The Monarchs would take the lead immediately as Virginia Tech forfeited the 125-lb. weight class leading right into Staylor's matchup at 133-lbs. The redshirt senior was across the mat from Tech's Sheridan Moran. Moran was 9-7 on the season, but Staylor methodically shut out the Hokie. With just seconds remaining on the clock Staylor earned a nearfall that put him up 14-0. With the riding time advantage, Staylor notched his third technical fall of the season and the Monarchs held a quick 11-0 lead in team points.
Ryan Williams would extend the lead in the 141-lb. matchup as he earned a 9-1 major decision over Matt Rosen. The major is his fifth on the season as he is currently riding a three-match winning streak.
Kaylen Baxter squeaked a 7-6 victory from Jon Bonilla-Bowman. Bowman had a 16-8 overall mark coming into the bout and Baxter had been struggling. The two wrestled even for much of the first and second period. In the third, Baxter earned a critical take down to put him up two points with just under twenty seconds remaining. The riding time advantage was in favor of Bowman making the final score 7-6.
Red shirt freshman Chris Brown finished out the first half with another major decision. Brown leads the team with 12 major decisions and 31 wins in his rookie campaign. He defeated Derek Gallagher of Tech 17-7.
With ODU holding a commanding 22-0 lead, the Hokies did not quit. They scored victories in each of the next three bouts.
Eric Decker defeated ODU junior Nick Pullano 5-3 in the 165-lb. matchup. In the 174-lb. class, Derek Coffey gave Hokie leader Steve Ratley a run for his money before losing by way of the riding time advantage. In 22 wins, it was just Ratley's second regular decision, winning 3-2. And in the 184-lb. weight class, Virginia Tech cut the lead to 12 with the score at 22-10. Steve Borja disposed of freshman Jesse Strawn in a major decision 18-7.
However, the Monarchs would seal it in the 197-lb. weight class. Sophomore sensation David Mendoza earned his 11th pin of the year when he put both of Kevin O'Connor's shoulders on the mat 3:42 into the bout. Mendoza improves his season record to 30-7 with the win and is currently riding a seven-bout win streak. The pin gave the Monarchs the win as Matt Pellar would win the heavyweight division 6-1 and make the final score 31-10.
Old Dominion returns to action again at The Ted Constant Convocation Center this Sunday afternoon starting at 4:00pm. They will host American University who is 8-8 on the season with a match against Maryland Friday night. The match Sunday will, like Thursday's match, be streamed live via Monarch All-Access through the ODU website, odusports.com.
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