Hokies snap skid against UNC, beat Tar Heels 23-9Hokies snap skid against UNC, beat Tar Heels 23-9
Wrestling

Hokies snap skid against UNC, beat Tar Heels 23-9


CHAPEL HILL, N.C. – Fresh off a 42-3 win in Durham Friday night, Virginia Tech wrestling made it two in a row with a 23-9 win over North Carolina Saturday afternoon, stopping a two-match losing streak against the Tar Heels.
 
The No. 8 Hokies (7-0, 3-0 ACC) led the No. 14 Tar Heels (2-2, 1-2 ACC) 11-6 after five matches, but then blew the dual open, winning the last four of five, including a top-10 upset win for Dakota Howard at 174 pounds. Tech passed its first ranked test of the season after going 5-3 against ranked opponents a season ago.
 
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

  • Just like in the dual last week vs. Virginia, No. 10 Sam Latona and No. 8 Korbin Myers kicked off the dual with back-to-back bonus-point wins at 125 and 133 pounds, respectively. Latona got an 18-7 major decision over Will Guida, while Myers took down No. 11 Jaime Hernandez 11-2. Myers now has major decisions over the 11th and 12th ranked 133-pound wrestlers.
  • With Tech holding on to a slim 8-6 lead, Connor Brady added three points with a 6-1 decision over Josh McClure to give the Hokies breathing room heading into the intermission. Leading 3-1 in the third, Brady was able to secure a takedown and hang on for the riding time point to improve to 4-3 on the season.
  • No. 1 Mekhi Lewis kept his collegiate winning streak alive Saturday against No. 8 Kennedy Monday, coming away with a 4-3 decision that went down to the wire. Lewis, up 3-1, gave up a late takedown but was able to escape and hold off Monday to come away with three more team points. Lewis has now won 26 straight matches.
  • Dakota Howard could not have picked a better time for his first win of the season. Matched up with the No. 9 174-pounder in the country in Devin Kane, Howard pulled off the biggest win of his career with an 8-7 decision. The redshirt sophomore was able to score a takedown off a scramble late in the third period and hang on for the top-10 upset.
  • After taking a forfeit win Friday night, No. 2 Hunter Bolen returned to action Saturday and defeated No. 15 Clay Lautt in an 8-3 decision. The redshirt junior added his first ranked win of the season to his resume which includes a 6-0 season record. Bolen has now outscored his opponents 24-0, registering two bonus-point wins.

 
BOX SCORE
#8 Virginia Tech 23, #14 North Carolina 9
125: #10 Sam Latona (VT) MD Will Guida (UNC), 18-7
133: #8 Korbin Myers (VT) MD #11 Jaime Hernandez (UNC), 11-2
141: #10 Zach Sherman (UNC) dec. Sam Hillegas (VT), 12-6 (SV-1)
149: #1 Austin O'Connor (UNC) dec. #12 Bryce Andonian (VT), 11-4
157: Connor Brady (VT) dec. Josh McClure (UNC), 6-1
165: #1 Mekhi Lewis (VT) dec. #8 Kennedy Monday (UNC), 4-3
174: Dakota Howard (VT) dec. #9 Devin Kane (UNC), 8-7
184: #2 Hunter Bolen (VT) dec. #15 Clay Lautt (UNC), 8-3
197: Max Shaw (UNC) dec. Andy Smith (VT), 9-5
285: #15 John Borst (VT) dec. Andrew Gunning (UNC), 3-1
 
Extra Matches
141: Collin Gerardi (VT) MD Joseph Heilmann (UNC), 9-0
157: Clayton Ulrey (VT) MD William MacDonald (UNC), 15-4
174: Gavin Kane (UNC) dec. Sam Fisher (VT), 8-2
197: Stan Smeltzer (VT) dec. Mark Chaid (UNC), 8-2
285: Hunter Catka (VT) dec. Brandon Whitman (UNC), 4-3
 
UP NEXT
After back-to-back ACC wins in North Carolina, Virginia Tech returns home for a dual with No. 3 NC State at 8 p.m. on the ACC Network. The Hokies and Wolfpack are the only undefeated teams left in the ACC.