Hokie ClubST. LOUIS, Mo. - Virginia Tech freshman wrestler Matt Epperly was eliminated from the 2008 NCAA Championships with a 8-6 loss to Roger Smith-Bergsrud in the consolations of the 165-pound bracket Thursday night.
After losing 9-0 to No. 8 seed Moza Fay in the first round, Epperly dropped down to the consolations where he faced Smith-Bergsrud from the University of Illinois.
Smith-Bergsrud started the match with a nice takedown to take the early 2-0 lead. Epperly, the ACC champion, eventually got the escape, but Smith-Bergsrud took him back down.
Heading into the second period trailing 4-2, Epperly chose the down position and escaped to cut the lead to one. But Smith-Bergsrud took him down for the third time and Epperly escaped to make it 6-4 heading to the final period.
In the final stanza, Smith-Bergsrud began with an escape. Epperly got a takedown, but Smith-Bergsrud got a late escape to pull out the win.
With the loss, the Christiansburg, Va., native finishes his season 20-12.