DURHAM, N.C.-The Duke University wrestling team closed out its home schedule tonight with a pair of matches against ACC rival NC State and Ohio University. The Blue Devils lost a hard-fought battle to NC State 24-15 and fell to the Bobcats 35-9 in the tri-meet.
Prior to the matches, Duke honored its six seniors, Dan Adamo, Nick Adamo, Dak Adamson, Nico Cortese, A.J. Guardado and Chris Mullen. Mullen and Nick Adamo started the night in exhibition matches. Mullen closed out his Duke career with a pin against the Wolfpack in 4:35. Adamo fell in a tough 6-3 decision in his final match in Cameron Indoor Stadium.
Brandon Gambucci and Peter Terrezza both captured two victories on the evening, while a pair of Blue Devils split their matches on the evening. Diego Bencomo and Robert Mello both beat their Wolfpack opponents, but fell in the bouts against Ohio.
Against NC State, the Wolfpack jumped out to a 9-3 lead after three bouts before Duke mounted a valiant comeback. Ohio used a pair of major decisions in the first two matches to post a 23-0 lead after five matches, en route to its sixth win of the year.
After losing the first two matches against NC State, Bencomo put Duke on the scoreboard with an 8-6 triumph over Robert O'Neill in the 184-pound division. The win was his ninth of the year and his eighth straight and made it a 9-3 match.
At 197 pounds, sophomore Brian Self and KaRonne Jones were embroiled in a 1-1 deadlock early in the second period. With both wrestlers only able to manage escapes during the bout, Jones scored a two-point takedown in the final seconds of the match to secure the victory. Self got an escape in the final second, but finished one point shy of forcing overtime.
With the Wolfpack holding a 9-3 advantage, Mello turned in a thrilling performance at heavyweight. Wrestling up from 197 pounds, Mello used an escape in the second period and held off Josh Davis' shots in the final period to earn the 1-0 decision and make it a 9-6 match with the Wolfpack.
Terrezza evened the NC State match at 9-9 with a narrow 5-4 decision at 125 pounds. Terrezza used a strong start and held on late in the match to earn his 18th victory of the season. The victory was his fifth straight and second in the ACC this season. Terrezza also picked up a forfeit victory in the match with Ohio.
Gambucci completed Duke's comeback with a pin of Ben Elliot at 133 pounds. Gambucci jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead in the first period and never looked back, getting six points for the Blue Devils with a fall in 3:32. The pin was his third of the season. The Mansfield, Ohio native garnered his 20th win of the year as he beat Ohio's Drew Hammer 10-5. Gambucci has won four of his previous five matches with three of those being extra-point victories.
At 141 pounds, freshman Tanner Hough turned in valiant outing against No. 11 Darrius Little. The rookie traded shots with Little, but a last-second takedown in the third period gave NC State the victory that pulled the match within three at 15-12.
The Wolfpack regained the lead with a third-period fall at 149 pounds. Guardado was outstanding throughout the bout, before Matt Neireim was able to capitalize on a move in the final 12 seconds to secure the six points and put NC State in front 18-15. The Wolfpack closed out the bout against Duke with a pin at 157 pounds to secure the ACC victory.
NC State 24 , Duke 15
165 - Nijel Jones (NCSU) dec. Ryan Harding (DU), 9-3 (0-3)
174 - Quinton Godley (NCSU) dec. Randy Roden (DU), 2-0 (0-6)
184 - Diego Bencomo (DU) dec. Robert O'Neill (NCSU), 8-6 (3-6)
197 - KaRonne Jones (NCSU) dec. Brian Self (DU), 3-2 (3-9)
285 - Robert Mello (DU) dec. Josh Davis (NCSU), 1-0 (6-9)
125 - Peter Terrezza (DU) dec. Coltin Fought (NCSU), 5-4 (9-9)
133 - Brandon Gambucci (DU) fall Ben Elliott (NCSU), 3:32 (15-9)
141 - No. 11 Darrius Little (NSCU) dec. Tanner Hough (DU), 3-1, (15-12)
149 - Matthew Nereim (NCSU) fall A.J. Guardado (DU), 6:48 (15-18)
157 - Colton Palmer (NCSU) fall Immanuel Kerr-Brown (3:56)
Ohio 35, Duke 9
165 - Miles Chapman (OHIO) major dec. Ryan Harding (DU) 10-0 (0-4)
174 - Nick Purdue (OHIO) major dec. Randy Roden (DU), 12-0 (0-8)
184 - Ryan Garringer (OHIO) fall Diego Bencomo (DU), 1:05 (0-14)
197 - Kyle Sanders (OHIO) dec. Brian Self (DU), 6-2 (0-17)
285 - Jeremy Johnson (OHIO) fall Robby Mello (DU), 1:42 (0-23)
125 - Peter Terrezza (DU) won by forfeit (6-23)
133 - Brandon Gambucci (DU) dec. Andrew Hammer (OHIO), 10-5 (9-23)
141 - Darrin Boing (OHIO) dec. Tanner Hough (DU), 4-2 (9-26)
149 - Andrew Romanchik (OHIO) dec. A.J. Guardado (DU), 6-5 (9-29)
157 - Harrison Hightower (OHIO) fall Immanuel Kerr-Brown (DU), 1:34 (9-35)
Duke closes out its regular season schedule tomorrow at Appalachian State at 6 p.m. Live scoring is available with a link provided at GoDuke.com.
