Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – No. 9 Virginia Tech (12-2, 2-0 ACC) will close out the 2017-18 home schedule with a nationally ranked dual against No. 25 North Carolina (8-8, 2-0 ACC) at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 3, at Carilion Clinic Court. It will also be the last home match for seniors Dennis Gustafson and Jared Haught.
Fans and students will receive a black VT tank or a Virginia Tech wrestling t-shirt while supplies last and Student Hokie Club will be handing out free pizza to students as part of Student Appreciation Night. Admission is free. The match can also be seen on WatchESPN via ACC Network EXTRA.
Between the Hokie and Tar Heel coaching staffs, Saturday will see six current or former USA Wrestling National Team members on the bench in Hokie assistants Jared Frayer, Frank Molinaro and Tyler Graff along with UNC head coach Coleman Scott and assistants Bryce Hasseman and Tony Ramos. Scott and Frayer were Olympic teammates at the 2012 games in London where Scott wrestled at 60 kg and Frayer competed at 66 kg.
SENIOR NIGHT FOR GUS AND JARED
- Two ACC champions and NCAA qualifiers will be competing in their final home dual on Saturday as Dennis Gustafson and Jared Haught look to win their last matches in Cassell Coliseum.
- Gustafson broke onto the scene as a true freshman where he won the ACC title at 133 pounds. He has been ranked nationally at 133 this whole season and has a career record of 74-37 entering this weekend.
- Haught is a three-time NCAA qualifier, a two-time All-American and last year’s ACC champion at 197 pounds. He’s currently ranked second nationally in his weight class.
BLEES STAYS HOT VS. LEHIGH, DUKE
- After another strong weekend that saw him pick up two bonus point wins at 149 pounds, Ryan Blees was named Co-ACC Wrestler of the Week.
- Blees scored a major decision (14-8) over Jonathan Mele of Lehigh and registered a tech fall over Duke’s Brandon Leynaud (20-2, 6:03) for five team points in the Hokies’ 24-19 win over the Blue Devils.
- Blees has won 13 of his last 14 matches since dropping down a weight class
RANKED BOUTS – VIRGINIA TECH VS. UNC
149: #17 Solomon Chishko vs. #6 Troy Heilmann
184: #8 Zack Zavatsky vs. #17 Chip Ness
197: #2 Jared Haught vs. #16 Daniel Chaid
285: #17 Andrew Dunn vs. #18 Cory Daniel
SELECT HOKIES HEAD TO EDINBORO
- 10 Hokies will travel to the Northwestern Pennsylvania this weekend to compete in the Edinboro Open, the last open tournament of the season.
Brendan Grammes, 149
Cody Hughes, 174
Andrew Mehrholz, 149
Jeffrey Allen, 285 (UA)
John Borst, 197 (UA)
Caden Darber, 141 (UA)
Dominic Latona 133, (UA)
Mekhi Lewis, 165 (UA)
Brendan Ryan, 141 (UA)