No. 12 Virginia Tech set for ACC showdown with No. 13 Pitt in CassellNo. 12 Virginia Tech set for ACC showdown with No. 13 Pitt in Cassell
Wrestling

No. 12 Virginia Tech set for ACC showdown with No. 13 Pitt in Cassell

Opens in a new window VT NOTES - PITT & LEHIGH

No. 12 Virginia Tech vs. No. 13 Pitt
Date: Jan. 25
Match Time: 7:30 p.m.
Stream: ACC Network Extra (WatchESPN)
Live Updates: @HokiesWrestling
 
No. 12 Virginia Tech at No. 24 Lehigh
Date: Jan. 27
Match Time: 2 p.m.
Stream: Patriot League Network (WatchStadium.com)
Live Updates: @HokiesWrestling
 
HOKIES SET FOR BIG WEEKEND

  • No. 12 Virginia Tech's first match in Cassell Coliseum in 2019 will have big ACC implications as the Hokies welcome No. 13 Pitt to Blacksburg for a 7:30 p.m. match on Jan. 25.
  • Tech will then travel to Bethlehem, Pa., where they will face No. 24 Lehigh on Sunday at 2 p.m.
  • The Hokies (5-2) are winners of their last five matches after dropping their first two dual meets of the season at then seventh-ranked Missouri and 25th-ranked Northwestern.
  • It'll be Corps of Cadets Appreciation Night inside Cassell Coliseum and the Hokies will honor the Corps by wearing their Red, White and Blue singlets.
  • There's expected to be four ranked matchups on Friday night:

    133 – #14 Korbin Myers vs. #2 Micky Phillippi (Pitt)
    157 – #17* B.C. LaPrade vs. #11 Taleb Rahmani (Pitt)
    184 – #8 Zack Zavatsky vs. #12 Nino Bonaccorsi (Pitt)
    285 – #18 Billy Miller vs. #13 Demetrius Thomas (Pitt)

    *FloWrestling ranking, all others Intermat rankings

SHORT TIME – PITT

  • The Panthers lead the all-time series against Virginia Tech, 11-4, but the Hokies have won the last four meetings.
  • Tech toppled Pitt last year in Fitzgerald Fieldhouse, 31-6, by winning eight of 10 bouts with bonus point wins by Zack Zavatsky, Jared Haught, Hunter Bolen and a win by fall at 125 by Kyle Norstrem.
  • Pitt head coach Keith Gavin, a two-time NCAA finalist and 2008 national champion at 174 pounds for the Panthers, is in his second season leading his alma mater.
  • Pitt is coming off of its first dual meet loss of the season at the hands of No. 3 Oklahoma State, 36-9.
  • Despite the loss, Pitt's 133-pounder, second-ranked Micky Phillippi, upset then No. 2 Daton Fix in a 3-1 decision.
  • Along with Phillippi, the Panthers have wrestlers at four weight classes with No. 11 Taleb Rahmani at 157, No. 12 Nino Bonaccorsi at 184 and No. 13 Demetrius Thomas at heavyweight being the others.

SHORT TIME – LEHIGH

  • Virginia Tech is 3-2 all-time against the Mountain Hawks after breaking a tie in the series last year with a 20-17 victory on Jan. 26, 2018 in Cassell.
  • Lehigh cracked the NWCA Coaches Poll this week at No. 24 after a tough early part of the season where they dealt with injuries to multiple starters.
  • The Mountain Hawks have five ranked wrestlers: No. 18 Josh Humphreys at 157, No. 7 Jordan Kutler at 174, No. 7 Ryan Preisch at 184, No. 18 Jake Jakobsen at 197 and No. 7 Jordan Wood at 285.

Probable Starters
125: Kyle Norstrem (R-So. / 4-5) or Joey Prata (R-So. / 7-9)
133: #14 Korbin Myers (R-Jr. / 11-4)
141: Mitch Moore (Fr. / 12-3)
149: Ryan Blees (R-Sr. / 10-9)
157: B.C. LaPrade (R-So. / 11-4)
165: #8 Mekhi Lewis (R-Fr. / 14-2)
174: #6 David McFadden (R-Jr. / 10-1)
184: #8 Zack Zavatsky (R-Sr. / 16-2)
197: #7 Tom Sleigh (R-Sr. / 15-4)
285: #18 Billy Miller (R-Sr. / 9-3)