COLLEGE WRESTLING: ATHENS GRAD COURTNEY TAKES DOWN OLD FOE; TRIGGERS VIRGINIA'S COMEBACK WIN OVER NATIONALLY-RANKED PITT (2021-01-30)

Valley Sports Report
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Athens grad Brian Courtney, a redshirt junior on the Virginia wrestling team, met an old foe Friday night, and his win triggered a Cavalier comeback in a 17-16 win over 12th-ranked Pitt in ACC wrestling action.

Courtney scored a takedown with 8.2 seconds remaining to upend nationally-ranked Cole Matthews, ranked 14th at 141 pounds, to pull out a 3-1 win over his former high school rival.

After a scoreless first period, Cole scored an escape midway through the second period for a 1-0 lead.

Courtney tied the bout with an escape off the whistle to start the third period.

Matthews, a product of the powerhouse Reynolds program, edged Courtney, 3-2, for PIAA gold at 120 pounds in 2015.

A year later, Courtney avenged the loss with a 9-3 win over Matthews in the semifinals of the PIAA championships. It was the second of three wins over defending state champions on his historic run to a 120-pound title. He would would win gold with a 3-2 decision over current Iowa standout Max Murin of Central Cambria.

Last year, Courtney was 0-3 against Matthews, dropping a 4-3 decision in the Virginia-Pitt regular-season dual, then dropping a 7-6 decision and a 3-1 overtime decision at the ACC Championships.

Courtney is now 6-1 on the season, and 2-1 in ACC duals.

Virginia returns to action Friday when it hosts Duke.

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IN PHOTO: Brian Courtney.