Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - The ninth-ranked Virginia Tech wrestling squad will wrap up its home portion of the 2014-15 schedule Saturday night when it hosts Duke for a dual meet that starts at 7 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum. Admission is free.
Before the match, three seniors - David Wesley, Chris Moon and Devin Carter - will be honored as part of Senior Night. It will be Carter’s last match in Cassell Coliseum, a venue he has never lost in.
Duke sits at 10-5 overall, 1-3 in the ACC after dropping a tough, one-point decision to North Carolina Wednesday night. The Blue Devils are led by All-American and seventh-ranked Conner Hartmann at 197 pounds, the only ranked wrestler for the squad.
The Hokies lead the series with Duke 24-12-1 that dates back to 1927. Tech has won the past 10 duals with the Blue Devils, including a 33-4 win last season down in Durham in which Tech won nine of 10 bouts. Virginia Tech’s last loss to Duke came on Jan. 11, 1999 in Blacksburg, a 23-21 setback.
For the Hokies, Saturday’s match will be the fourth of five ACC dual matches. They’ll take on North Carolina on the road next weekend to wrap up their ACC schedule. With a recognized ACC dual meet team title being handed out again this season, every dual meet carries more significance. Sitting at 3-0 in the conference with Virginia and Pitt both at 2-2, the Hokies can clinch the dual meet title Saturday. It would be the 19th ACC title for Virginia Tech since joining the conference in 2004, the third for wrestling, but the first dual meet title as the other two were tournament titles.
Virginia Tech has won 31 of its last 34 ACC dual matches dating back to Feb. 16. 2008. Pittsburgh, in its first year in the league, won the inaugural ACC dual meet title last season, although the Hokies have won the past two tournament titles.
The match will be broadcast on HokiesXtra, which is free. Fans who can’t make the match can watch it on their computer, tablet or smartphone. Live stats will also be available through TrackWrestling.
Below are the probables for both teams, as submitted by the respective coaching staff:
#9 Virginia Tech (12-2, 3-0 ACC)
125: #4 Joey Dance (22-2)
133: #17 Kevin Norstrem (16-9)
141: #3 Devin Carter (22-2)
149: #10 Sal Mastriani (22-7) OR Brent Waterman (7-5)
157: #5 Nick Brascetta (4-0)
165: Chad Strube (8-10)
174: #7 Zach Epperly (15-5)
184: Austin Gabel (13-10) OR Tae Leary (3-6)
197: Jared Haught (13-13)
285: #8 Ty Walz (19-6)
Duke (10-5, 1-3 ACC)
125: Thayer Atkins (4-11)
133: Mitch Finesilver (7-4)
141: Evan Botwin (16-10)
149: Marcus Cain (15-6)
157: Immanuel Kerr-Brown (19-7)
165: Brian Dorsey (16-8)
174: Trey Adamson (12-7) OR Randy Roden (5-3)
184: Jacob Kasper (22-7)
197: #7 Conner Hartmann (15-2)
285: Brendan Walsh (9-13)