Following last Friday’s disappointing 26-12 loss to No. 16 Pitt (9-2, 3-0), No. 7 Virginia Tech (8-3, 2-1) headed to Durham looking to make a statement against Duke.
That the Hokies did, shutting out the Blue Devils 45-0 and earning bonus-point victories in all but one match. The win pushes Tech’s ACC record to 2-1 and keeps the Hokies in the mix for the ACC dual title.
No. 5 Bryce Andonian (157) had the biggest win for VT on the night, pinning Logan Ferrero with 20 seconds left in the first period. The former All-American already had three takedowns and a four-point near fall before putting Ferrero on his back.
Eddie Ventresca gained some momentum in the race to lock down the starting spot at 125. He began the evening with an emphatic 17-2 technical fall victory over Ethan Grimminger for his first dual victory since Jan. 8 against George Mason.
No. 8 Caleb Henson added another impressive victory to his true freshman resume, nabbing an 18-3 technical fall win over Patrick Rowland. It was his 10th bonus-point win of the year.
Five Hokies registered major decision victories against the Blue Devils.
No. 7 Sam Latona (133) moved to 20-5 on the season with his 15-5 major decision victory over Logan Agin. It was a nice bounce-back victory following his loss to Pitt’s No. 6 Micky Phillippi last week.
No. 12 Tom Crook (141) earned his fifth bonus-point victory of the year immediately after Latona’s win, defeating Christian Colman by major decision, 11-2. The true freshman scored on four takedowns and only allowed Colman to score two points on a pair of escapes.
Fellow true freshman TJ Stewart (197) earned his first career dual victory in dominant fashion, taking down Brayden Ray in a major decision win, 14-6. He exploded for six takedowns, showing off his ability to take advantage of poor shots from his opponents.
Sam Fisher (184) moved to 3-0 in dual matches this season with his major decision win over Luke Chakonis, 15-6. He filled in admirably for No. 8 Hunter Bolen, drubbing Chakonis to build to 23-5 on the year.
No. 23 Hunter Catka (285) got his first win in three weeks, beating Connor Barket in a major decision win, 14-6. He dominated Barket from start to finish to secure the shutout for VT.
No. 26 Connor Brady (165) defeated Gabe Dinette in a 12-5 decision win. No. 3 Mekhi Lewis (174) won by forfeit.
Virginia Tech returns to the mat next week in Chapel Hill against No. 25 North Carolina (6-7, 2-1) at 7 p.m.
Results: No. 7 Virginia Tech 45, Duke 0
125: Eddie Ventresca (VT) tech fall Ethan Grimminger (DUKE), 17-2
133: No. 7 Sam Latona (VT) maj dec. Logan Agin (DUKE), 15-5
141: No. 12 Tom Crook (VT) maj dec. Christian Colman (DUKE), 11-2
149: No. 8 Caleb Henson (VT) tech fall Patrick Rowland (DUKE), 18-3
157: No. 5 Bryce Andonian (VT) win by fall Logan Ferrero (DUKE), 2:40
165: No. 26 Connor Brady (VT) dec. Gabe Dinette (DUKE), 12-5
174: No. 3 Mekhi Lewis (VT) win by forfeit
184: Sam Fisher (VT) maj dec. Luke Chakonis (DUKE), 15-6
197: TJ Stewart (VT) maj dec. Brayden Ray (DUKE), 14-6
285: No. 23 Hunter Catka (VT) maj dec. Connor Barket (DUKE), 14-6
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Making a statement would have been beating Pitt 45-0.
45-0, man, that’s wrestlin’!
Dare I say VT got too high after beating NCState then po’d after laying an egg wrestling Pitt?
‘course I don’t see a single ranked guy on Dule’s lineup.