Out with a bang
JMU crushes Campbell in last home contest
By Tim O’Keefe, contributing writer
Posted on February 19, 2007

The JMU wrestling team dominated Campbell University, 34-7, Saturday for the team’s largest victory of the season in perhaps its final home match ever, as wrestling is one of 10 sports programs being cut by the Title IX decision.

Emotions ran high in Memorial Hall as the wrestlers were recognized for their contributions to the soon-to-be-defunct program.

“We were extremely motivated for this final home match,” JMU coach Josh Hutchens said. “We had great practices all week, and we talked about whether we won, lost or tied, we just wanted to hang it all on the line.”

Senior 125-pounder Louis Sweet opened up with a 6-0 pin of Campbell’s C.J. Gittens. Then, in the 133-pound bout, junior Brandon Luce surged ahead late in the third period to take down David Wise.

Feeding off the hot start, freshman 141-pounder Jimmy Mitchum pressed through a re-injured hyper-extended shoulder to surge to a 14-4 major decision over Kelin Bidelspach.

Before Campbell knew it, JMU had opened up a 22-0 lead.

“We all were just really excited and pumped up to compete,” Mitchum said. “We knew [Campbell was] going to give us a good match, so we were ready.”

The most exciting point of the match came when freshman Nick Broccoli defeated Chris Mazzata in the 149-pound division in a last-second, come-from-behind win, 5-2. Broccoli took the lead in the last 20 seconds with a takedown and picked up three more points on a near fall.

With the win, JMU improved to 7-24 overall.

“I think this is by far our best performance of the season,” Hutchens said. “When one of our guys lost a match, the next guy picked things up. That was key.”

With the future of the players and coaches uncertain, the team now tries to concentrate on the Colonial Athletic Association tournament March 3 at George Mason University.

“Right now everyone’s focus is wrestling and now the conference tournament,” said Richie Gebauer, an assistant coach who wrestled for the Dukes last season. “I presume that some of the guys will stay because of how fine an academic school JMU is, while others will transfer to try to continue their wrestling careers.”

The Dukes lost three straight matches prior to Campbell but saved their best for last.

“Our guys have been through so much this season, with the whole Title IX situation,” Gebauer said. “This is the best performance of the season.”