Barket, Ross & Wallace Net ACC Wins Friday Versus Virginia

Friday, January 30

Durham, N.C.

7 p.m.

Duke University

Virginia

Photo by: Duke Athletics

Barket, Ross & Wallace Net ACC Wins Friday Versus Virginia

1/30/2026 10:07:00 PM | Wrestling

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DURHAM, N.C. — The Duke wrestling trio of Connor Barket, Dylan Ross and Aidan Wallace registered ACC victories Friday evening inside Cameron Indoor Stadium as the Blue Devils dropped a 28-9 decision to Virginia.

Wallace got things started for Duke with a 7-5 decision against Mason Stefanelli, while Barket then collected a 4-2 decision against Brenan Morgan. Ross closed the match with a 2-1 decision in a rematch from the Southern Scuffle against Wynton Denkins.

Duke dropped to 6-10 overall and 0-3 in the ACC, while Virginia improved to 9-6, 1-3.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The match opened at 157 pounds Friday evening and the Cavaliers collecting a major decision and decision, respectively, to open the contest and led 7-0.
Duke redshirt sophomore Aidan Wallace got the Blue Devils on the board at 174 pounds with a 7-5 decision.A product of Mahwah, New Jersey, Wallace registered a takedown in the first period to go ahead, 3-0.With a reversal in the second period, Wallace went ahead, 5-0.Stefanelli put a point on the board as Wallace was called for stalling for the second time.With a penalty, escape and takedown in the third period, Stefanelli evened the score, 5-5.Wallace closed strong with an escape and riding time point to register the win.
At the heavyweight division, Connor Barket and Morgan had a scoreless first period as Barket had a takedown removed via review.In the second, Barket notched an escape and takedown to go ahead, 4-0.Barket, who is from West Lafayette, Indiana, led 4-1 entering the third period and went on to hold on for a 4-2 decision.
Through six matches, Duke trailed 14-6, but the Cavaliers totaled 14 points the next three bouts to pull ahead further.
In the final bout of the match, Dylan Ross and Denkins faced each other for the second time over the last month as Denkins defeated Ross at the Southern Scuffle by a 4-2 decision on Jan. 3.Ross, a native of Edgewater, New Jersey, took a 4-1 lead through the second period and bounced back with a 4-2 decision of his own.
Blue Devil graduate student Aurelius Dunbar was in a tight match with Michael Murphy as he trailed, 1-0, with a little over three minutes remaining in the contest.Murphy was able to notch a takedown with 1:01 remaining in the second and pulled out an 8-4 decision.
Duke junior David Hussey also was involved in a close bout with Dylan Newsome, but he ended up falling by a 5-0 decision.

NOTES

Dylan Ross notched his second career ACC win and moved to 13-8 on the season. He is now 6-6 in dual match action.
Aidan Wallace totaled his 46th career victory as a Blue Devil and moved to 23-3 on the season. He is 2-1 in ACC play and now owns three career ACC victories over the last two years. Wallace is 14-2 in dual matches in 2025-26.
Connor Barket registered his eighth career ACC win and is now 57-33 overall as a Blue Devil. He moved to 17-4 on the season and 2-1 in the ACC.

WHAT IS NEXT

The Blue Devils will next travel down Tobacco Road to face North Carolina Friday, Feb. 6 for a 7 p.m., contest against the Tar Heels.

To stay up to date with Blue Devils wrestling, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching "DukeWRES".

UVA 28, Duke 9
125: Rocco Hayes (UVA) def. Spencer von Savoye (Duke) 12-1 major decision
133: Kyle Montaperto (UVA) def Riley Rowan (Duke) 17-1 technical fall (5:26)
141: Gable Porter (UVA) Raymond Adams (Duke) 15-0 technical fall (6:43)
149: Dylan Ross (Duke) def. Wynton Denkins (UVA) 2-1 decision
157: #32 Colton Washleski (UVA) def. Mikey Boulanger (Duke) 12-3 major decision
165: Michael Murphy (UVA) def. Aurelius Dunbar (Duke) 8-4 decision
174: #23 Aidan Wallace (Duke) def. Mason Stefanelli (UVA) 7-5 decision
184: Dylan Newsome (UVA) def. David Hussey (Duke) 5-0 decision
197: Steve Burrell Jr. (UVA) def. Owen McGrory (Duke) 12-4 major decision
HWT: #20 Connor Barket (Duke) def. Brenan Morgan (UVA) 4-2 decision

Exhibition:
149: SP O'Donnell (Duke) def. Jack Myers (UVA) medical forfeit