (Reading, Ohio/ Reading) lost a tough 3-1 title match to Pat Diaz of James Madison. Seta knocked of JMU's Chris Wilson, 5-2 and the Apprentice School's Andy King by an identical score in the first two rounds. Sophomore Jason Kontopedes (Beaverdam, Va./ Boys Ranch) fell in the final of the 157-pound bracket to Rob Becker of George Mason, 5-3. Kontopedes beat Kevin Gaughan of JMU, 7-4 in the first round and UVA's Paul Bjorlo, 5-0 in the second.

Keydet Junior Juan Sanchez (Alexandria, Va./ Hayfield) placed third in the 125 lb. bracket. Following suit for VMI were freshman Micah Amrozowicz (Virginia Beach, Va./ Kellam) at 133 lbs. and fellow freshman Scott Buhman (Portage, Ind./ Portage).

VMI will return to action on January 23 when it hosts N.C. State at Cocke Hall. The match will begin at 6:15 p.m.

Team Results
1. Virginia 94.5
2. VMI 86
3. Old Dominion 80
4. George Mason 65
5. James Madison 60
6. Apprentice School 18

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