Hokies ready for top-10 showdown

Blacksburg – The Virginia Tech wrestling team plays host to visiting No. 9 Ohio State to open their dual slate Friday night at 7 p.m. on ACC Network Extra. The Hokies face their first test of the season as the No. 9 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes make their way to Cassell Coliseum Friday night.
 
 
No. 8 Virginia Tech vs. No. 9 Ohio State
Date: Friday, November 19
Time: 7 p.m. ET
TV: ACC Network Extra/ESPN+
Live Stats and Updates: Hokies Wrestling Twitter
 
Tech Hosts Ohio State for First Test of Season

• Friday is the seventeenth meeting between the Hokies and the Buckeyes. Ohio State has won 13 of the previous 16 matchups.
• Tech won the last meeting – a 21-15 upset win for No. 11 Tech over then ranked No. 3 Ohio State in Columbus.
• Tech will face Gardner-Webb on Saturday to close out the weekend at 1 p.m. in Cassell. The Hokies will then travel to Columbia for a tri-meet against Missouri and Northern Iowa on Dec. 4.
• Redshirt senior, Nathan Traxler, makes his Cassell debut after transferring from Stanford. The four-time NCAA qualifier stands at 4-0 on the season after winning the title at the 2021 Southeast Open.

 
Looking at the Opposition

• No. 9 Ohio State stands at 1-0, a ranked win over University of North Carolina. The Buckeyes return three All-Americans – No. 2 Sammy Sasso (149-pounds), No. 6 Ethan Smith (174-pounds), and No. 7 Tate Orndorff (285-pounds).

 
Tale of the Tape

• Virginia Tech fields eight ranked wrestler's in this week's Intermat rankings. Ohio State's lineup features seven.
• Tech will send seven of their ranked wrestler's out tomorrow night. Friday will feature five ranked matchups, including No. 9 Bryce Andonian against No. 2 Sammy Sasso at 149-pounds.
• In addition to the premier match, there are four other potential ranked matchups
  • 125 – No. 12 Sam Latona will face No. 14 Malik Heinselman
  • 174 – No. 4 Mekhi Lewis takes on No. 6 Ethan Smith
  • 184 – No. 9 Hunter Bolen toes the line against No. 19 Rocky Jordan
  • 285 – No. 17 Nathan Traxler squares off against No. 7 Tate Orndorff

 
No. 8 Virginia Tech vs No. 9 Ohio State
7 PM, Nov. 19, 2021
 
Lineup Probables