Feb. 27, 2002

DURHAM, N.C. - The Duke University wrestling team dropped its sixth straight dual meet on Tuesday to ACC foe N.C. State. The Wolfpack jumped out to a 13-0 lead after the opening three matches and cruised to a 28-6 victory. Duke is now 5-8 overall and 0-4 in the ACC, while N.C. State improves to 11-8 and 3-1 on the year.

Dave Miller opened the night with a pin versus Duke's Ben Balmages (Santa Ana, Calif.) in 4:33 at 157-lbs. In the featured match of the night, two-time ACC Champion Pierre Pryor bested Mike Mitchell (Midwest City, Okla.), 8-5, to give N.C. State a 9-0 lead. Pryor, ranked 16th in the latest Intermat polls, trailed 4-3 entering the third period before mounting a comeback with an escape and a takedown in the opening forty seconds of the final stanza. The loss was Mitchell's first in conference action, dropping his record to 24-11 overall and 3-1 in the ACC.

N.C. State's Dustin Kawa stretched the margin to 13-0 with a major decision at 174-lbs. Duke got in the points column at 184-lbs. as Frank Cornely (Pennsauken, N.J.) scored an 11-4 decision over Jon Godwin. The Blue Devils sophomore raced out to a 7-2 lead through two periods and secured the match with a pair of takedowns in the final thirty seconds of action.

Daegan Smith (Washington, D.C.) had a four match win streak snapped at 197-lbs. Jason Gore overcame a 7-3 deficit in the second period to score a 13-10 decision. Smith appeared to be in control of the match before suffering cramping in his left leg. Ngozi Collins' 7-2 decision over Duke heavyweight Levi Karnehm (Dayton, Ohio) gave N.C. State a 19-3 advantage.

In a rematch of last year's ACC Championship final at 125-lbs. George Cintron topped Tommy Hoang (Cushing, Okla.), 7-2. Cintron took control of the match with an early takedown and improved to 15-6 with the win. Duke earned its second win at 133-lbs. as Stuart Holzer (Valley Stream, N.Y.) earned a 4-3 decision over Adam Cox. With the match tied 1-1, Holzer scored a two-point takedown with 57 seconds remaining in the match. Holzer then received a point for an unsportsmanlike conduct when Cox tossed his head gear onto the mat. An escape and 1:50 worth of riding time narrowed the gap to 4-3 in favor of the Duke junior.

Ryan McCallum and Jake Giamoni closed the night for N.C. State with wins at 141-lbs. and 149-lbs. McCallum received at 5-2 decision over Harry Clarke (Atlanta, Ga.) and Giamoni topped Luke Palmisano (Massapequa, N.Y.), 11-5.

The Blue Devils final home match of the season is on Thursday, February 28 versus Gardner-Webb at 7:30 p.m.

Duke vs. N.C. State

Match Results
By draw, meet started at 157 pounds

Weight          Result                                                  Duke    N.C. State
157             Dave Miller WBF over Ben Balmages 4:33                  0       6
165             Pierre Pryor dec. Mike Mitchell, 8-5                    0       9
174             Dustin Kawa maj. dec. Tim Marcantonio, 12-3             0       13
184             Frank Cornely dec. Jon Godwin, 11-4                     3       13
197             Jason Gore dec. Daegan Smith, 13-10                     3       16
HWT             Ngozi Collins dec. Levi Karnehm, 7-2                    3       19
125             George Cintron dec. Tommy Hoang, 7-2                    3       22
133             Stuart Holzer dec. Adam Cox, 4-3                        6       22
141             Ryan McCallum dec. Harry Clarke, 5-2                    6       25
149             Jake Giamoni dec. Luke Palmisano 11-5                   6       28