Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The fifth-ranked Virginia Tech wrestling team used eight bonus points, including six from its last four grapplers in the upperweights, to topple in-state rival Virginia in front of 2,151 at Cassell Coliseum on Sunday evening.
Trailing 15-14 entering the bout at 174 pounds, the Hokies (13-1, 3-0 ACC) saw three major decisions and a fall at 197 pounds from redshirt junior Jared Haught that helped lift them over the Cavaliers (8-4, 0-1 ACC)
"We had some great performances today,” head coach Kevin Dresser said. “I felt like we separated ourselves in many weight classes but now we need to focus on next Friday night at Lehigh. It will be a fun one with two top 10 teams going against each other in hostile environment."
Senior Joey Dance used four back points in the third period to clinch an 11-3 major decision at 125 pounds before redshirt junior Dennis Gustafson racked up 3:18 of riding time that locked up his major decision at 133. The Hokies held an early 8-0 lead but Tech forfeited 141 and the Hoos registered a major decision at 149 that gave them a 10-8 lead.
That set the stage for an intense bout between two ranked wrestlers at 157. With the score tied at 3-3 in the first, No. 16 Sal Mastriani used a late takedown that was confirmed after a review to jump ahead 5-3. Mastriani chose bottom to start the second and picked up a two-point reversal to extend his lead to 7-3. No. 14 Andrew Atkinson then scored the next four points that tied the score up at 7-7 in the third but a takedown from Mastriani was followed by an escape and made it 9-7. Despite locking in riding time, Mastriani came away with a 9-8 decision that put the Hokies back in front, 11-10.
UVA regained the lead with a major decision from Ray Bethea at 165, 14-11, but the vaunted upper half of the Tech lineup showed why they’re among the nation’s best. Three takedowns in the final period and 2:45 of RT gave redshirt junior Zach Epperly a 13-5 major decision at 174 and redshirt sophomore Zack Zavatsky followed with a convincing 10-2 major decision at 184 pounds.
With the Hokies’ lead up to 19-14, redshirt junior Jared Haught registered eight takedowns and secured a fall at 6:43 that extended the Tech lead to 25-14. Redshirt senior Ty Walz scored at will at heavyweight, racking up 10 takedowns en route to a 29-14 major decision.
The Hokies hit the road to take on No. 7 Lehigh on Friday, Jan. 27, at 7 p.m. before coming back to Blacksburg for a 4 p.m. dual against Duke on Sunday, Jan. 29, at the Moss Arts Center. Tickets for the dual on Jan. 29 are still available and can be purchased through the Moss Arts Center ticket office.
No. 5 Hokies 29, Virginia 14
125: No. 2 Joey Dance (VT) over No. 7 Jack Mueller (MD 11-3)
133: Dennis Gustafson (VT) over Will Mason (UVA) (MD 8-0; 3:18 RT)
141: No. 7 George DiCamillo (UVA) over VT (For.)
149: Sam Krivus (UVA) over Mattheos Lozier (MD 11-3)
157: No. 16 Sal Mastriani (VT) over No. 14 Andrew Atkinson (UVA) (Dec 9-8)
165: Ray Bethea (UVA) over David Bergida (VT) (MD 14-4)
174: No. 2 Zach Epperly (VT) over Garrett Peppelman (UVA) (MD 10-3)
184: No. 4 Zack Zavatsky (VT) over Will Schany (UVA) (MD 13-5; 2:45 RT)
197: No. 3 Jared Haught (VT) over Chance McClure (UVA) (Fall 6:43)
285: No. 3 Ty Walz (VT) over Tyler Love (UVA) (MD 22-8)