No. 8 Hokies secure 24-12 road win over No. 19 Pitt to start conference action

Pittsburgh, Pa. – The No. 8 Virginia Tech wrestling team took the mat in Steel City and secured the 24-12 victory over No. 19 Pittsburgh on Sunday afternoon. 

Powered by bonus point victories by No. 3 Mekhi Lewis, No. 12 Hunter Bolen, and No. 14 Nathan Traxler, the Hokies picked up the first conference victory of the season to improve to 6-3, 1-1 ACC. Tech won three of five ranked match-ups on the day with returning All-American Sam Latona returning to form with a ranked win to start off the dual.
 
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The Hokies now shift their focus towards Friday to host the visiting Blue Devils at 7 p.m. inside Cassell Coliseum on the ACC Network in another Friday Night Duals event.
 
Quick Hits Against Pitt

• No. 21 Sam Latona picked up his first ranked win of the season over No. 31 Gage Curry to begin ACC competition. The redshirt sophomore returns to All-American form as he improves his record to 8-6.
• No. 5 Korbin Myers had a savvy, veteran performance over No. 7 Micky Phillippi in a rematch of the 2021 ACC finals at 133. Myers used an escape, riding point, and illegal point to pick up the victory over his ACC rival.
• Sophomore Sam Hillegas had a victorious homecoming with a 5-2 victory over Luke Kemerer. The Pittsburgh native – a natural 141-pounder – bumped up in the absence of Bryce Andonian to secure the victory in his hometown.
• In his first return to Pittsburgh since 2019, No. 3 Mekhi Lewis put on a blazing performance – handling James Lledo in dominant fashion. Lewis used a barrage of attacks and collected multiple sets of back points to secure the 23-5 victory in the city where he became the first national champion in Virginia Tech history.
• No. 12 Hunter Bolen returned to action since his third place Southern Scuffle performance back on January 3. Bolen would make short work of No. 32 Gregg Harvey with a takedown and pin fall in just 1:33 of the match.
• No. 14 Nathan Traxler was surgical in a 12-0 major decision over Jake Slinger. Traxler had slick leg attacks and picked up two sets of near fall to score the shutout victory and pick up career win 92.

 
Box Score
No. 8 Virginia Tech – 24, No. 19 Pitt – 12
125 – No. 21 Sam Latona (VT) DEC No. 31 Gage Curry (PITT), 4-2
133 – No. 5 Korbin Myers (VT) DEC No. 7 Micky Phillippi (PITT), 3-2
141 – No. 18 Cole Matthews (PITT) DEC Collin Gerardi (VT), 8-2
149 – Sam Hillegas (VT) DEC Luke Kemerer (PITT), 5-2
157 – No. 21 Elijah Cleary (PITT) DEC No. 23 Connor Brady (VT), 7-1 SV
165 – No. 14 Jake Wentzel (PITT) DEC Clayton Ulrey (VT), 5-1
174 – No. 3 Mekhi Lewis (VT) TECH FALL James Lledo (PITT), 23-5, 7:00
184 – No. 12 Hunter Bolen (VT) FALL No. 32 Gregg Harvey (PITT), 1:33
197 – No. 8 Nino Bonaccorsi (PITT) DEC No. 33 Dakota Howard, 6-1
285 – No. 14 Nathan Traxler (VT) MAJ DEC Jake Slinger (PITT), 12-0