BLACKSBURG – The No. 7 Virginia Tech wrestling team moves to 7-3, 1-1 after dropping their home bout to No. 24 Pitt, 12-26. The Hokies made an effort with bonus point victories from No. 9 Caleb Henson, No. 5 Bryce Andonian, and No. 3 Mekhi Lewis but would not be enough to overcome the visiting Panthers.
At 125-pounds, redshirt junior Cooper Flynn got the start against Pitt's Colton Camacho. Flynn defended early but a shot to cowcatcher by Camacho forced the Hokie to the mat for a takedown. Camacho would then work up and get the fall to put the visiting Panthers on the board first.
In the marquee, highest-ranked match of the evening, it was No. 5 Sam Latona welcoming No. 7 Micky Phillippi to Blacksburg. In a match that was all Latona, the Hokie was on the attack often but was unable to finish on multiple shots as Phillippi initiated scrambles in the defense. Phillippi scored first by way of escape in the second but Latona was again pushing the action with a shot that forced an illegal head scissor by Phillippi to give Latona a point at the end of the second. Latona would then select neutral to begin the third and would get multiple attacks but would run out of time before finishing in regulation. It was more of the same in sudden victory as Latona was in a deep single and looked to return the Panther for the finish, Phillippi scrambled and the two jostled for position for 1:30 without a point being surrendered to send the bout to tiebreaker criteria. Phillippi would get the first escape and eventually hold Latona down to take the bout with 0:09 being the difference.
In the second ranked match of the evening, it was Tampa, Florida native, freshman No. 12 Tom Crook taking on Pitt's returning All-American, No. 3 Cole Matthews. The Hokie battled throughout the bout but was unable to garner any offensive points of his own to drop the tough 2-6 decision. Pitt increased their lead to 12-0 over the home team.
Following Crook was freshman sensation, No. 9 Caleb Henson taking on another ranked opponent against No. 29 Tyler Badgett. Henson was on his same agenda – attacking early and often racking up five takedowns and two nearfall. He added two stall calls, an escape, and riding time point to garner the 14-2 major decision in the Hokies first win of the evening.
It was the Bryce Andonian Show once again at 157-pounds with an electric major decision to close the gap for the Hokies. Andonian ranked No. 5 in the country went to work early against No. 33 Dazjon Casto with a takedown right to four nearfall and wouldn't look back as he would later add on five more takedowns to take the 14-4 major decision for the Hokies.
At 165-pounds it was No. 25 Connor Brady taking on No. 23 Holden Heller in the sixth bout of the evening. Heller would score an escape in the second period to lead the bout. Brady selected to start on bottom to begin the third period but would be unable to escape as he would drop the bout 0-2.
No. 3 Mekhi Lewis would then rile the Hokies to a comeback with a 14-4 major decision over Luca Augustine at 174-pounds. Lewis attacked early with a double and would then go cross-wrist tilt for two back points and then would another takedown as the first period ended. Lewis would then add five more takedowns to bring the Hokies within three points on the team score.
No. 7 Hunter Bolen would drop his match by defensive fall after leading 2-1 into the second period, No. 22 Andy Smith would battle a tough bout against No. 2 Nino Bonaccorsi but ultimately drop the 1-3 decision, and No. 23 Hunter Catka would drop a 3-5 SV to No. 5 Dayton Pitzer to close action in Blacksburg.
The Hokies return to action next Friday in Durham to take on the Duke Blue Devils. Follow Virginia Tech Wrestling on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram for all information and updates.
No. 7 Virginia Tech Hokies – 12, No. 24 Pittsburgh Panthers – 26
Results
125 – Cooper Flynn, r-Fr loss Colton Camacho, r-Jr, Fall 0:44
133 – No. 5 Sam Latona, r-Jr loss No. 7 Micky Phillippi, r-Sr, 2-3 TB1
141 – No. 12 Tom Crook, Fr loss No. 3 Cole Matthews, Jr, 2-6
149 – No. 9 Caleb Henson, Fr MAJ DEC No. 29 Tyler Badgett, r-So, 14-2
157 – No. 5 Bryce Andonian, Sr MAJ DEC No. 33 Dazjon Casto, Sr, 14-4
165 – No. 25 Connor Brady, r-So loss No. 23 Holden Heller, r-Sr, 0-2
174 – No. 3 Mekhi Lewis, r-Sr MAJ DEC Luca Augustine, r-Fr, 14-4
184 – No. 7 Hunter Bolen, r-Sr loss No. 19 Reece Heller, r-Jr, Fall
197 – No. 22 Andy Smith, r-So loss No. 2 Nino Bonaccorsi, r-Sr, 1-3
285 – No. 23 Hunter Catka, r-So loss No. 5 Dayton Pitzer, Fr, 3-5 SV
Gallery: (1-27-2023) WRE: Pitt Match