BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech wrestling team traveled up the road to Salem, VA for the Southeast Open and claimed six titles in the first competition of the 2022-2023 season. The Hokies claimed five Open Division titles and one Freshman/Sophomore Division title in a stellar showing by the No. 11-ranked Hokies.
Redshirt freshman Eddie Ventresca claimed his second Southeast Open title with a victory over Cooper Flynn in an all Hokies final at 125-pounds coming down to second tiebreaker criteria after a controlling run to the finals. Also repeating championship performance was freshman, Caleb Henson. Henson went 5-0 on the day en route to his second Open Division title at 149-pounds. Henson won the 2021 title as a high school senior.
Also impressive throughout the day was Tampa native, Tom Crook. The freshman navigated an NCAA-qualifier laden weight class at 141-pounds to take the title in his college debut. Crook knocked off NCAA qualifier Matt Kazimir (Columbia) and Canadian Senior World team member Lachlan McNeil, who wrestles for North Carolina, en route to the finals. Crook then capped off his first Southeast Open with a dominant win over Dylan Cedeno (UVA) to take the title.
It was an upperweight party as heavyweight Hunter Catka and 197-pounders Andy Smith and TJ Stewart swept their divisions. Catka bonused his way to the finals picking up two falls and a tech fall before a controlling 4-1 decision to win in the finals. Smith was smooth all day as he went 3-0 to win the Open Division title. Stewart exploded through the day while going 4-0 to claim the Freshman/Sophomore Division title in his first collegiate action.
"It was once again great to kick off the season at the Southeast Open. I thought our guys wrestled well today, especially considering we weren't at full strength. I thought Tom Crook and Caleb Henson were both really impressive. Ventresca, Smith, Catka, and Stewart also did a great job. It was good for our guys to get a few matches under their belts before next Friday's match at Ohio State," said Virginia Tech wrestling head coach, Tony Robie about Saturday's action.
Tech opens dual competition when they travel to Columbus to face the No. 6 Ohio State Buckeyes in the Covelli Center on November 11 at 7 p.m.
Brackets and full results can be found at the link at the top left-side of the page.
Open Division Results
Cooper Flynn, 125, 2nd – attached
- DEC Gio Diaz (Franklin & Marshall), 9-3
- MAJ DEC Chad Bellis (App State), 16-5
- DEC Jack Wagner (UNC), 3-2
- loss Eddie Ventresca (VT), 1-1 Tie Breakers
Eddie Ventresca, 125, 1st – attached
- MED FOR Colton Drousias (WVU)
- DEC Cooper Hilton (Boom Ranch), 5-1
- TECH FALL Nicholas Babin (Columbia), 16-0 2:57
Sam Latona, 133, 5th – attached
- Loss Pat Phillips (Franklin & Marshall), 5-3
- MAJ DEC Jace Palmer (UNC), 12-4
- DEC Boris Witmer (Columbia), 7-2
- DEC Marc-Anthony McGowan (BWC), 6-2
- MED FOR Brandon Wittenberg (VT)
Brandon Wittenberg, 133, 6th – attached
- Loss Logan Heil (Campbell), 7-4
- TECH FALL Cameron Chicella (VMI), 16-0
- DEC Joe Manchio (NYCRTC), 9-3
- DEC Ethan Oakley (App State), 7-3
- DEC Timothy Decatur (Newberry), 5-2
