Hokie ClubCHAPEL HILL, N.C. - The ninth-ranked Virginia Tech wrestling squad wrapped up its regular season with a 21-12 win over the University of North Carolina Friday evening inside Fetzer Gymnasium. The Hokies won six of the 10 bouts, but Joey Dance’s pin in the first match gave them breathing room to pull away for the win.
Dance, ranked fourth in the country at 125 pounds, was in control over Cody Karns when he flipped him to his back in the third period, pinning Karns at the 5:27 mark. Kevin Norstrem, ranked 19th, gave up a takedown late to fall to UNC’s Troy Heilmann 5-4 at 133 pounds.
In a big matchup at 141 pounds, third-ranked Devin Carter pulled away late with a takedown and riding time to beat 19th-ranked Joey Ward 7-4. Ninth-ranked Sal Mastriani, in his first match back in two weeks, gave up a takedown and riding time to fall to Christian Barber at 149 pounds, 5-3. Fifth-ranked Nick Brascetta rolled to a 7-2 win over former Tech wrestler Chris Mears at 157 pounds to give the Hokies12-6 lead at the halfway point.
At 165 pounds, unranked Chad Strube rode No. 12 Ethan Ramos the entire second period, but was assessed a penalty point for a technical violation while on top and was dinged for two stall warnings before Ramos got the takedown to seal the 4-2 win with 12 seconds left. Zach Epperly, ranked seventh at 174 pounds, couldn’t muster any offensive points against John Michael Staudenmayer at 174 pounds, but rode Staudenmayer for nearly 90 seconds in the period and made that hold up in a 2-1 win. Tae Leary, making his debut at 184 pounds for Austin Gabel, fell to Scott Marmoll 3-0 at 184 pounds to bring the Tar Heels within three, but Jared Haught and Ty Walz were impressive in the final two matches to seal the win.
Haught used four takedowns (three in the first period) to cruise past Chip Ness at 197 pounds and then eighth-ranked Ty Walz used a takedown, a reversal and riding time to beat Frank Abbondanza 5-2 at heavyweight to wrap things up.
"We have a lot of individual issues right now, and they are all different," said Tech head coach Kevin Dresser. "The good news is that they are all fixable. We need to step it upand take the bull by the horns going into ACCs. Lastly, a shout out to Coach Scot Thomas and the softball ladies for showing up to support our team this evening. We look forward to returning the favor on an 80-degree May afternoon."
Virginia Tech, the 2014-15 ACC Dual Meet Champions, has won 33 of its past 36 ACC dual meets after winning all five this season.
Tech was scheduled be back in action on Sunday at Hofstra in New York, but that match has been canceled due to weather and other considerations. The Hokies will now be back in action in two weeks as they begin postseason at the ACC Championships in Pittsburgh.
#9 Virginia Tech (14-2, 5-0 ACC) 21, North Carolina (14-5, 2-3 ACC) 12
125: #4 Joey Dance (VT) fall Cody Karns, 5:27
133: Troy Heilmann (NC) dec. #19 Kevin Norstrem, 5-4
141: #3 Devin Carter (VT) dec. #19 Joey Ward, 7-4
149: Christian Barber (NC) dec. #9 Sal Mastriani, 5-3
157: #5 Nick Brascetta (VT) dec. Chris Mears, 7-2
165: #12 Ethan Ramos (NC) dec. Chad Strube, 4-2
174: #7 Zach Epperly (VT) dec. John Michael Staudenmayer, 2-1
184: Scott Marmoll (NC) dec. Tae Leary, 3-0
197: Jared Haught (VT) dec. Chip Ness, 10-5
285: #8 Ty Walz (VT) dec. Frank Abbondanza, 5-2