Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - The fifth-ranked Hokies won the Hampton River pool on Friday, downing The Citadel and Bucknell to go undefeated on the first day of the 36th Virginia Duals.
Tech grapplers dominated The Citadel out the gate, winning eight bouts en route to a 34-9 victory. Joey Dance and Dennis Gustafson picked up back-to-back bonus victories, a technical fall and fall, respectively, to open competition. Solomon Chishko earned a 7-2 win and David McFadden picked up his fourth bonus victory of the season with a fall at 165 pounds. Entering the starting lineup for the first time, freshman Cody Hughes made himself known with a 13-2 victory at 174 pounds. Zack Zavatsky took down his opponent with a tech fall before Jared Haught won a hard-fought 3-2 battle. Ty Walz closed the first match of the day with an 8-3 victory, sealing the win for the Hokies.
In the second match of the day, Dance opened with a victory over #11 Paul Petrov, 3-1. Gustafson earned another victory in his return to the mat, 9-3, and Chishko fought for a 4-3 win that gave Tech wins in the first three weight classes against Bucknell. Jake Spengler earned his first win of the year, in a lopsided 11-6 battle. David McFadden (5-2), Zavatsky (3-1), Haught (4-2), and Walz (5-3), also came away victorious to exit the first day of the Virginia Duals unscathed.
Tech will be back in action on tomorrow, facing one of the other pool winners at 2:30 pm in the winner’s bracket.
Coach Dresser Sounds Off
“We got off to a pretty good start today but need to wrestle with much more energy tomorrow. I am excited to see if these guys respond to this challenge. We will have two good teams tomorrow!”
#HokieHits
· Seven Hokies picked up multiple wins on Friday: Dance, Gustafson, Chishko, McFadden, Zavatsky, Haught and Walz
· Walz has started his redshirt junior season 13-0, his best start in three seasons
· Dance picked up his team-best seventh major decision or better this year without surrendering a loss of the same kind
· Gustafson’s fall was his first action of 2015-16
· The Hokies have won back-to-back Virginia Duals titles and look to continue their streak as they move into the winners bracket tomorrow.
Results
vs The Citadel, 34-9
Joey Dance (Virginia Tech) vs Charles Kearney (The Citadel), TF
Dennis Gustafson (Virginia Tech) over Caleb Smith (The Citadel), Fall
Solomon Chishko (Virginia Tech) over Ty Buckiso (The Citadel), 7-2
Matt Frisch (The Citadel) over Chad Saunders (Virginia Tech), 4-2
Aaron Walker (The Citadel) over Justus Weaver (Virginia Tech), Fall
David McFadden (Virginia Tech) over Daniel Smith (The Citadel), Fall|
Cody Hughes (Virginia Tech) over Tim Knipl (The Citadel), 13-2
Zachary Zavatsky (Virginia Tech) over Sawyer Root (The Citadel), TF
Jared Haught (Virginia Tech) over Marshall Haas (The Citadel), 3-2
Ty Walz (Virginia Tech) over Joe Bexley (The Citadel), 8-3
vs Bucknell, 26-4
Joey Dance (Virginia Tech) over Paul Petrov (Bucknell), 3-1
Dennis Gustafson (Virginia Tech) over Grim Gonzalez (Bucknell), 9-3
Solomon Chishko (Virginia Tech) over Tyler Smith (Bucknell), 4-3
Victor Lopez (Bucknell) over Chad Saunders (Virginia Tech), 8-1
Jake Spengler (Virginia Tech) over (Bucknell), 11-6
David McFadden (Virginia Tech) over Robert Schlitt (Bucknell), 5-2
Rustin Barrick (Bucknell) over David Bergida (Virginia Tech), 6-3
Zachary Zavatsky (Virginia Tech) over Tom Sleight (Bucknell), 3-1
Jared Haught (Virginia Tech) over Tyler Greene (Bucknell), 4-2
Ty Walz (Virginia Tech) over Joe Stolfi (Bucknell), 5-3