GREENSBORO, N.C. – After going 2-0 last weekend with two key bonus point victories, Virginia Tech redshirt junior Ryan Blees has been named Co-ACC Wrestler of the Week with NC State’s Tariq Wilson, the conference announced Tuesday.
Blees, wrestling at 149 pounds from Bismarck, North Dakota, scored a major decision (14-8) over Jonathan Mele of Lehigh. The four-point bonus win helped lead the Hokies to a 20-17 win over the ninth-ranked Mountain Hawks last Friday night. He then recorded a technical fall over Duke’s Brandon Leynaud (20-2, 6:03) for five team points in the Hokies’ 24-19 win over the Blue Devils.
After starting the season at 157 pounds, Blees dropped to 149 and promptly took home an individual title at Franklin & Marshall Open in early January. Blees has won 13 of his last 14 matches since going down a weight class.
The Hokies’ final home match of the season is this Saturday at 6 p.m. against North Carolina. During the match, the program will honor seniors Dennis Gustafson and Jared Haught, who will be taking the mat in Cassell Coliseum for the final time.
It’ll also be Student Appreciation, Student Hokie Club and Hokies for Hokies Night at Cassell. While supplies last, students will be able to snag wrestling tanks and t-shirts and the Student Hokie Club will be giving away free pizza before the dual.