Hokie ClubAnn Arbor, MI. – The Virginia Tech wrestling team closed out its dual meet season dismantling eighth-ranked Michigan, 24-11, as part of the 2016 National Duals Championship Series.
The dual started with a dramatic double overtime win at the 125-weight class. No. 3 Joey Dance came out on top with an 11-9 decision over No. 20 Conor Youtsey after his second round sudden victory takedown.
Decisions from Solomon Chishko, Nick Brascetta, Jared Haught, and Ty Walz kept the momentum going throughout the dual.
David McFadden and Zach Epperly both came up big with back-to-back bonus points for the Hokies. An 11-3 major decision at 165 and a 20-5 technical fall at 174 put nine team points up on the board for the Hokies moving into the final bouts of the day.
No. 7 Jared Haught locked in the dual for the Hokies yet again after an exciting 5-1 decision over No. 6. Tied at one throughout the entire matchup, Haught got a late takedown followed by two near fall points to take a 5-1 lead in the last ten seconds of the match.
No. 3 Ty Walz and No. 4 Adam Coon met for the third time in two seasons, with Walz picking up a 3-2 decision to end the dual.
The Hokies will return to action on Sunday, March 6, when the team heads to Charlottesville for the 2016 ACC Championships. Tickets are available for sale here and fans can watch all the action live on ESPN3.
Dresser Sounds Off
“We came out flat today until Nick Brascetta hit the mat at 157. He ignited the team and we rolled from there! I’m so proud of this staff and this team. We have been on the road for the past four weekends in front of a lot of crowds cheering against us and we ran the table. I love this team and their fight! We are excited for the postseason!”
Hokie Highlights
· The Hokies finish the regular season with five consecutive undefeated weekends dating back to mid January
· Tech closes the season on a nine-dual win streak, with five victories over ranked opponents: then-No. 15 UNC, then-No. 18 UVA, then-No. 17 Pitt, then-No. 3 NC State and #8 Michigan
· No. 3 Joey Dance avenged a 2015 season-ending loss to No. 20 Conor Youtsey today with a dramatic 11-9 sudden victory overtime decision
· No. 3 Ty Walz moves to 3-0 against No. 4 Adam Coon with today’s decision, his second this season after opening the year with a 9-3 win at the NWCA All-Star Classic
#5 Virginia Tech 24, #8 Michigan 11
125: No. 3 Joey Dance dec. No. 20 Conor Youtsey, 11-9 (SVOT)
133: No. 18 Rossi Bruno dec, Dennis Gustafson, 5-1
141: No. 8 Solomon Chishko dec. George Fisher, 6-5
149: No. 6 Alec Pantaleo tech. fall Sal Mastriani , 19-4
157: No. 5 Nick Brascetta dec. No. 13 Brian Murphy, 4-3
165: No. 11 David McFadden maj. dec. Jordan Amine 11-3
174: No. 3 Zach Epperly tech. fall Aaron Calderon, 20-5
184: No. 2 Domenic Abounader dec. No. 5 Zack Zavatsky, 5-3 (TB1)
197: No. 7 Jared Haught dec. No. 6 Max Huntley 5-1
HWT: No. 3 Ty Walz dec. No. 4 Adam Coon, 3-2