Blacksburg – The No. 8 ranked Virginia Tech wrestling team is headed to Niceville, FL for the Journeymen Collegiate Duals on December 20-21. The marquee tournament will feature 12 teams, nine in the top-25 across the nation as the Hokies look to add to their resume as the first half of the season concludes.
The tournament falls into a two-pool format. In the Blue Pool, Hokies will face Hofstra (2-3, 1-1 CAA) and No. 6 Arizona State (1-0, 0-0 Pac-12) on the first day of competition with their third opponent on day two – No. 2 Penn State, No. 11 Cornell, or No. 22 UNI – dependent on pool play. The Red Pool features the likes of No. 1 Iowa, No. 5 NC State, No. 10 Mizzou, No. 17 Lehigh, Central Michigan, and Binghamton. There will be NO POOL CROSSOVER over the course of the event.
The Hokies will be wrestling for the first time since sweeping previously No. 3 Mizzou and then No. 17 Northern Iowa in Columbia, Missouri on December 4.
Journeymen Collegiate Duals
Where: Raider Arena, Northwestern Florida State College, Niceville, FL
When: December 20-21
Time: Dec. 20 – 11AM vs Hofstra, 3PM vs No. 6 Arizona State; Dec. 21 – 12PM vs TBD
How to Watch: Rokfin pay-per-view (attach link)
Live Stats: Hokies Wrestling Twitter
Quick Hits – Hofstra
- Monday's match will be the third match between Virginia Tech and Hofstra, record standing at 1-1.
- The series started in 2003 with the most recent meeting in 2013 going in favor of the Hokies, 28-9.
- Hofstra stands at 3-2 on the season with four ranked wrestlers – No. 28 Greg Gaxiola (157), No. 25 Charles Small (184), No. 26 Trey Rogers (197), and No. 20 Zachary Knighton-Ward (285).
Quick Hits – No. 6 Arizona State
- This match-up will be the fourth all-time meeting between ASU and Tech, with the Hokies holding a 2-1 edge in the record books.
- The series started in 2015 with the most recent meeting in 2018 at the Virginia Duals, 21-15 final score in favor of the Sun Devils.
- ASU stands at 1-0 with a lineup that features eight ranked wrestlers via Intermat – No. 3 Brandon Courtney (125), No. 14 Michael McGee (133), No. 15 Jesse Vasquez (141), No. 5 Kyle Parco (149), No. 3 Jacori Teemer (157), No. 6 Anthony Valencia (165), No. 8 Kendall Norfleet, and No. 3 Cohlton Schultz (285).
Short Time – No. 8 Virginia Tech
- The Hokies remain in the top-10 after two top-20 wins against previously No. 3 Mizzou and No. 17 UNI.
- Virginia Tech will field seven ranked grapplers heading into the duals – No. 16 Sam Latona (125), No. 4 Korbin Myers (133), No. 6 Bryce Andonian (149), No. 22 Connor Brady (157), No. 4 Mekhi Lewis (174), No. 9 Hunter Bolen (184), No. 14 Nathan Traxler (285).
- Three Hokies remain undefeated on the season - No. 4 Korbin Myers (7-0), No. 4 Mekhi Lewis (8-0), and No. 9 Hunter Bolen (9-0).
- No. 4 in the country at 133-pounds, Myers will look to hit the career wins century mark in Florida. The graduate senior sits at 98 wins over the course of his career thus far.
Probable Lineups
No. 8 Virginia Tech vs Hofstra
125 – No. 16 Sam Latona (VT) vs Jacob Moon (HOF)
133 – No. 4 Korbin Myers (VT) vs Ty Cymmerman (HOF)
141 – No. 31 Sam Hillegas (VT)/Collin Gerardi (VT) vs Justin Hoyle (HOF)
149 – No. 6 Bryce Andonian (VT) vs Michael Leandrou (HOF)
157 – No. 22 Connor Brady (VT) vs No. 28 Greg Gaxiola (HOF)
165 – Clayton Ulrey (VT) vs Ricky Stamm (HOF)
174 – No. 4 Mekhi Lewis vs Ross McFarland (HOF)
184 – No. 9 Hunter Bolen (VT) vs No. 25 Charles Small (HOF)
197 – Dakota Howard (VT)/Andy Smith (VT) vs No. 26 Trey Rogers (HOF)
285 – No. 14 Nathan Traxler (VT) vs No. 20 Zachary Knighton-Ward (HOF)
No. 8 Virginia Tech vs No. 6 Arizona State
125 – No. 16 Sam Latona (VT) vs No. 3 Brandon Courtney (ASU)
133 – No. 4 Korbin Myers (VT) vs No. 14 Michael McGee (ASU)
141 – No. 31 Sam Hillegas (VT)/Collin Gerardi (VT) vs No. 15 Jesse Vasquez (ASU)
149 – No. 6 Bryce Andonian (VT) vs No. 5 Kyle Parco (ASU)
157 – No. 22 Connor Brady (VT) vs No. 3 Jacori Teemer (ASU)
165 – Clayton Ulrey (VT) vs No. 6 Anthony Valencia (ASU)
174 – No. 4 Mekhi Lewis (VT) vs Zane Coleman (ASU)
184 – No. 9 Hunter Bolen (VT) vs Josh Nummer (ASU)
197 – Dakota Howard (VT)/Andy Smith (VT) vs No. 8 Kendall Norfleet (ASU)
285 – No. 14 Nathan Traxler (VT) vs No. 3 Cohlton Shultz (ASU)