CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – After wrapping up the non-conference schedule last weekend with a perfect 4-0 record, Virginia Tech wrestling opens the ACC season with North Carolina Friday night at 6 p.m. on ACC Network.
The No. 8 Hokies (4-0, 0-0 ACC) get their first ranked test as the Tar Heels (1-0, 0-0 ACC) come into Friday night's dual as the No. 13 team in the country.
HOKIES VS. TAR HEELS
• Friday night's dual will be the 73rd meeting between Virginia Tech and North Carolina on the mat, with the Hokies leading the series 39-31-2. Friday is the ACC opener for both teams.
• The eighth-ranked Hokies travel to Chapel Hill with six wrestlers in InterMat's rankings, including 165-pound No. 1 Mekhi Lewis and 184-pound No. 2 Hunter Bolen. No. 8 Korbin Myers, No. 12 Bryce Andonian, No. 12 Sam Latona and No. 14 John Borst round out the rankings.
• Last season, the teams met in Blacksburg with the Tar Heels coming away with a 23-10 upset victory. Last time the dual took place in North Carolina, UNC won 18-14.
• Tech last beat North Carolina was Feb. 3, 2018, taking a 21-9 win in Blacksburg. The Hokies last win in Chapel Hill came on Jan. 8, 2017, winning 28-8.
• Last week, Tech won all three duals at the quad meet in Morgantown, W. Va., beating Ohio, Kent St. and West Virginia in succession. Latona won the only ranked matchup of the day against then-No. 12 Killian Cardinale of WVU.
LATONA EARNS HONOR
• After a 3-0 Sunday at the West Virginia quad, redshirt freshman Sam Latona was named ACC Wrestler of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.
• Latona won his first match by forfeit and his second via a 10-2 major decision vs. Kent St. The Alabaster, Ala. native's big win of the day came vs. West Virginia, when he defeated then-No. 12 Killian Cardinale in a 3-2 decision.
• The 125-pounder is ranked No. 12 in the country this week in InterMat's list. Latona is 4-0 on the season with all four wins in dual action.
• This season is Latona's first competing attached for the Hokies after an impressive 20-2 redshirt year during the 2019-20 campaign.
KEY MATCHUPS
• The Hokies and Tar Heels both have six ranked wrestlers according to InterMat, leading to four potential ranked matchups Friday night. The weight classes to watch are 133 pounds, 149 pounds, 165 pounds and 184 pounds.
• At 133, Tech's No. 8 Korbin Myers will see No. 12 Jaime Hernandez. Myers, a graduate student, is 3-0 this season, all three decision wins coming in duals.
• No. 12 Bryce Andonian will face off with No. 1 Austin O'Connor for the third time of his young career in a rematch of the 2020 ACC 149-pound Championship. O'Connor has won both meetings by decision.
• After missing last season's dual vs. the Tar Heels due to his Olympic redshirt, No. 1 Mekhi Lewis sees No. 11 Kennedy Monday at 165 pounds. Lewis is 4-0 on the season, earning bonus points in each victory.
• Finally, No. 2 Hunter Bolen may see No. 17 Clay Lautt at 184 pounds. Bolen is 3-0 on the season and had a technical fall and major decision in the quad at West Virginia.
UNDEFEATED HOKIES
• Tech has 11 undefeated wrestlers competing in at least two matches this season, led by Sam Hillegas, Sam Latona and Mekhi Lewis, who are each 4-0. Latona is the only Hokie who is 4-0 in dual action.
