Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech wrestling team will wrap up ACC competition this weekend, taking on a pair of conference foes on the road. The Hokies will travel to Raleigh to take on NC State Friday night at 7:30 p.m., and will then head down the road to face Duke Saturday at 1 p.m.
NC State (8-10-1, 1-3) is led by ranked trio of Joe Caramanica, Darrion Caldwell and Ryan Goodman. Caramanica is ranked fifth in the country at 141 pounds and has a record of 28-4. Caldwell is tied for the national lead with 18 pins and is ranked ninth in the country at 149 pounds. Goodman, who didn't wrestle Wednesday night against UNCG, is No. 18 at 184 pounds.
Duke is 9-8 overall, 0-4 in the ACC. The Blue Devils don't have any ranked wrestlers, but John Barone is 31-5 at 184 pounds this year. He and Tech's Tommy Spellman have split a pair of matches this year with Spellman pinning him at the East Stroudsburg Open and Barone pinning Spellman at the Southern Scuffle.
The Hokies will be short-handed this weekend as three starters are out with injury. Matt Epperly (165 pounds) underwent and emergency appendectomy this week and will be out until at least the ACC Tournament. Eric Decker (174 pounds) will miss this weekend due to an injury suffered in practice this week and Kevin O'Connor (197) isn't back to full strength from the injury he suffered two weeks ago.
Head coach Kevin Dresser contemplated pulling the redshirt off of freshman Anthony Trongone, but the staff has decided against that move. Paul Grinups and Nick Murray will share the duties at 149 pounds for the two matches. Matt Rosen will bump up to 157 pounds and Andre Johnson will move up to 165 pounds to fill the spots while Eddie Baughan is scheduled to fill in for Decker.
Below are the starting lineups for all three teams, as released by the coaching staffs:
NC State (8-10-1, 1-3 ACC)
125: Taylor Cummings (20-12)
133: Darius Little (10-11)
141: No. 5 Joe Caramanica (28-4)
149: No. 9 Darrion Caldwell (28-3)
157: Colton Palmer (6-9)
165: Jalil Dozier (12-11)
174: Ray Ward (5-8)
184: No. 18 Ryan Goodman (14-5) or Dane Coffee (0-10)
197: Mark Jahad (9-17)
285: Bobby Isola (14-13)
Duke (9-8, 0-4 ACC)
125: Kellan McKeon (23-12)
133: Chris Thumen (1-8)
141: Bryan Gibson (10-5) or A.J. Guardado (14-14)
149: Michael Degli Obizzi (18-7) or Mike Bell (12-15)
157: Voris Tejada (29-11)
165: Addison Nuding (24-8) or Willy Mello (8-5)
174: Ben Wales (17-13) or Turner Rooney (6-5)
184: John Barone (31-5)
197: Dan Tulley (2-3) or Robert Holbrook (11-12)
285: Mike Tunick (9-7)
Virginia Tech (6-7, 1-2 ACC)
125: Justin Staylor (9-9)
133: Jared Jones (3-4)
141: Chris Diaz (13-13)
149: Paul Grinups (1-2) or Nick Murray (7-11)
157: Matt Rosen (16-13)
165: Andre Johnson (2-16)
174: Eddie Baughan (1-3)
184: Tommy Spellman (19-10)
197: D.J. Bruce (1-2)
285: David Marone (13-10)