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Wrestling

No. 7 Tech hosts No. 24 Pitt for second edition of Friday Night Duals

BLACKSBURG – After an electric start to conference competition over rival, NC State, last Friday night, the No. 7 Virginia Tech (7-2, 1-0) wrestling team will host another formidable foe in the No. 24 Pittsburgh Panthers (7-2, 1-0). The bout on Friday is the second edition of Friday Night Duals for the Hokies on ACC Network at 7 p.m. EST live from Cassell Coliseum.
 


 
No. 7 Virginia Tech Hokies vs No. 24 Pittsburgh Panthers
When: Friday, January 27, 2023
Time: 7PM EST
Where: Cassell Coliseum
Admission: FREE
How to Watch: ACC Network
Live Updates: Hokies Wrestling Twitter
Mat Side Seating: http://vthoki.es/pg9Iv
 
Hokies vs Panthers History

  • This will be the 20th all-time meeting between the two programs – Tech trails the series 7-12 heading into Friday night
  • The Hokies hold the lead in the last ten meetings 7-3 including both the largest margin of victory (38-9, 1/20/2017) and the smallest margin of victory (24-12, 1/30/2022)

 
Tale of the Tape

  • The Hokies enter Friday night with ten ranked wrestlers – No. 27 Eddie Ventresca (125), No. 5 Sam Latona (133), No. 12 Tom Crook (141), No. 9 Caleb Henson (149), No. 5 Bryce Andonian (157), No. 25 Connor Brady (165), No. 3 Mekhi Lewis (174), No. 7 Hunter Bolen (184), No. 22 Andy Smith (197), and No. 23 Hunter Catka (285).
  • The Hokies boast an ACC best four in the top-five and one of two conference teams with all ten wrestlers ranked according to Intermat rankings
  • This will be the third year in a row both squads are ranked in the top-25 and the potential for seven ranked matchups in the second edition of ACC Friday Night Duals
  • Pittsburgh will bring in eight ranked competitors to Blacksburg on Friday night – No. 7 Micky Phillippi (133), No. 3 Cole Matthews (141), No. 29 Tyler Badgett (149), No. 33 Dazjon Casto (157), No. 23 Holden Heller (165), No. 19 Reece Heller (184), No. 2 Nino Bonaccorsi (197), and No. 5 Dayton Pitzer (285)

 
Looking Back at Last Week

  • The Hokies made for spectacular television with their 16-14 upset victory over rival, NC State in Cassell Coliseum in front of a record crowd to start off conference competition.
  • The Panthers dismantled Virginia in Charlottesville, 25-6 last Friday night
  • With both teams standing at 1-0 in conference competition, Friday night will prove pivotal in the dual meet title standings

Follow Virginia Tech Hokies on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for updates, information, and all things Hokies Wrestling. 
 
No. 7 Virginia Tech Hokies vs No. 24 Pittsburgh Panthers
Probables
125 – Cooper Flynn, r-Fr vs Colton Camacho, r-Jr
133 – No. 5 Sam Latona, r-Jr vs No. 7 Micky Phillippi, r-Sr
141 – No. 12 Tom Crook, Fr vs No. 3 Cole Matthews, Jr
149 – No. 9 Caleb Henson, Fr vs No. 29 Tyler Badgett, r-So
157 – No. 5 Bryce Andonian, Sr vs No. 33 Dazjon Casto, Sr
165 – No. 25 Connor Brady, r-So vs No. 23 Holden Heller, r-Sr
174 – No. 3 Mekhi Lewis, r-Sr vs Luca Augustine, r-Fr
184 – No. 7 Hunter Bolen, r-Sr vs No. 19 Reece Heller, r-Jr
197 – No. 22 Andy Smith, r-So OR TJ Stewart, Fr vs No. 2 Nino Bonaccorsi, r-Sr
285 – No. 23 Hunter Catka, r-So vs No. 5 Dayton Pitzer, Fr or Jake Slinger, Sr