Hokie ClubRALEIGH, N.C. - The Virginia Tech wrestling team held a 19-9 lead with three matches left, but NC State came storming back to take a 21-19 victory Friday night at Reynolds Coliseum.
The 'Pack won the first two matches before Virginia Tech won the next five. The match began as Jalil Dozier received a forfeit at 165 pounds. Ray Ward then extended NCSU's lead to 9-0 as he defeated Andre Johnson 11-7. Ward recorded an early takedown and three near-fall points to record a 6-3 lead after the first period. In the second period, Ward recorded two escapes to take an 8-5 into the third period. In the third, Ward recorded another takedown and an escape to win 11-7.
Trailing 9-0, Tech started to get rolling, winning the next five matches. Tommy Spellman got it started for the Hokies at 184 pounds as he won by technical fall over Dane Coffee 17-0. He finished off the match just 48 seconds into the second period with the shutout. D.J. Bruce followed in his footsteps by taking a 15-6 major decision over Mark Jahad to tie the match at 9-9.
The Hokies had their first lead of the night after freshman David Marone picked up a narrow 3-2 win over Bobby Isola at heavyweight. The difference in the match was Marone's takedown in the second period.
Moving to the light weights, Justin Staylor defeated Taylor Cummings by major decision 17-8 at 125 pounds to up the Hokies' lead to 16-9. Freshman Jared Jones won his second-straight match and his first in ACC competition as he picked up an 8-3 decision over Darius Little to make it 19-9 with three matches left.
At 141 pounds, No. 5 Joe Caramanica had to work overtime to beat Tech freshman Chris Diaz 6-4 in sudden victory. Caramanica took a 3-0 lead into the final period before Diaz recorded a takedown and two near-fall points. Caramanica was able to escape with two seconds left in regulation to force the extra time. In overtime, Caramanica recorded the winning takedown 35 seconds into the extra period to cut the Hokies' lead to 19-12 and keep the Pack alive.
Next up for the Pack was No. 9 Darrion Caldwell, who recorded his nation-leading 19th pin of the season over Paul Grinups. Caldwell took Grinups down early in the match and received three near-fall points for a cradle. Caldwell went back to the cradle to secure the pin only 1:11 into the match cutting the lead to 19-18.
It all came down to the final match of the night between Colton Palmer and Tech's Matt Rosen. Palmer recorded a takedown in the first 20 seconds and added another takedown later in the period to carry a 4-2 lead into the second period. In the second period, Palmer recorded two more takedowns and went on to win the match 8-3, capping off a big comeback for the Pack's 21-19 victory.
Tech (6-8, 1-3 ACC) is back in action Saturday afternoon, taking on Duke at 1 p.m.
NC State (9-10-1, 2-3 ACC) 21Virginia Tech (6-8, 1-3 ACC) 19
165: Jalil Dozier (NCS) win by forfeit174: Ray Ward (NCS) dec. Andre Johnson, 11-7184: Tommy Spellman (VT) TF Dane Coffee, 17-0 (3:48)197: D.J. Bruce (VT) maj. dec. Mark Jahad, 15-6285: David Marone (VT) dec. Bobby Isola, 3-2125: Justin Staylor (VT) maj. dec. Taylor Cummings, 17-8 133: Jared Jones (VT) dec. Darius Little, 8-3141: No. 5 Joe Caramanica (NCS) dec. Chris Diaz, 6-4 (SV)149: No. 9 Darrion Caldwell (NCS) fall Paul Grinups, 1:11157: Colton Palmer (NCS) dec. Matt Rosen, 8-3