Blacksburg, Va. – No. 7 Virginia Tech (8-3, 3-1 ACC) defends Cassell against No. 21 North Carolina (8-5, 3-1 ACC) in last home dual of the season, defeating the Tar Heels 23-11.
The Hokies celebrated graduating seniors Korbin Myers, Hunter Bolen, Nathan Traxler, and Jake Hart to begin the night in Blacksburg. Tech won seven of ten bouts to pick up another ranked win on the season and hand the visiting Tar Heels their first conference loss of the season.
UP NEXT
Tech will travel to Charlottesville next Friday, Feb. 18 at 7 p.m. to take on Virginia to finish off conference dual schedule then make a quick turnaround to travel to Raleigh to face No. 4 NC State in a non-conference dual on Sunday, Feb. 20 at 6 p.m.
MATCH NOTES
125 – No. 20 Sam Latona continues his strong second half of the season, picking up another win to improve his record to 9-6. The returning All-American secured four takedowns and two escape points to earn the 10-5 victory over UNC's Spencer Moore.
133 – In his last match in Cassell, No. 5 Korbin Myers was dynamic once again – picking up three perfectly timed takedowns, an escape, and riding time point to end his career in Cassell with a win. Myers hasn't lost a bout since December 20 and has picked up five ranked wins with his win over No. 21 Joe Heilmann on Friday night.
141 – No. 22 Collin Gerardi dropped a tough 6-2 bout to No. 9 Kizhan Clarke. Clarke picked up an opening takedown and had riding time advantage entering the third period till Gerardi earned an escape to tie the score at two. Clarke then picked up another takedown to secure the bout.
149 – Looking to impress upon his 0:21 pin last weekend against Duke, No. 5 Bryce Andonian was once again looking for the quick finish in Cassell. Andonian went up 6-0 early thanks to a cement mixer on the edge 1:20 into the first period. He would then open the match up and earn the major decision victory in the final 0:15 with a Winn-Dixie for six points as time expired. Andonian improves to 6-1 on the season with five ranked victories.
157 – No. 26 Connor Brady fell to 2021 149-pound national champion, No. 5 Austin O'Connor via tech fall. Brady was looking to rebound after a tough loss last week in the closing seconds, but the offense from O'Connor was just too much.
165 – Clayton Ulrey pulled off a gritty win against Isaias Estrada, holding on for the 4-3 victory. Ulrey picked up two takedowns going into the third period which proved to be the difference as the match expired. Ulrey improves his record to 15-11, 2-1 in the ACC.
174 – No. 3 Mekhi Lewis kept his perfect season intact as he secured another ranked win to his resume with a 6-2 decision over No. 9 Clay Lautt. Lewis picked up the opening takedown, had a tough second period rideout to secure riding point, a quick escape in the third, and a savvy reattack on the edge in the third to ice the match. The 2019 national champion picked up ranked win number seven on the season.
184 – No. 10 Hunter Bolen dropped a tough one on Senior Night – falling to No. 18 Gavin Kane in sudden victory. Bolen was in on multiple attacks throughout the dual but just couldn't finish leaving the score tied at 1 at the end of regulation. Gane dropped in on a single that was just too deep for Bolen to defend.
197 – No ranked bout at 197 but No. 31 Dakota Howard was a dog on a bone once again. Howard was a takedown machine running through for five takedowns, picked up riding time point, and two stall points on his way to a 13-5 major decision.
285 – No. 14 Nathan Traxler ended his Cassell career opposite of how he started – picking up a victory in his last outing in Blacksburg. Traxler used a big takedown in the second period and an escape in the third to ultimately take the 3-1 decision on Senior Night.Gallery: (2-11-2022) WRE: North Carolina Match
BOX SCORE
No. 7 Hokies vs No. 21 Tar Heels
125 – No. 20 Sam Latona (VT) DEC Spencer Moore (UNC), 10-5
133 – No. 5 Korbin Myers (VT) DEC No. 21 Joe Heilmann (UNC), 8-2
141 – No. 9 Kizhan Clarke (UNC) DEC No. 22 Collin Gerardi (VT), 6-2
149 – No. 5 Bryce Andonian (VT) MAJ DEC No. 17 Zach Sherman (UNC), 15-6
157 – No. 5 Austin O'Connor (UNC) TECH FALL No. 26 Connor Brady (VT), 25-4, 7:00
165 – Clayton Ulrey (VT) DEC Isaias Estrada (UNC), 4-3
174 – No. 3 Mekhi Lewis (VT) DEC No. 9 Clay Lautt (UNC), 6-2
184 – No. 18 Gavin Kane (UNC) DEC No. 10 Hunter Bolen (VT), 3-1, SV
197 – No. 31 Dakota Howard (VT) MAJ DEC Mark Chaid (UNC), 13-5
285 – No. 14 Nathan Traxler (VT) DEC Brandon Whitman (UNC), 3-1