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Wrestling

Hokies ready to put on a show in Moss Arts Center

BLACKSBURG – The No. 8 Virginia Tech Hokies open their 2023 dual schedule at home against star-studded No. 12 Cornell in one of college wrestling's most unique venues. The Hokies return to a sold-out Moss Arts Center against another top-15 opponent on Friday at 7 p.m. EST with live streaming on ACC Network Extra and live updates via Hokies Wrestling Twitter.
 


No. 8 Virginia Tech Hokies vs No. 12 Cornell Big Red
When: Friday, January 6, 2023
Time: 7 p.m. EST; Doors open at 6 p.m.
Where: Moss Arts Center, Blacksburg, Virginia
How to Watch: ACC Network Extra
Live Updates: Hokies Wrestling Twitter
 


 
Hokies in the Rankings

  • In the first rankings of 2023, Tech enters Friday evening's dual ranked top-eight across three ranking polls – No. 8 in the National Wrestling Coaches Association rankings, No. 5 on Flowrestling, and No. 10 Intermat.
  • For the fourth week in a row, Tech fields ten ranked wrestlers including four in the top-ten and none ranked lower than 23.

 


 
Storylines

  • Friday night's dual will be the seventh meeting between the two programs – Tech trails the series 1-5.
  • Tech and Cornell are two of only four programs – others being Penn State and Iowa – to feature three or more All-Americans for the past nine straight seasons.
  • There will be a total of two national champions, seven All-Americans, 16 NCAA qualifiers, and three world medalists combined on Friday night.
  • There will be a combined 19 ranked wrestlers on roster for Friday evening's dual.

 
Tale of the Tape

  • Tech features ten ranked wrestlers on roster to Cornell's nine individually ranked competitors.
  • Cornell features ranked wrestlers on roster – #21 Brett Ungar (125), #3 Vito Arujau (133), #22 Vince Cornella (141), #1 Yianni Diakomihalis (149), #7 Julian Ramirez (165), #5 Chris Foca (174), #6 Jonathan Loew (184), #17 Jacob Cardenas (197), and #18 Lewis Fernandes (285).
  • There will be a potential of eight ranked matches throughout the evening including two top-15 matchups.
  • No. 8 Sam Latona will face No. 3 Vito Arujau for the third time in his career. Latona is 0-2 against the Cornell All-American at 125-pounds and most recently at 133-pounds at the 2021 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational.
  • No. 11 Caleb Henson continues his gauntlet of a schedule with his third top-five and fourth top-ten opponent on Friday night when he takes on three-time national champion and top ranked Yianni Diakomihalis.
  • Also continuing battling against the nation's best is No. 22 Connor Brady at 165-pounds. The redshirt sophomore will face No. 7 Julian Ramirez, Brady's third top-ten opponent in as many duals.
  • Redshirt senior No. 7 Hunter Bolen will potentially face No. 6 Jonathan Loew on Friday night. Bolen is 1-1 against Loew.

 Follow Virginia Tech Wrestling on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for all updates and information.
 
#8 Virginia Tech Hokies vs #12 Cornell Big Red
Projected Lineup
125 – No. 18 Eddie Ventresca or Cooper Flynn vs No. 21 Brett Ungar (Cornell)
133 – No. 8 Sam Latona vs No. 3 Vito Arujau (Cornell)
141 – No. 14 Tom Crook or Collin Gerardi vs No. 22 Vince Cornella (Cornell)
149 – No. 11 Caleb Henson vs No. 1 Yianni Diakomihalis (Cornell)
157 – Clayton Ulrey vs Colton Yapoujian or Gage McClenahan (Cornell)
165 – No. 22 Connor Brady vs No. 7 Julian Ramirez (Cornell)
174 – Jordan Florence or Kolton Clark vs No. 5 Chris Foca (Cornell)
184 – No. 7 Hunter Bolen vs No. 6 Jonathan Loew or Ethan Thacker (Cornell)
197 – No. 21 Andy Smith vs No. 17 Jacob Cardenas (Cornell)
285 – No. 23 Hunter Catka vs No. 18 Lewis Fernandes (Cornell)