BLACKSBURG – An evenly matched dual on paper turned into a dominant performance for No. 9 Virginia Tech as the Hokies (3-0) defeated No. 17 Central Michigan (1-1), 26-6, on Carilion Clinic Court at Cassell Coliseum on Sunday night.
Tech claimed eight of the 10 bouts and its two losses came by decision. No. 5 David McFadden and No. 2 Jared Haught both picked up bonus point victories at 165 and 197 pounds, respectively.
Redshirt freshman Kyle Norstrem and redshirt senior Dennis Gustafson started the Hokies off with victories for the second consecutive match, putting Tech out in 6-0 early. The Chippewas got on the board with a decision at 141 pounds that cut their deficit to three, 6-3.
A top 10 bout followed at 149 pounds where No. 5 Justin Oliver looked to avenge a loss to No. 7 Solomon Chishko suffered at last season’s NCAA Championships. With the score tied at 1-1 in the waning seconds of the third period, Chishko grabbed a double leg with less than 10 seconds left and appeared to register a takedown. Virginia Tech challenged the no-call and the ruling was reversed, giving Chishko the 3-1 decision. It marked Chishko’s first win over a common top 10 foe this season.
Making his second consecutive start at 157 pounds, redshirt freshman B.C. LaPrade pushed the pace and kept it close with No. 13 Collin Heffernan, a two-time NCAA qualifier, after two periods. LaPrade escaped early in the third that knotted up the score at 1-1 as the match went to sudden victory. LaPrade’s second shot in the extra period was defended well by Heffernan but the New Kent, Virginia native ducked under and scored the takedown to put the Hokies ahead 12-3 in the match
The next two matches went chalk before No. 7 Zack Zavatsky topped his second ranked opponent of the weekend after defeating No. 12 Jordan Ellingwood, 7-4, racking up 2:43 of riding time in the win. Redshirt freshman Andrew Dunn capped off the night with gritty 6-4 decision in sudden victory.
The Hokies will now turn their attention to their dual with No. 5 Missouri at the Moss Arts Center on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 6 p.m. Tickets be purchased by clicking on the link at the top of the page.
No. 9 Virginia Tech 26, No. 17 Central Michigan 6
125 : Norstrem dec. Hildebrandt, 6-1
133: #18 Gustafson dec. Simon, 8-4
141: #20 Smith dec. Moore, 6-0
149: #7 Chishko dec. #5 Oliver, 3-1
157: LaPrade dec. #13 Heffernan, 3-1 (SV)
165 #5 McFadden MD Parks, 12-4
174: #14 Brucki dec. Bolen, 6-4
184: #7 Zavatsky dec. #12 Ellingwood, 7-4
197: #2 Haught MD Atienza, 13-2
285: Dunn dec. Stencel, 6-4 (SV)
LEWIS WINS 165 POUND TITLE AT THE WOLFPACK OPEN
Freshman Mekhi Lewis ripped through the 165-pound bracket at the Wolfpack Open on Sunday where he went 5-0 and took home his second individual title of the season.
Lewis’ day saw him register two pins and a major decision. Redshirt sophomore Cody Hughes took second in the 174 pound bracket wrestling attached for the Hokies. Tech also saw freshman CJ Manley place fifth at 133, Dom Latona place fourth at 133, John Borst place sixth at 197 and Ronny Ghaida place fourth at 157.