Monarchs Steamroll Bucknell, 33-3
Written By: Greg Arnold
Staff Writer
Old Dominion Wrestling (5-4) put their skills on display last Wednesday, as they easily dominated the Bucknell Bison (2-7). After a less than exceptional start to the season, all but one of the ODU wrestlers won their match and the team left the Ted Constant Convocation Center with a 33-3 win. After losing three matches in a weekend in N.J. last month, they appear to be getting back on course.
The first match put redshirt freshman Jerome Robinson against Bucknell freshman Austin Miller. This was the first dual start for Robinson of his college career. He took advantage of this opportunity by winning a tight match 10-9. Robinson is one of many young wrestlers ODU has waiting for their chance to show their worth. He did not give up in his match and was rewarded with the win, giving ODU a lead his teammates would not lose.
Sophomore Scott Festejo completed ODUs only pin of the night. Festejo’s match began a bit slow. He was against freshman Shawn Armato, and the two were feeling each other out and taking their time with the match. As Armato shot in for a takedown, Festejo took control of the situation. Festejo spun Armato over in midair and put him down on his back. Festejo worked Armato on the mat and was able to get the pin and six points for ODU.
Festejo leads the team this season with six falls. After having to wrestle last season at 141 and 149 pounds, Festejo is doing very well at the 133 pound weight class. His record has jumped from 9-15 last season to 12-7 this season.
Helping the cause, redshirt sophomores John Nicholson and Billy Curling were awarded major decisions against Bucknell, along with senior Te Edwards. Edwards entered the season with high expectations, but has hit a speed bump. His ranking has dropped dramatically from eight to seventeen at his weight class. He lost his two previous matches before beating Bucknell sophomore Stephen McPeek 17-6. Edwards appears to be back in good form as he was able to control the match the entire way through.
ODU head coach Steve Martin wanted Edwards to push through the entire match, no matter the score, to get as much work as possible. Martin’s shouts of “sixty second sprint, come on!” could be heard from the cheapest of cheap seats. Edwards took Martin’s advice and wrestled hard to the very end, he rolled out of a possible takedown by McPeek that caused the entire arena to gasp with amazement.
The most exciting match of the night was ODU redshirt junior Brennan Brumley against Bucknell senior John Regan. Through regulation and the first period of sudden victory, the score was merely 1-1. Through the second overtime period, Brumley managed to keep top position and not give up any points. It took only six seconds for Brumley to escape from bottom position and score what would be the winning point in the final period.
Old Dominion had flashes of the team they hoped they would be this season against Bucknell. The road ahead, however, is still long and it begins with a trip to Fairfax, VA on Sat. to take part in the CAA Duals. There, they will go against in-conference rivals Boston University, Hofstra, Drexel, and George Mason, all in one day. The team will return to the Ted Feb. 5 when they take on Central Michigan, who is ranked in the top 30 teams nationally, at 3 p.m.
Photo By Lauren Makely