- MED FOR to Sam Latona (VT)
Tom Crook, 141, 1st – attached
- MAJ DEC Isaac Byers (App State), 12-1
- DEC Matt Kazimir (Columbia), 3-1
- DEC Lachlan McNeil (UNC), 3-2
- DEC Dylan Cedeno (UVA), 7-3
Collin Gerardi, 141, 3rd – attached
- DEC Riley Edwards (App State), 6-5
- DEC Evan Buchanan (UVA), 1-0
- Loss Dylan Cedeno (UVA), 4-2 SV
- DEC Lachlan McNeil (UNC), 7-1
Caleb Henson, 149, 1st – attached
- FALL Marcus Loving (UNC), 1:56
- TECH FALL Noah Roulo (VMI), 23-7 6:34
- DEC Danny Fongaro (Columbia), 5-2
- DEC Jayden Scott (UNC), 5-3 TB2
- DEC Sam Hillegas (WVU), 3-0
Jackson Spires, 157 – attached
- Loss Walker Heard (WVU), 3-1
- Loss Andrew Garr (Columbia), 7-3
Clayton Ulrey, 157, 6th – unattached
- Loss Tommy Askey (App State), 6-5
- MAJ DEC Nolan Wheeler (Newberry), 14-6
- DEC Gavin Cagle (UVA), 4-1
- DEC Nicholas Sansone (UVA), 8-2
- Loss Cesar Alvan (Columbia) FALL
Connor Brady, 165, 3rd – attached
- TECH FALL Samuel Lofaso III (Tiffin), 18-2 5:00
- DEC Oren Bost (App State), 7-3
- Loss Joshua Ogunsanya (Columbia), 3-1 SV
- MED FOR Peyton Hall (WVU)
Drew Nicholson, 165, 2nd – attached
- FALL Asa Walton (Newberry), 3:54
- DEC Joey Mazzara (UNC), 5-2
- MED FOR Peyton Hall (WVU)
- Loss Joshua Ogunsanya (Columbia), 9-6
Mekhi Lewis, 174, 4th – attached
- TECH FALL Jack McGill (Columbia), 22-7 6:24
- TECH FALL Scott Joll (WVU), 21-6 6:08
- MED FOR to Nick Fine (Columbia)
- MED FOR to Victor Marcelli (UVA)
Sam Fisher, 184, 2nd – attached
- TECH FALL Armando Acosta (Newberry), 24-9 6:10
- DEC Dennis Robin (WVU), 10-4
- DEC Gavin Kane (UNC), 2-1
- Loss Anthony Carman (WVU), 7-3
Andy Smith, 197, 1st – attached
- FALL Gavin Henry (Davidson), 3:08
- DEC John Crawford (Franklin & Marshall), 10-4
- MAJ DEC Austin Cooley (WVU), 10-2
Hunter Catka, 285, 1st – attached
- TECH FALL Luke Davis (Campbell), 16-0 3:38
- FALL Solomon Harris (VMI), 4:40
- FALL Jacob Sartorio (App State), 1:05
- DEC Michael Wolfgram (WVU), 4-1
Freshman/Sophomore Division Results
Caden Hagler, 133 – attached
- DEC Lance Crawford (Tiffin), 4-2
- Loss Brandon Sauter (Franklin & Marshall), 6-1
- Loss Brayton Killiri (Citadel), 13-5
Allan Diaz, 141 – attached
- Loss Dillon Roman (Citadel), 3:58
- Loss Kai Owen (Columbia), 2:20
Kylan Montgomery, 149 – attached
- DEC Nolan Gessler (Tiffin), 5-2
- Loss Richard Fedalen (Columbia), 8-2
- MAJ DEC Preston Walls (VT), 8-0
- FALL Nick Velde (Franklin & Marshall), 1:04
- Loss Kaden Keiser (App State), 6-2
Preston Walls, 149 – attached
- Loss Collin Dupill (UNATT), Fall
- Loss Kylan Montgomery (VT), 8-0
Ty Finn, 165, 2nd – attached
- DEC Marcus Murabito (UNC), 7-1
- FALL Justin Hayes (Citadel), 4:51
- MAJ DEC Luke Hart (VMI), 13-2
- Loss Nick Hamilton (UVA), 5-2
Harrison Smith, 174 – attached
- Loss Andrew Reed (Newberry), 4-3
- MED FOR Corey Bell (UNATT)
- DEC Matthew Wirth (Roanoke College), 7-2
- Loss Dylan Kohn (UNATT), 10-1
James Brown, 184 – attached
- Loss Joe Zovistoski (App State), 4-1
- Loss Toby Schoffstall (Liberty Christian Academy), 22-3
TJ Stewart, 197, 1st – attached
- FALL Geraldo Moya (Tiffin), 5:54
- DEC Javen Jovero (Columbia), 10-4
- DEC Colden Dorfman (UNATT), 13-10
- DEC Carson Floyd (App State), 8-5