Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The No. 6 Virginia Tech wrestling team kicked off its 2016-2017 season at Cassell Coliseum on Saturday with two victories over Edinboro and VMI. The Hokies topped the Fighting Scots, 24-13, before defeating the Keydets, 39-6.
Seven Hokies went 2-0 on the day while two other grapplers went 1-1 between the two dual meets.
“Well today was a start, but far from a great start,” head coach Kevin Dresser. “We have a lot of work to do. We need to have a great week at practice, not a good week. We need a lot of these guys to buy in all the way, not just 80 percent of the way.”
Tech opened the day against Edinboro, winning three of ten matchups in a highly physical dual meet. The Hokies came out on top for two of the three ranked matchups including a thrilling bout at 149 between No. 10 Patricio Lugo of Edinboro and No. 7 Solomon Chishko. Chishko recorded a takedown with the clock expiring in the third period and registered another in the sudden-death overtime period to win 7-5.
Senior Sal Mastriani, who trailed 9-2 at the end of the first period against Chase Dlande at 157, followed Chishko’s win with a comeback 15-10 victory, putting Tech ahead 13-4 in the match. Edinboro pulled within 13-7 after taking the bout at 165 but the heart of the Hokies lineup featuring All-Americans Zach Epperly at 174, Zack Zavatasky at 184 and Jared Haught at 197 all produced victories to give the Hokies a 24-13 win.
Three technical falls, two falls, and four regular decisions led to the 39-6 victory over VMI.
Dennis Gustafson (141), Chishko and Mastriani all walked away with second-period technical falls. Zavatsky and Haught had back-to-back pins, giving the Hokies a 39-0 lead before forfeiting the heavyweight match. The pin for Zavatsky came at 1:30 in the first period while Haught picked up a fall in 3:26.
The Hokies will next take the stage at the Moss Arts Center against Chattanooga next Sunday, November 13, at 1 p.m. A limited number of tickets are still available and can be purchased online at HokieSports.com.
No. 6 VIRGINA TECH 24, EDINBORO 13
125: No. 3 Joey Dance (VT) dec. No. 18 Sean Russell, 3-1
133: Korbin Myers (ED) maj dec. Dom Latona, 15-2
141: Dennis Gustafson (VT) maj dec. Nate Hagan, 12-3
149: No. 7 Solomon Chishko (VT) dec. No. 10 Pat Lugo, 7-5 (OT)
157: Sal Mastriani (VT) dec. Chase Delande, 15-10
165: No. 9 Austin Matthews (ED) dec. Mike Ciavarro, 13-6
174: No. 2 Zach Epperly (VT) maj dec. Ty Schoffstall, 17-9
184: No. 10 Zack Zavatsky (VT) dec. Dakota Greer, 9-4
197: No. 3 Jared Haught (VT) maj dec. Shawn Reynolds, 14-3
HWT: Billy Miller (ED) won by forfeit
No. 6 VIRGINIA TECH 39, VMI 6
125: No. 3 Joey Dance (VT) dec. Dalton Henderson, 7-1
133: Dom Latona (VT) dec. Hunter Starner, 7-6
141: Dennis Gustafson (VT) tech fall John Reed, 16-1 (4:20)
149: No. 7 Solomon Chishko (VT) tech fall Stevan Smith, 23-3 (4:22)
157: Sal Mastriani (VT) tech fall Alex Rinehart, 18-2 (4:08)
165: Mike Ciavarro dec. Cade Kiely, 9-4
174: No. 2 Zach Epperly (VT) dec. Shabaka Jones, 11-6
184: No. 10 Zack Zavatsky (VT) fall Chris Beck (1:30)
197: No. 3 Jared Haught (VT) fall Taylor Thomas (3:26)
HWT: Sam Bouis (VMI) won by forfeit