Completed Event: Wrestling versus NCAA Championship on March 20, 2025 , , NTS
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Final
Wrestling
vs NCAA Championship
Duke Falls To N.C. State, 18-12, In ACC Wrestling Battle
2/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Wrestling
Feb. 24, 2004
The Duke University wrestling team dropped to 8-7 on the year and 3-1 in the ACC with an 18-12 loss to N.C. State on Tuesday at Cameron Indoor Stadium. Christian Smith, Levi Craig and Adam Benitez each improved to 4-0 in ACC action with wins at their respective weight classes. Senior Frank Cornely moved to 3-1 in the conference with a win at 184-lbs.
The meet opened at 141-lbs. With Duke's Daniel Shvartsman squaring off against Alex Hernandez. Shvartsman jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a takedown one minute into the match. Hernandez scored an escape in the first and a quick escape to start the second period and tie the match at 2-2. A flurry of takedowns and escapes by the two wrestlers left the match tied at 5-5 heading into the final two minutes of action. Shvartsman registered an uncontested escape to start the third before Hernandez scored a takedown to take a 7-6 lead. A quick escape tied the match 7-7 with just over a minute left to go. Hernandez tacked on three late takedowns and held on for a 13-9 win.
At 149-lbs., N.C. State's Jake Giamoni struck first with a reversal to start the second period. After an Andy Soliman escape Giamoni score a takedown to jump ahead 4-1. Soliman escaped the Giamoni takedown and then scored another escape to start the third and narrow the match to 4-3. Giamoni registered a spinning takedown with 1:11 left in the match and Soliman quickly escape to trail by a 6-4 margin. Giamoni added a two late takedowns to post a 10-6 decision and spot N.C. State to a 6-0 lead. N.C. State extended its lead to 9-0 in the next match as Scott Garren topped Brandon Foose, 11-5.
In the top match of the night, Duke's Michael Mitchell, 21-6 on the year, faced defending ACC champion Dustin Kawa at 165-lbs. After a scoreless opening period, Kawa scored an escape and a takedown to take a 3-0 lead. Kawa tacked on two takedowns and with over a minute of riding time collected at 8-1 win.
At 174-lbs., Duke's Levi Craig scored a 4-2 decision over Rick Brownlee to narrow the gap to 12-3. Craig registered an escape to open the second period and take a 1-0 lead. Brownlee got an escape in the third, before Craig scored a two-point takedown with 55 seconds left in the match. Brownlee was awarded a point on an illegal head before Craig rode him out for the win. With the win Craig improved to 18-17 on the year with a perfect 4-0 mark in the ACC.
Cornely jumped out to a 4-2 first period lead on Daniel Humphries and accumulated 59 seconds worth of riding time at 184-lbs. After a pointless second period, Humphries registered an escape before Cornely scored on another takedown for a 6-3 lead. With a 1:54 worth of riding time, the Pennsauken, N.J. native earned a 7-3 decision to improve to 3-1 in the ACC and 20-12 overall.
At 197-lbs., Zach Garren (N.C. State) struck first with a takedown. Tim Marcantonio closed the gap to 2-1 with an escape to start the second stanza, before Garren scored a late takedown to end the period with a 4-1 advantage. Garren added an escape and two takedowns in the third to secure a 9-3 decision and give N.C. State a 15-6 lead.
N.C. State added three more points at heavyweight to take an 18-6 as Jainor Palma registered a 7-1 decision against Roy Williams. m - o - r - e At 125-lbs., Duke's Christian Smith moved to 27-12 overall and 4-0 in the ACC with a 9-4 decision over Jeremy Hartrum. Smith jumped ahead 8-1 in the second period with a takedown and three backpoints, before holding on for the victory.
In the final match of the evening, Duke's Adam Benitez recorded a 6-2 decision over Daniel Pacitti to improve to 21-10 on the season. With the match tied at 1-1 in the third period, Benitez scored a takedown with 1:09 remaining. Pacitti registered a quick escape but gave up a point on his second stalling call of the contest. Benitez added another takedown to win his ninth consecutive match and improve to 4-0 in the ACC.
The Blue Devils return to action tomorrow evening when they host Gardner-Webb in the final dual meet of the season. The first match of the evening is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
N.C. State 18, Duke 12WT RESULT SCORE 141 Alex Hernandez dec. Daniel Shvartsman (Duke), 13-9 0-3 149 Jake Giamoni dec. Andy Soliman (Duke), 10-6 0-6 157 Scott Garren dec. Brandon Foose (Duke), 11-5 0-9 165 Dustin Kawa dec. Michael Mitchell (Duke), 8-1 0-12 174 Levi Craig (Duke) dec. Rick Brownlee, 4-2 3-12 184 Frank Cornely (Duke) dec. Daniel Humphries, 7-3 6-12 197 Zach Garren dec. Tim Marcantonio (Duke), 9-3 6-15 HWT Jainor Palma dec. Roy Williams (Duke), 7-1 6-18 125 Christian Smith (Duke) dec. Jeremy Hartrum, 9-4 9-18 133 Adam Benitez (Duke) dec. Daniel Pacitti, 6-2 12-18
Connor Barket Post ACC Championship
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