The Monarchs posted a perfect 10-0 match against Binghamton, winning 46 to -1, and then bested Drexel with a 9-1 bout record, winning by a commanding 34-3 score. Then ODU faced Hofstra, edging the Pride 6-4 for a final score of 17-15.
"The coaching staff is very proud of our team as we wrestled very hard and aggressive. In snapping the Pride's 63-match win streak, we beat a team that defeated nationally ranked PSU this year," said head coach Steve Martin. "The difference is this match came down to fight and who wanted it more. Roy Dragon III was the hero of this match as it came down to the wire and he pulled off the victory. Two other important victories in the day were Joe Budi pinning the #8 ranked wrestler in the nation and Chris Brown beating the #20 ranked wrestler."
Against Hofstra, ODU was down headed into the 197 lb weight class when junior Jesse Strawn stepped in against Anthony Tortora. The ODU junior bounced back after a tough loss against Drexel's nationally ranked Jon Oplinger and won, but was unable to score any more than a regular decision, leaving ODU looking to Dragon for the last chance at winning. Dragon stepped up at the heavyweight class and battled Hofstra's Jordan Enck for a 4-3 decision and the overall team win.
In the match, Brown also defeated #20 Ryan Patrovich at 165 lbs, 3-2, while James Nicholson (125), Ryan Williams (141), and Joey Metzler (149) also tallied wins against the Pride.
Earlier in the day, against Binghamton, the Monarchs posted a perfect win against the Bearcats. The Monarchs won all ten weights for a 47-point victory in the first round on Saturday. The biggest of which came at 184 lbs, as true freshman Joe Budi stepped in against Josh Patterson, ranked as high as 8th in the nation by Amateur Wrestling News and W.I.N. Magazine. Budi was ahead of the top ten grappler when he was able to get him on his back and pin the Bearcat for the biggest win in his young career.
ODU also got bonus point victories at 125, 133, 141, 165, 197 and HWT. Dragon started off a great day with a first period pin over Dan Bittner.
Against Drexel, ODU got four bonus point victories, including the second technical fall by Nicholson at 125 lbs. With the perfect 3-0 day, he improves to 26-2 on the season and a 16-1 dual record for the Monarchs. Williams, at 141 lbs, also posted another major decision and went 3-0 on the day. He has gone 26-3 this season and is ranked 7th in the nation.
With the two easy wins under the belt, the Monarchs advanced to face Hofstra in the third round. Hofstra was the seventh nationally ranked team the Monarchs have faced this season and the second ODU posted a win against. The win is just the second ever against the Pride and it was the first time ODU beat Hofstra since the 1990-91 season.
ODU improved to 12-5 overall and 4-0 in the conference. The Monarchs will hit the road to face Bucknell next weekend, and then #6 Central Michigan on February 1. The next trip home for ODU will be when they host Virginia on February 8 at 5:30 pm.
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