Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The No. 6 Virginia Tech wrestling team improved to 3-0 on the season after topping No. 24 Chattanooga, 29-6, in front of a sold out crowd at the Moss Arts Center on Sunday afternoon.
The Hokies are now 6-0 all-time at Moss and are 4-0 against ranked teams. Senior Sal Mastriani’s picked up a key tech fall at 157 and senior heavyweight Ty Walz, ranked No. 3 in his weight class, picked up a 13-7 over No. 11 Jared Johnson.
“Overall we were a little better this weekend,” head coach Kevin Dresser said. “I still know we can dominate much more across the board. We have to focus on the upcoming weekend now because we have a great test ahead with UNI and Mizzou. We will find out a lot more about ourselves a week from now. All exciting stuff.”
Senior Joey Dance got the match started off with a major decision at 125, 18-5, to give the Hokies an early 4-0 lead. The Mocs followed with a decision at 133 that made it 4-3 but Dennis Gustafson made it 7-3 with an 8-4 decision at 141.
Up 7-1 heading into the third period, junior Solomon Chishko used two takedowns, a reversal, a penalty and riding time to pick up the major decision, 15-3. Mastriani followed with his tech fall in 5:45 at 157 to extend Tech’s advantage in the match to 16-3.
The heart of the Hokies lineup would go to put the Mocs away as No. 2 Zach Epperly, No. 10 Zack Zavatsky, No. 3 Jared Haught and No. 3 Ty Walz all won their matches.
Tech will next face a tough road swing as they first take on No. 23 Northern Iowa at 8 p.m. on Nov. 18 before traveling to No. 5 Missouri for a 2 p.m. match on Nov. 20.
No. 6 VIRGINA TECH 29, No. 24 Chattanooga 6
125: No. 3 Joey Dance (VT) maj dec. Alonzo Allen, 18-5
133: Chris Debien (UTC) dec. Dom Latona, 10-5
141: Dennis Gustafson (VT) dec. Roman Boylen, 8-4
149: No. 6 Solomon Chishko (VT) maj dec. Dylanger Potter, 15-3
157: Sal Mastriani (VT) tech fall Trey Watson, 5:45
165: Justin Lampe (UTC) dec. Mike Ciavarro, 3-1
174: No. 2 Zach Epperly (VT) maj dec. Sean Mappes, 14-6
184: No. 10 Zack Zavatsky (VT) dec. Bryce Carr, 2-1
197: No. 3 Jared Haught (VT) dec. Clay Dent, 6-1
HWT: No. 3 Ty Walz (VT) dec. No. 11 Jared Johnson, 13-7