Hokie ClubPRINCETON, N.J. - Sparked by senior David Bergida’s major decision at 165 pounds, the Virginia Tech wrestling team won five-consecutive bouts in the upperweights as the No. 6 Hokies topped Princeton, 30-11, in Dillon Gymnasium on Friday evening.
The Tigers fall to 4-5 overall while Tech improves to 6-1 on the season. North Carolina awaits the Hokies in Chapel Hill for their ACC opener at 6:30 on Sunday.
Clinging onto a 2-1 lead at the start of the second period, Bergida allowed Princeton’s Joe Tavaso to escape but registered a takedown that put made his advantage 4-2. It was only a two-point cushion but it was all Bergida needed as 3:50 of riding time pushed his winning margin to 12-2.
Redshirt junior Zach Epperly followed with an MD of his own that broke an 11-11 tie in the match and put the Hokies ahead, 15-11. Another major from redshirt sophomore Zack Zavatsky paved the way for a pin from redshirt junior Jared Haught, who trailed 4-3 late in the second period, at 4:50. Senior Ty Walz was given a scare early on at heavyweight where he trailed 6-4 to No. 20 Ray O’Donnell but he finished him off with an impressive 27-11 win.
No. 2 Joey Dance started the off the match with his second major decision of the season at 125 that gave Tech an early 4-0 lead. The Tigers picked up wins at 133 and 141 but No. 7 Solomon Chishko stopped the bleeding with a workman like 27-12 tech fall at 7:00. A victory at 157 for Princeton’s Mike DiAngelo put the Tigers in front, 11-7, heading into intermission before Bergida’s MD at 165 sparked the rally.
Sunday’s ACC dual at 6:30 p.m. between the Tar Heels and Hokies will be streamed live on the WatchESPN platform. Tomorrow Franklin & Marshall Open gets underway tomorrow at 9 a.m. with live stats shown on Track Wrestling.
No. 6 Virginia Tech 30, Princeton 11
125: No. 2 Joey Dance MD Matteo DeVincenzo, 10-2
133: Pat Darcy dec. Dominic Latona, 6-3
141: Matthew Kolodzik TF Brendan Ryan, 27-12 (7:00)
149: No. 7 Solomon Chishko dec. No. 17 Jordan Laster, 9-3
157: Mike DiAngelo dec. Ryan Blees, 4-0
165: David Bergida MD Joe Tavoso, 12-2
174: No. 2 Zach Epperly MD No. 17 Jonathan Schleifer, 12-4
184: No. 4 Zack Zavatsky MD Ian Baker, 10-2
197: No. 3 Jared Haught FALL No. 12 Brett Harner (4:50)
HWT: No. 3 Ty Walz TF Ray O'Donnell, 27-11 (6:26)