BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech wrestling team won four bouts against No. 4 Ohio State but fell short, 13-18. The Hokies were highlighted by wins from returning national finalist No. 2 Mekhi Lewis and upset wins from No. 19 Sam Latona, No. 16 Tom Crook, and a big victory for No. 29 Caleb Henson.
Hokies' freshman sensation, No. 29 Caleb Henson, started the dual with an electric upset victory over No. 2 Sammy Sasso begin the top-10 dual at 149-pounds. Henson was furious on his attacks in the first, but gave up a takedown in the opening period with under :30 on the clock. An escape for Henson in the second closed the gap for the freshman. Henson continued to pepper attacks throughout the period but couldn't finish as time expired in the second period. Sasso selected bottom to begin the third period and earned an escape to increase his lead 3-1. Henson continued on the attack and finished an attack on the edge to tie the bout with :20 remaining and to push the match to sudden victory. Henson went to work early with a single leg leading to a Sasso counter to a scramble. Henson secured the victory in his first collegiate start as he continued to finish with a counter through the middle.
Picking up the second Hokies' win was returning national finalist No. 2 Mekhi Lewis over No. 6 Ethan Smith. It was a tactical match by both wrestlers with Lewis securing the lone takedown of the bout in the first period. Smith secured an escape after the Lewis takedown to close the gap 2-1 as the opening period expired. Both wrestlers would trade escapes in the ensuing periods with Lewis' takedown being the deciding factor to take the bout 3-2 at 174-pounds.
At 133-pounds, redshirt junior Sam Latona – ranked No. 19 in the country – secured the second Hokie upset of the evening, dispatching highly-heralded freshman No. 11 Jesse Mendez by decision, 3-2. Latona secured the lone takedown of the bout in the opening period in the final minute of the first period. Both picked up escapes at the start of the second and third period to keep the match within a point. Latona continued on the attack through the match, but couldn't secure the finish. Latona rebounded from his 4-1 outing last weekend to secure his first ranked victory of the season.
Capping off the Hokies' night at 141-pounds was freshman No. 16 Tom Crook over fellow freshman, Nic Bouzakis – the No. 3 recruit from the 2022 Class – with a dominant 14-6 major decision. Bouzakis scored the first score of the bout but it was all Crook, racking up six takedowns throughout the bout. Crook follows his dominating performance from last week's Southeast Open where he went 4-0 en route to winning his first title.
The No. 10 Hokies return to action on November 20 at the Keystone Classic in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
No. 10 Virginia Tech – 13, No. 4 Ohio State – 18
Individual Results (in order of match order)
149 – No. 27 Caleb Henson DEC No 2 Sammy Sasso, 5-3 SV
157 – No. 22 Paddy Gallagher DEC Clayton Ulrey, 14-8
165 – No. 6 Carson Kharchla DEC No. 29 Connor Brady, 3-1
174 – No. 2 Mekhi Lewis DEC No. 6 Ethan Smith, 3-2
184 – No. 4 Kaleb Romero DEC No. 9 Hunter Bolen, 4-2
197 – No. 14 Gavin Hoffman DEC Andy Smith, 4-2
285 – No. 7 Tate Orndorff DEC No. 18 Hunter Catka, 3-1
125 – No. 11 Malik Heinselman DEC No. 25 Eddie Ventresca, 3-1
133 – No. 19 Sam Latona DEC No. 11 Jesse Mendez, 3-2
141 – No. 16 Tom Crook MAJ DEC Nic Bouzakis, 14-6