BLACKSBURG – The last two undefeated ACC wrestling teams will square off Friday night in Cassell Coliseum when Virginia Tech hosts NC State at 8 p.m. on the ACC Network.
To follow the public health guidelines and ensure the safety of Virginia Tech's student-athletes, staff and fans, wrestling will compete without fans in attendance until further notice. Only essential staff and family members of the student-athletes will be allowed in attendance.
Despite fans not being allowed in Cassell Coliseum Friday night, they can still show support for the team before the Hokies take on NC State. Using the link on the right-hand side of the page, fans can send a brief message of support which will be displayed for the wrestlers prior to the dual.
HOKIES VS. WOLFPACK
- Friday night will be the 64th meeting between the Hokies and Wolfpack on the mat. NC State leads the all-time series 35-27-1.
- The Hokies' last win over the Pack came in Blacksburg on Feb. 11, 2017. Tech has dropped the last three meetings by no more than four team points., however, it is 7-3 in its last 10 meetings vs. NC State.
- Tech is ranked No. 8 in the country by the NWCA Coaches Poll for the sixth straight time this season. No. 3 NC State is the Hokies largest test of the season. Tech 1-0 against ranked opponents this season after a 23-9 win over No. 14 North Carolina Saturday.
- The Hokies and Wolfpack have had two common opponents thus far, with both teams registering wins vs. Virginia and North Carolina.
KEY MATCHUPS
- The Hokies and Wolfpack combined have 15 ranked wrestlers, which should set up a night of ranked matchups at 125, 133, 165, 184 and 285 pounds.
- The marquee matchup of the dual should come at 184 pounds in a rematch of the 2020 ACC Championship between No. 2 Hunter Bolen and No. 4 Trent Hidlay. Bolen defeated Hidlay in both meetings last season, including a 2-1 decision in the ACC title match. With both wrestlers in the top-5 in the country, Friday night's 184-pound match could very well be a 2021 ACC Championship preview.
- Another potential top-10 matchup Friday night will be at 125 pounds between No. 8 Sam Latona and No. 4 Jakob Camacho. Latona is 6-0 this season and ranked in the top-10 this week for the first time in his career. The redshirt freshman is 1-0 against ranked opponents, having beat No. 12 Killian Cardinale earlier this season.
- At 133 pounds, No. 8 Korbin Myers could see No. 13 Jarrett Trombley. This season, Myers has major decisions over No. 11 Jaime Hernandez and No. 12 Louie Hayes, securing bonus points in both matches without surrendering a takedown.
- No. 1 Mekhi Lewis gets his second straight ranked matchup after beating No. 8 Kennedy Monday Saturday in No. 15 Thomas Bullard. Lewis is on a 26-match winning streak since Dec. 1, 2018 which includes the 2019 National Championship.
- Lastly, No. 17 John Borst may get his first ranked matchup of the season against No. 19 Deonte Wilson. Borst is 4-0 this season with two technical falls.
HOWARD WINS ACC WOTW
- After winning the biggest match of his career, redshirt sophomore Dakota Howard was named ACC Wrestler of the Week by the conference Tuesday.
- Howard took down No. 9 Gavin Kane of North Carolina late in the third period to take an 8-6 lead in the match which he would not give up, upsetting Kane 8-7.
- Following the win, Howard is ranked for the first time in his career, listed as No. 32 at 174 pounds in TrackWrestling's rankings.
- This marks the second time a Hokie wrestler earned the conference award. Sam Latona was named the wrestler of the week on Jan. 12 after going 3-0 at the West Virginia quad meet.
LEWIS UNBEATEN STREAK
- Since December 1, 2018, Mekhi Lewis has not lost a collegiate match. He has won his last 26 matches, including the 2019 National Championship.
- The redshirt sophomore has never lost an ACC match in his career, boasting a perfect 8-0 record in conference play.
- Lewis has been the consensus No. 1 at 165 pounds since returning from his Olympic redshirt.