Hokie ClubSALEM, Va. - Four Virginia Tech wrestlers earned titles Sunday evening at the Hokie Open inside the Salem Civic Center to wrap up a full day of competition inside the venue. Earlier in the day, Tech’s dual meet squad went 3-0 in the Hokie Duals before turning the floor over to the tournament wrestlers.
Three of Tech’s champions - Kevin Norstrem, Zach Epperly and Dawson Peck - are freshman while the fourth is All-American Nick Brascetta who is scheduled to redshirt. All four wrestled unattached. Epperly highlighted the day with a 4-3 win over No. 15 Turtogtokh Luvsandorj of The Citadel to take the title at 174 pounds. Norstrem went 4-0 at 133 pounds, handily beating Brandon Gambucci of Duke 19-6 in the finals. Brascetta received a forfeit in the 157-pound title bout and Peck beat Mike Kosoy of NC State 6-2 to take his gold medal at heavyweight.
Seven other Tech wrestlers placed in the event: Chad Strube (second at 157 pounds), Dennis Gustafson (third at 133 pounds), John Dickson (third at 184 pounds), David Reck (third at 197 pounds), Dan Garwood (third at heavyweight), David Wesley (fourth at 149 pounds) and Jared Haught (fourth at 197 pounds).
The non-starters will compete in the Wolfpack Open next weekend in Raleigh, N.C.
125: Tyler Awtry (1-2)
First Round: def. Jake Reinemund (UNC), 15-2 (MD)
Quarterfinals: lost to Patrick Skinner (Rider), 7-5
Consolations: lost to Buddy Scarborough (ODU), 15-4 (MD)
133: Nick Anderson (1-2)
First Round: def. Matt Williams (UNC), 4-0
Quarterfinals: lost to Brandon Gambucci, TF
Consolations: lost to Kyle Krasavage (Hofstra), inj. def.
157: Chad Strube (3-0, SECOND PLACE)
First Round: def. Drew Hull (VA), 5-2
Quarterfinals: def. B.J. Crozier (VMI), 2-1
Semifinals: def. Kyle Ash (G-W), 6-4
Finals: Forfeited out (doesn’t count as loss)
174: Brooks Morrison (0-2)
First Round: lost to Taylor Askey (VA), 11-4
Consolations: lost to Mitchel Thomas (UNC), 9-7
184: John Dickson (3-1, THIRD PLACE)
First Round: def. Dusty Floyd (VA), 11-1 (MD)
Quarterfinals: def. Charles Keenan (KSU), 13-1 (MD)
Semifinals: lost to Ryan Wolfe (Rider), 4-3
Third Place Match: def. Cory Campbell (KSU), DQ
285: Brandon Taylor (0-2)
First Round: lost to Brian Self (Duke), 4-0
Consolations: lost to Gerald Barnhart (Citadel), 3-2
The following Tech wrestlers competed unattached, meaning they were not officially representing the university. This is usually to preserve redshirts, but could be for other reasons. The results for these competitors do not count toward official career records, but would count toward NCAA qualification should they need them at the end of the season.
133: Dennis Gustafson (unattached; 3-1, THIRD PLACE)
First Round: def. Aaron Hansen (Citadel), 13-2 (MD)
Quarterfinals: def. Maverik Passaro (Hofstra), 6-3
Semifinals: lost to Brandon Gambucci (Duke), 14-12
Third Place Match: def. Mike Pongracz (UTC), 7-2
133: Kevin Norstrem (unattached; 4-0, CHAMPION)
First Round: def. Kyle Krasavage (Hofstra), 10-7
Quarterfinals: def. George Weber (Belair MD), 5-3 *
Semifinals: def. Mike Pongracz (UTC), 2-0
Finals: def. Brandon Gambucci (Duke), 19-6 (MD)
141: Gerald Ronnau (unattached; 0-2)
First Round: lost to Alex Ortiz (Citadel), 10-9
Consolations: lost to Justin Van Hoose (VA), 7-5
149: David Wesley (unattached; 2-2, FOURTH PLACE)
First Round: def. Jahlani Callender (Hofstra), 13-3 (MD)
Quarterfinals: def. Austin Eads (ODU), 7-0
Semifinals: lost to Chad Walsh (Rider), Fall 2:25
Third Place Match: lost to Connor Bass (Duke), 9-6
157: Nick Brascetta (unattached; 4-0, CHAMPION)
First Round: def. Chad Pyke (NCSU), 18-4 (MD)
Quarterfinals: def. MJ Roberson (VA), Fall, 1:53
Semifinals: def. Terrell Forbes (Citadel), Fall 4:51
Finals: won by forfeit
165: David Bergida (UNATTACHED; 2-2)
First Round: def. Peter Santos (NCSU), Fall 4:51
Quarterfinals: lost to Marcus Cain (Duke), 6-2
Consolations: def. Greg Bacci (VA), 8-7
Consolations: lost to Andrew Dehart (Duke), 8-4
174: Zach Epperly (unattached; 4-0, CHAMPION)
First Round: def. Matt Meyer (UNC), Fall 0:14
Quarterfinals: def. Alex Belaia (Duke), TF
Semifinals: def. Austin Coburn (ODU), 14-3 (MD)
Finals: def. #15 Turtogtokh Luvsandorj (Citadel), 4-3
197: Jared Haught (unattached; 1-2, FOURTH PLACE)
Quarterfinals: def. Scottie Boykin (UTC), def.
Semifinals: lost to Conner Hartmann (Duke), 6-1
Third Place Match: lost to David Reck (VT), 7-4
197: David Reck (unattached; 2-1, THIRD PLACE)
Quarterfinals: def. Urayoan Garcia (VMI), 9-5
Semifinals: lost to Josh Lehner (UNC), 8-7
Third Place Match: def. Jared Haught (VT), 7-4
285: Dan Garwood (unattached, 4-1; THIRD PLACE)
First Round: def. Andrew Marr (Rider), 6-0
Quarterfinals: lost to Mike Kosoy (NCSU), 4-3
Consolations: def. Joe Bexley (Citadel), 8-4
Consolations: def. Jordan Marron (KSU), 6-5
Third Place Match: def. Justin Kozera (G-W), 2-1
285: Dawson Peck (unattached; 4-0, CHAMPION)
First Round: def. Joe Bexley (Citadel), 9-3
Quarterfinals: def. Justin Kozera (G-W), 13-1 (MD)
Semifinals: def. Brock Horwath (Wisconsin), Fall 3:27
Finals: def. Mike Kosoy (NCSU), 6-2
* - non-NCAA competitor; result does not count toward NCAA stats or qualification