Hokie ClubBlacksburg – The No. 7 Virginia Tech wrestling team dominated their way to a second ranked victory and improve to 3-0 after defeating No. 17 Rutgers in the Moss Arts Center on Friday night. The Hokies won seven out of ten matches against the visiting Scarlet Knights highlighted by an upset victory for Andy Smith along with a pin from Lennox Wolak and major decisions by Eddie Ventresca and Caleb Henson.
Lucky Number Seven
For the second straight dual in as many times against a ranked opponent, Tech won seven matches to dominate the opposition. Back to looking like a title contender, No. 13 Eddie Ventresca picked up a 13-0 major decision thanks to two takedowns, four near fall, an escape, a stall call, riding time point, over Ayden Smith to get the night started for the Hokies.
Making his last appearance on the Moss Arts Center stage, No. 16 Sam Latona was clutch once again as he’s been his entire career. Tied at 1 after trading escapes, Latona was able to secure a takedown with :15 left in the dual to take the 4-1 victory and give the Hokies a lead in the team score that they would never relinquish the rest of the dual.
No. 1 Caleb Henson continued his dominance with a 11-1 victory over yet another ranked opponent in No. 33 Michael Cetta at 149-pounds. The returning national champion secured three takedowns, riding time, and an escape to get second bonus point victory for the Hokies and adding an emphatic flex in front of the Moss theater audience.
The brilliant redshirt freshman season for Brazilian Rafael Hipolito, Jr. continues with another victory on Friday night. Ranked No. 24 in the country, Hipolito continued the Hokie winning streak with a controlling 7-3 decision over Rutgers’ Conner Harer. Hipolito secured two takedowns and riding time to push the Hokies’ lead 14-5.
Another redshirt freshman in the lineup securing a victory for Tech was Mac Church at 165-pounds. The Waynesburg, Pennsylvania native got back in the win column with a gritty win over Andrew Barbosa on Friday night. Church came out with an early takedown and turn to lead 7-1 by the end of the first period. Barbosa would catch Church on a roll through defensive attempt to tie the score at 7 to end the second period. Church would garner an escape, riding time, and be awarded a technical violation point but have to fend off a frenzy of attacks by Barbosa to claim the 10-8 victory.
Looking to bounce back after a loss in his first home dual in Blacksburg last Friday against Missouri, No. 4 Lennox Wolak did just that center stage against No. 18 Jackson Turley. In a battle of All-Americans, it was Turley who struck first with an opening period takedown but Wolak would work back up to find an escape to close the gap as time expired in the first. Wolak would begin the second period on top after Turley elected to start the period on bottom. Wolak went to work, angling for back points and eventually cinched a bow and arrow that would put the Scarlet Knight on his back and get the pin fall 4:21 into the match with a celebration fit for the theatre.
Rounding out the Hokies’ route was No. 13 Andy Smith with an upset victory over All-American No. 12 John Poznanski at 197-pounds. Smith struck first with a single leg takedown and would garner an escape before putting on a solid defensive display to ward off Poznanski’s last ditch efforts. Smith’s 4-2 victory effectively locked up the dual for the Hokies and pushed the team record to 3-0.
Tech returns to action with a contingent at the Keystone Classic in the Palestra hosted by University of Pennsylvania. Action begins on Sunday, November 24 at 9:30 a.m. live on Flowrestling.
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