No. 13 Virginia Tech hosts Duke on Friday in the program’s annual Moss Arts Center dual. The match is at 7 p.m. ET on the ACC Network.
The Hokies (6-3, 2-0 ACC) shut out the Blue Devils (4-10, 0-2) in Durham last season, 45-0. Tech is 34-13 all-time against Duke, winning the last 19 meetings.
Tech enters Friday night’s dual coming off a dominant 27-9 win over Virginia where it won eight of the 10 bouts.
Duke has struggled this season and shouldn’t provide much of a challenge for Tech. Friday night offers the opportunity for Tony Robie and Co. to move to 3-0 in the ACC for the first time since the 2020-21 season.
Here’s what to watch for against the Blue Devils:
A potential shutout
Tech has come close to shutouts in both of its first two ACC duals of the year, winning 17 of the 20 bouts between the North Carolina and Virginia matches. In those 17 victories, VT has only allowed one takedown.
For context, Wrestlestat has North Carolina ranked at No. 31 and Virginia at No. 39. Duke ranks well below at No. 70 and doesn’t have a single wrestler ranked in Intermat’s polls.
The Hokies have won nine or more matches versus the Blue Devils in five straight duals and have a shot to extend that streak to six on Friday in Moss.
Luke Robie and Mac Church at 149
With No. 2 Caleb Henson getting the weekend off, expect to see Luke Robie and Mac Church at 149 for the Hokies against Duke (Friday) and George Mason (Saturday), the latter of which will take place in Cassell Coliseum (3 p.m. ET).
Luke, the son of Tech head coach Tony Robie, is 4-2 on the season and most recently competed in the Shorty Hitchcock Memorial Classic back in November.
Church bumped up to 149 last month and competed at the weight for the first time at the Appalachian Open, finishing 3-2, including a win by fall.
Expect one or both of the redshirt freshmen to see action over the weekend. They’re set to face Duke’s Jarred Papcsy and George Mason’s Kaden Cassidy.
Looking to move to 3-0 in the ACC
The Hokies are currently tied with No. 7 NC State for first in the ACC, both owning 2-0 conference records.
With its meeting against the Wolfpack in two weeks likely deciding who will win the ACC dual meet title, Tech will need to earn its third ACC victory against Duke on Friday to stay in the race.
While the Hokies took a share of the ACC title last season, splitting it with NC State and Pitt, Tech would secure the title outright if it finishes with a 5-0 record in the ACC.
The last time Tech finished undefeated in conference play was 2021, when it snagged the title outright. Beating Duke on Friday night is another step towards that goal.
Prediction: No. 13 Virginia Tech 40, Duke 0
Virginia Tech shouldn’t have much trouble against Duke on Friday night and move to 3-0 in the ACC with ease. The Hokies have a legit chance to skunk the Blue Devils for the second year in a row.
*All matchups subject to change*
125: No. 5 Cooper Flynn (VT) dec Logan Agin (DUKE)
133: No. 13 Sam Latona (VT) tech fall Raymond Adams (DUKE)
141: No. 13 Tom Crook (VT) maj dec. Christian Colman (DUKE)
149: Luke Robie/Mac Church (VT) dec. Jarred Papcsy (DUKE)
157: Clayton Ulrey (VT) maj dec. Logan Ferrero (DUKE)
165: No. 21 Connor Brady (VT) dec. Gaetano Console (DUKE)
174: No. 2 Mekhi Lewis (VT) tech fall Jack Wimmer (DUKE)
184: No. 21 Dakota Howard (VT) maj dec. Conor Becker (DUKE)
197: No. 25 Andy Smith (VT) tech fall Kwasi Bonsu (DUKE)
285: No. 20 Hunter Catka (VT) maj dec. Connor Barket (DUKE)
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TJ Stewart should be starting. Rumors abt him entering the portal. Need to keep him happy.
Stewart slated to start on Saturday against George Mason. I think they’re still trying to figure out who they want to roll with down the stretch at 184.
It could that with Dakota Howard being the red-shirt senior and only two home matches left… let him start in one. Just a thought.