Hokie ClubHAMPTON, Va. - The sixth-ranked Virginia Tech wrestling team advanced into the finals of the 35th Virginia Duals with a close 19-15 win over 24th-ranked Old Dominion Saturday afternoon inside the Hampton Coliseum. Tech won six of the 10 bouts, but the ending was in doubt until the very end as it came down to the heavyweights.
Joey Dance, ranked fourth at 125 pounds, needed sudden victory to dispatch of long-time friend Brandon Jeske 3-1 to open the dual. Kevin Norstrem gave Tech a 6-0 lead with a 9-3 win over Michael Hayes at 133 pounds and then Devin Carter, ranked third at 141 pounds, failed to get his usual bonus points, but still beat No. 9 Chris Mecate 6-4 thanks to two takedowns. Sal Mastriani, ranked 14th in the country, then rolled past 15th-ranked Lenny Richardson 8-1 at 149 pounds to make it 12-0. Mastriani used a headlock takedown and three back points at the end of the first period to propel him to the win.
The Monarchs (5-3) stormed back with a pin at 157 pounds and wins at 165 pounds, 184 pounds and 197 pounds. Tenth-ranked Zach Epperly picked up his third bonus-point win of the weekend in between ODU’s run, downing Austin Coburn 11-1 at 174 pounds.
With the Hokies leading 16-15, it came down to the final bout and seventh-ranked Ty Walz used a second-period takedown to pull out the 3-1 win over Jacob Henderson to give the Hokies the win.
Tech (7-1) will take on 16th-ranked Virginia (8-2) in the Virginia Duals finals on Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. UVa beat 10th-ranked Edinboro 20-17 to reach the finals. Tech leads the series with UVa 40-37-1, but the Cavs won last year’s dual meet. Tech beat the Cavs in the finals of the 2013 Virginia Duals. The two squads will meet again in three weeks in the ACC dual as UVa comes to Blacksburg to take on the Hokies on Feb. 1 in the Moss Arts Center.
#6 Virginia Tech (7-1) 19, #24 Old Dominion (5-3) 15
125: #4 Joey Dance (VT) dec. Brandon Jeske, 3-1 (SV)
133: #19 Kevin Norstrem (VT) dec. Michael Hayes, 9-3
141: #3 Devin Carter (VT) dec. #9 Chris Mecate 6-4
149: #14 Sal Mastriani (VT) dec. #15 Lenny Richardson, 8-1
157: TC Warner (ODU) fall Jake Spengler, 2:59
165: #16 Tristan Warner (ODU) dec. Chad Strube, 7-4
174: #10 Zach Epperly (VT) maj. dec. Austin Coburn, 11-1
184: #4 Jack Dechow (ODU) dec. Austin Gabel, 6-3
197: Kevin Beazley (ODU) dec. Jared Haught, 3-2
285: #7 Ty Walz (VT) dec. Jacob Henderson, 3-1
Probables for the Finals
#6 Virginia Tech (7-1) vs. #16 Virginia (8-2)
125: #4 Joey Dance (VT) vs. Nick Herman (VA)
133: #19 Kevin Norstrem (VT) vs. #17 George DiCamillo (VA)
141: #3 Devin Carter (VT) vs. Justin VanHoose (VA)
149: #14 Sal Mastriani (VT) vs. #11 Gus Sako (VA)
157: Jake Spengler (VT) vs. Andrew Atkinson (VA)
165: Chad Strube (VT) vs. #2 Nick Sulzer (VA)
174: #10 Zach Epperly (VT) vs. #5 Blaise Butler (VA)
184: Austin Gabel (VT) vs. Tyler Askey (VA)
197: Jared Haught (VT) vs. #20 Zach Nye (VA)
285: #7 Ty Walz (VT) vs. Pat Gillen (VA)
rankings used are from InterMat