The Blue Devils kicked off what could be their strongest dual meet season in coach Clar Anderson's tenure Saturday. Duke traveled to Pittsburgh, winning the ACC/East Region Challenge held at Fox Chapel High School over host Duquesne University, Slippery Rock University and conference rival Maryland. The Blue Devils defeated both Pennsylvania teams handily, starting the season 2-0.
As they have done all season thus far, the light weights for the Blue Devils anchored the scoring. In both dual meets, Duke opened up leads of 18-0 and 13-0 leads against Duquesne and Slippery Rock, respectively.
In the first match of the afternoon against the Dukes, the Blue Devils won with decisions in their first six bouts for its big advantage. Junior Levi Craig dropped his match, a 7-4 decision to Duquesne senior Mark Frank who was wrestling at his prep alma mater, bringing the Dukes back to within 15.
After a forfeit at 184, freshman Patrick Keenum rounded out the scoring for the Blue Devils, who finished with a 27-9 victory. Duquesne went on to defeat ACC foe Maryland 27-16 later in the afternoon.
Against Slippery Rock, Duke won its first four bouts again before sophomore Brandon Foose lost by technical fall to Brad Cieleski at 157 pounds. Cieleski was ranked twelfth by Amateur Wrestling News earlier this season.
After splitting the next two bouts, Blue Devil junior 184-pound Frank Cornely had to default due to injury. Cornely suffered a separated shoulder at 2:47 gone in the first period and is questionable for this upcoming weekend.
Freshmen Christian Smith (125 pounds) and Bryan Gibson (133), sophomore Daniel Shvartsman (141), and seniors Andy Soliman (149) and Michael Mitchell (165) all went 2-0 on the day.
Anderson originally intended to wrestle a split squad both in Pittsburgh as well as in Raleigh at the N.C. State Duals, but was forced to eliminate the latter from the schedule after a rash of injuries depleted the Blue Devils' depth.
Duke travels to Bloomington, Ind. next weekend to take part in the Indiana Duals. Duke faces the Hoosiers who are part of the Big Ten--the nation's toughest wrestling conference.
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