The Blue Devils: Duke is 7-8 overall this season and already finished the ACC portion of their schedule at 0-5. The Blue Devils have lost five straight meets, but three of their eight total losses have come by a margin of three points or less. Duke features four wrestlers who have excelled this season at their respective weight classes. Junior Wes Kuser is 15-11 on the year at 141 pounds, and has won five matches by pinning his opponent. Freshman Voris Tejada has competed at 149 and 157 pounds this season, and has accumulated a team-best 19-8 record with two falls and a 4-1 dual meet record. At 165 pounds, redshirt sophomore Aaron Glover has gone 17-12 with three pins and a 10-4 mark in duals. Redshirt freshman John Barone at 174 pounds has been arguably the most consistent wrestler for the Blue Devils this season. Barone leads the team in wins with 21 and in falls with six, and also holds team best records in dual meets at 11-4 and in ACC matchups at 4-1.
The Opponent: UNC Greensboro is 8-4 in 2006-07 and 4-1 in the Southern Conference. The Spartans have been led by four wrestlers throughout the season. At 125 pounds, junior Jeff Hedges is 20-5 this season with three falls and an 11-1 dual meet record. Junior Chris Bencivenga has put together a 21-5 record and five falls while going 12-0 in dual matches at 141 pounds. Senior Joe Lowe has identical overall and dual meet records as Bencivenga, and four pins at 174 pounds. As a heavyweight, junior Joe Sheffield is 24-11 for the year with a 10-2 showing in duals and four falls.
Most Recent Meeting: Duke and UNC Greensboro last met on Jan. 25, 2006 in Greensboro, N.C. The Spartans defeated the Blue Devils 23-9.
Last Time Out: Duke's last meet was on Feb. 10 at Virginia Tech. The Hokies handed the Blue Devils their 11th straight ACC dual meet defeat by a score of 28-12. Junior Kellan McKeon, Kuser, and Barone picked up victories for Duke.
UNC Greensboro last faced N.C. State on Thursday night at home. The Wolfpack edged out the Spartans 21-18. The meet came down to the last match of the evening at the heavyweight class, in which nationally ranked Jainor Palma won a 3-2 decision over Sheffield to take the meet.
Common Opponents: Duke and UNC Greensboro have faced seven common opponents this season and both competed in one common tournament. Duke and UNCG both defeated Campbell and Gardner-Webb, and both teams also were defeated by Virginia and N.C. State. While the Blue Devils lost to Davidson, Virginia Tech, and The Citadel, the Spartans soundly beat all three of those schools. In the Southern Scuffle on Dec. 29-30 in Greensboro, UNCG finished 21st and Duke placed 26th.
Senior Night: Three Duke seniors will wrestle for the last time at home this weekend. Patrick Keenum will hit the mats at 197 pounds, Daniel Shvartsman will compete in the 149 pound match, and Philip Wightman may get the nod at 141 pounds. All three will be honored in a pre-meet ceremony.
Shvartsman Shimmying Up The Wins List: Shvartsman continues to move up on the Blue Devils' career wins list. He currently ranks 10th with 83 career victories. Shvartsman is two wins behind Jake Cecere in ninth place and five wins behind Michael Mitchell and Tommy Hoang in seventh place.
A Look Ahead: Duke will compete in the ACC Tournament in Raleigh, N.C. on Saturday, March 3 at 10 a.m. N.C. State is the host school and the meet will take place at Reynolds Coliseum.
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