Hokies handle another ranked opponent with 23-9 winHokies handle another ranked opponent with 23-9 win
Eldon Lindsay/Cornell Athletics
Wrestling

Hokies handle another ranked opponent with 23-9 win

ITHACA, N.Y. – Virginia Tech wrestling won their second dual in as many days with a 23-9 victory over No. 19 Cornell Sunday afternoon in New York.
 
With the win, the No. 3 Hokies improve to 8-0 on the season and 5-0 against ranked opponents. Only No. 1 Iowa and Virginia Tech hold records of at least 5-0 against top-25 opponents.
 
Tech sweeps the New York road trip after shutting out Binghamton 47-0 on Saturday.
 
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

  • No. 12 Joey Prata continues to pull out decision victories for the Hokies. Leading off the day, Prata defeated Dominic LaJoie 3-2 for his second decision win of the weekend. All six of Prata's dual wins this season have been by decision.
  • With the dual tied 6-6 at the time, No. 19 B.C. LaPrade took the mat and scored a major decision victory over Adam Santoro to put the Hokies up for good. The win was LaPrade's second straight major decision after he recorded an 8-0 victory Saturday.
  • No. 2 Hunter Bolen defeated No. 19 Jonathan Loew 7-2 to give the Hokies a 16-9 lead late in the dual. Bolen defeated a ranked opponent for the eighth time this season. He is an impressive 8-1 against InterMat ranked wrestlers this season.
  • Stanley Smeltzer clinched the dual for the Hokies with a 12-4 major decision over Jonathan Fagen, giving the Hokies a 20-9 lead. The win was Smeltzer's team-leading seventh major decision victory of the season. He also won by major decision Saturday.
  • No. 17 John Borst closed out the dual with a 6-0 win over Ben Furman. Borst has now won three straight matches to improve to 6-2 in duals this season.

 
BOX SCORE
#3 Virginia Tech 23, #19 Cornell 9
125: #12 Joey Prata (VT) dec. Dominic LaJoie (CU), 3-2
133: #4 Chas Tucker (CU) dec. Collin Gerardi (VT), 6-2
141: #18 Mitch Moore (VT) dec. Noah Baughman (CU), 6-0
149: Hunter Richard (CU) dec. Bryce Andonian (VT), 8-7
157: #19 B.C. LaPrade (VT) MD Adam Santoro (CU), 14-6
165: #3 David McFadden (VT) dec. Jake Brindley (CU), 12-6
174: Andrew Berreyesa (CU) dec. Cody Hughes (VT), 8-4
184: #2 Hunter Bolen (VT) dec. #19 Jonathan Loew (CU), 7-2
197: Stanley Smeltzer (VT) MD Jonathon Fagen (CU), 12-4
285: #17 John Borst (VT) dec. Ben Furman (CU), 6-0
 
UP NEXT
Virginia Tech turns its attention to the ACC opener against North Carolina Friday night at Cassell Coliseum. UNC, ranked No. 13 in the latest NWCA Coaches Poll, will be the sixth ranked opponent for the Hokies this season. Friday night's dual is scheduled for 7 p.m. and can be seen on the ACC Network.Gallery: (1/19/2020) 2020 WRESTLING at CORNELL