Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The No. 6 Virginia Tech wrestling team will face its toughest tests thus far this season this weekend as the Hokies hit the road to face No. 22 Northern Iowa on Friday at 8 p.m. and No. 5 Missouri at 2 p.m. on Sunday.
Both matches will be streamed live on FloWrestling. Live updates can be found on Twitter at @VT_Wrestling.
The Hokies stayed put at No. 6 in the USA Today/NWCA coaches poll after topping No. 24 Chattanooga, 29-6, in front of a sold out crowd at the Moss Arts Center on Nov. 13. The win saw Sal Mastriani’s continued strong start to the season at 157 where he picked up a tech fall at 5:45. Zach Epperly put the match out of reach with a 14-6 major decision at 174 that put the match score 20-6.
Tech saw no movement in the individual rankings from with senior Joey Dance (No. 3, 125), sophomore Solomon Chishko (No. 6, 149) junior Epperly (No. 2, 174), junior Zack Zavatsky (No. 10, 184) and Jared Haught (No. 3, 197) all staying put.
STORYLINES
- Wrestling in his first dual match at heavyweight with the Hokies this season, senior Ty Walz picked up a 13-7 decision over No. 11 Jared Johnson of Chattanooga, helping him earn ACC Co-Wrestler of the Week honors.
- Walz missed the first weekend of the season while competing at the NWCA All-Star Classic in his native Cleveland.
- The Hokies lead the all-time series with the Panthers, 3-2, after taking the fifth meeting, 19-15, at the Moss Arts Center last season on Jan. 15.
- The only meeting ever between Tech and Mizzou came on Dec. 18, 2004 when the No. 13 Tigers pounced the Hokies, 33-6, at a neutral site in Columbus, Ohio.
LINEUP NOTES
- Sunday’s top six matchup between the Hokies and Tigers will feature four bouts between grapplers ranked in the top 20 of their weight classes.
- The bout at 125 between the Hokies and Panthers will feature the second and third ranked wrestlers in the weight class in Dylan Peter and Joey Dance.
- Sophomore Oklahoma State transfer Ryan Blees is listed as an option at 157 for head coach Kevin Dresser along with All-American sophomore David McFadden at 165.
PROJECTED LINEUPS
No. 6 Virginia Tech (3-0, 0-0 ACC)
125: No. 3 Joey Dance (3-0)
133: Dominic Latona (1-2)
141: Dennis Gustafson (3-0)
149: No. 6 Solomon Chishko (3-0)
157: Sal Mastriani (3-0) or Ryan Blees (0-0)
165: Mike Ciavarro (1-2) or David McFadden (0-0)
174: No. 2 Zach Epperly (3-0)
184: No. 10 Zack Zavatsky (3-0)
197: No. 3 Jared Haught (3-0)
285: No. 3 Ty Walz (1-0)
No. 22 Northern Iowa (2-0, 0-0 MAC)
125: No. 2 Dylan Peters (0-0) or Jay Schwarm (1-1)
133: No. 14 Josh Alber (2-0)
141: Jake Hodges (2-0) OR Jake Koethe (0-0)
149: No. 18 Max Thomsen (2-0)
157: Paden Moore (1-1) or No. 13 Bryce Steiert (1-0)
165: Isaiah Patton (1-0)
174: Taylor Lujan (2-0)
184: Drew Foster (2-0) or Jacob Holschlag (1-0)
197: Jared Bartel (0-1)
285: JJ Everard (2-0)
No. 5 Missouri (1-0, 1-0 MAC)
125: No. 5 Barlow McGhee (0-0) or Aaron Assad (0-0) or Chase Brennan (1-0)
133: No. 10 Jaydin Eierman (0-0) or John Erneste (1-0)
141: No. 5 Matt Manley (1-0) or Zach Synon (0-0)
149: No. 3 Lavion Mayes (1-0)
157: No. 6 Joey Lavallee (1-0)
165: No. 3 Daniel Lewis (1-0)
174: Dylan Wisman (1-0)
184: No. 11 Willie Miklus (0-1)
197: No. 1 J’den Cox (1-0)
285: Austin Myers (1-0)