Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - The 10th-ranked Virginia Tech wrestling squad upset fourth-ranked Ohio State University 19-18 Sunday afternoon in front of 2,833 fans inside of Cassell Coliseum. Both teams won five matches, including one pin apiece, but Ty Walz’s two-point win at heavyweight provided the difference as the Hokies won on the third criteria.
The dual match started with a big-time matchup at 125 pounds between fifth-ranked Joey Dance and 10th-ranked Nathan Tomasello. Tomasello jumped out to a 5-2 lead in the second period thanks to two takedowns, but Dance escaped and tied it up with a takedown of his own in the third period. After a restart, Dance yanked Tomasello to his back for a three-count and two back points to take the lead. Tomasello escaped late, but Dance fought off several late charges to pick the exciting 7-6 victory.
At 133 pounds, eighth-ranked Johnni DiJulius used a point for riding time to hold off 19th-ranked Kevin Norstrem for a 2-1 win before top-ranked and three-time national champion Logan Stieber rolled to a second-period pin over Tech’s Jerry Ronnau at 141 pounds. Devin Carter couldn’t get any bonus points at 149 pounds, but took care of business with a 12-6 decision over Randy Languis. The win moved the senior to 20-0 all-time in Cassell Coliseum.
At 157 pounds, Sal Mastriani forced three stall warnings on seventh-ranked Josh Demas, but got taken down late to his back as Demas escaped with an 11-6 victory that was much closer than the final score indicated as the two were tied with a minute left in the bout. Chris Moon dominated Justin Kresevic at 165 pounds, picking up a 6-1 decision to bring the Hokies within three points.
The match of the evening was next at 174 pounds as 11th-ranked Zach Epperly and 13th-ranked Mark Martin had to go to the second tiebreaker before things were decided. Tied at 1-1, neither man could score in sudden victory and both men held their opponents down in the first tiebreaker. Again, neither man could score in the second sudden victory, forcing a second tiebreaker. After Epperly held Martin down in the first half of the tiebreaker, all Epperly had to do was escaped to win. He took it one step furter, reversing Martin right to his back, picking up the pin with 10 seconds left. Those six team points would prove to be huge in the end.
At 184 pounds, seventh-ranked Kenny Courts came from behind to beat Austin Gabel, 9-5 to tie the match back up. Jared Haught took down seventh-ranked Kyle Snyder twice at 197 pounds, but dropped a tight 8-5 decision as the Buckeyes took an 18-15 lead into the heavyweights.
Based on the NCAA criteria, Tech’s Ty Walz had to win by two points or more for the Hokies to win the tiebreaker. Eleventh-ranked Nick Tavanello looked good early, countering a high crotch attempt from 10th-ranked Walz into a takedown in the first period. Walz battled back to tie it up, but was trailing 3-2 before Tavanello was dinged for his second stall warning to give Walz a point and force overtime. Neither man could score in sudden victory, sending it to the tiebreaker. Tavanello escaped, but Walz pounced in on Tavanello’s legs and converted a takedown to take a 5-4 lead. He then escaped in his portion of the tiebreaker to give him the 6-4 victory and the two-point difference needed for a Hokie win.
The first tiebreaker is matches won (5-5) and then the second criteria is the combined number of of six-point victories (1-1). The third criteria is total match points scored from decisions, major decisions and techical falls. Here, because of Walz’s two-point win, Tech won that one, 48-47. Ironically, if Walz would have won by just one point, the match points would have been tied and OSU would have won on the fourth criteria, the first takedown of the dual meet, which was Tomasello at 125 pounds.
For the Hokies, the win over No. 4 Ohio State marked the highest ranked opponent they’ve beaten since taking down No. 2 Oklahoma State 18-16 on Jan. 8, 2011 in the NWCA National Duals.
Tech (4-0) will take next week off before heading to Nevada for the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational on Dec. 5 and 6. Ohio State (3-1) will take on No. 9 Virginia Monday night in Charlottesville.
#12 Virginia Tech (4-0) 19, #4 Ohio State (3-1) 18
125: #5 Joey Dance (VT) dec. #10 Nathan Tomasello, 7-6
133: #8 Johnni DiJulius (OSU) dec. #19 Kevin Norstrem, 2-1
141: #1 Logan Stieber (OSU) fall Jerry Ronnau, 3:37
149: #2 Devin Carter (VT) dec. Randy Languis, 12-6
157: #7 Josh Demas (OSU) dec. Sal Mastriani, 11-6
165: Chris Moon (VT) dec. Justin Kresevic, 6-1
174: #11 Zach Epperly (VT) fall #13 Mark Martin, 10:50 (TB-2)
184: #7 Kenny Courts (OSU) dec. Austin Gabel, 9-5
197: #7 Kyle Snyder (OSU) dec. Jared Haught, 8-5
285: #10 Ty Walz (VT) dec. #11 Nick Tavanello, 6-4 (TB-1)
* - Virginia Tech wins on the third tiebreaker (match points, 48-47)
Referee: Frank Pavich
Attendance: 2,833