Hokies advance six after first session in TulsaHokies advance six after first session in Tulsa
Levi Ventura
Wrestling

Hokies advance six after first session in Tulsa

Opens in a new window NCAA Championship Updated Brackets

TULSA, OK – Virginia Tech wrestling saw six wrestlers advance to the championship Round of 16 after the opening session of the 2023 NCAA Wrestling Championships in the Bank of Oklahoma Center on Thursday afternoon. Eddie Ventresca, Sam Latona, Caleb Henson, Bryce Andonian, Mekhi Lewis, and Hunter Bolen came away with opening competition wins to pace the Hokies. Next round begins at 7 p.m. EST live on ESPN.
 
Busting the Bracket
 
No. 27 Eddie Ventresca started the Hokies with an emphatic victory over No. 6 Stevo Poulin of Northern Colorado to bust the bracket at 125-pounds. While there were multiple scrambles exchanged, it was a low scoring affair with the scoreboard tied at 1 at the end of regulation to send the bout into sudden victory. With just under a minute left, Ventresca took an attack met by a Poulin defense to which the Hokie redirected into an attack of his own for the 3-1 match ending score over the 2023 Big 12 Champion. Ventresca takes on Minnesota's All-American Pat McKee to open session two in Tulsa.


 
Revenge and Survive and Advance
 
At 133-pounds it was a battle of two familiar foes but very different circumstances. No. 6 Sam Latona opened his 2023 tournament facing No. 27 Taylor Lamont in a battle of All-Americans. Latona and Lamont – competing for Utah Valley at the time – met previously in 2021 but at 125-pounds in a meeting that saw Lamont the victor, but the result was flipped Thursday morning as Latona would be the one advancing in the championship bracket. Much like the weight class below, the bout went to sudden victory tied at 1. It was Latona with a knee pull to a takedown in extra time to secure the victory and advance the bracket. Latona faces Air Force's Cody Phippen in the next round.


 
The freshman phenom No. 4 Caleb Henson made his NCAA championship debut with a veteran fashion, dispatching a scrappy No. 29 Dylan Chappell of Bucknell via 6-1 decision. After a scoreless first, Chappell got on the board first with an escape in the second period to which Henson fired back with a takedown and rideout to end the second period. Henson garnered an escape to begin the third and added another takedown and riding time advantage to take the 6-1 decision and advance to take on Indiana's Graham Rooks.


 
No. 7 Bryce Andonian was appointment viewing yet again but this time with a victory margin closer than per usual with a 7-6 decision over No. 26 Peyten Kellar (Ohio) in his opening bout. Andonian scored first in a roll through scramble but was then reversed and gave up two back points to trail 4-2 near the end of the first. With just under :20 remaining in the period, Andonian secured a reversal of his own to tie the bout at 4 heading into the second. Andonian put more reversal points on the board and secured the rideout in the second to lead 6-4 but that margin was again narrowed by a Kellar reversal in the third period. With under :30 remaining in the bout, Andonian managed an escape that would give him the 7-6 victory. The Hokie is set to face Oklahoma State's Kaden Gfeller in the next session.


 
No. 3 Mekhi Lewis made his way into his fourth NCAA championship with another opening victory but this time in gritty fashion over No. 30 Jackson Turley of Rutgers. Lewis was in on multiple attacks early but couldn't secure the finish to close the opening period tied at zero. Lewis would strike first in the second period with a reversal and ride majority of the period, nearly securing riding time advantage but Turley would escape on the boundary at the end of the second. The third would begin in neutral with Lewis again nearly finishing on two attacks but just couldn't secure it through the scramble. As the period ended Lewis would take another attack as Turley cranked the returning finalist's knee in a dangerous position but would still hold on to beat the Rutgers wrestler. Lewis will turn to face Northwestern's Troy Fisher in the evening session.


 
In his last NCAA tournament, No. 7 Hunter Bolen dug deep to secure the opening victory over a scrappy No. 26 David Key from Navy. Bolen would notch the only takedown of the bout early in the match. Key would get an escape with Bolen looking to add more takedowns but just couldn't finish. Bolen would begin the second in the top position with Key getting an escape to tie the bout at 2 in what would be the only score in the period. Bolen would select bottom to start the third and get an escape to lead 3-2 and ultimately take the bout. The Hokie faces Travis Wittlake of Oklahoma State to begin session two.


 
Wrestle Back Battle
 
Tom Crook, Connor Brady, Andy Smith, and Hunter Catka dropped opening bouts and will look to battle back in the evening session.
 
No. 15 Crook dropped a tight bout in sudden victory to Northwestern's No. 18 Frankie Tal Shahar, 1-3, after nearly securing a takedown at the end of regulation. No. 23 Brady was close to pulling the upset over No. 5 Carson Kharchla of Ohio State leading 1-0 with riding time advantage nearly secured before giving up a reversal. Brady battle in the last :15 for an escape but was unable to secure any points as time expired. No. 21 Smith kept it close in the second with the score tied at two apiece but was caught in a head and arm halfway into the second period. No. 22 Catka was in fighting position to advance but was unable to find an escape to tie the match in the third, dropping a 0-2 decision to No. 11 Trent Hillger of Wisconsin.
 
Updated brackets can be found at top of the page.
 
SESSION 1 RESULTS
 
125-pounds
#27 Eddie Ventresca DEC #6 Stevo Poulin (Northern Colorado), 3-1 SV
 
133-pounds
#6 Sam Latona DEC #26 Taylor Lamont (Wisconsin), 3-1 SV
 
141-pounds
#15 Tom Crook loss #18 Frankie Tal Shahar (Northwestern), 1-3 SV
 
149-pounds
#4 Caleb Henson DEC #29 Dylan Chappell (Bucknell), 6-1
 
157-pounds
#7 Bryce Andonian DEC #26 Peyten Kellar (Ohio), 7-6
 
165-pounds
#23 Connor Brady loss #5 Carson Kharchla (Ohio St), 1-2

174-pounds
#3 Mekhi Lewis DEC #30 Jackson Turley (Rutgers), 2-1
 
184-pounds
#7 Hunter Bolen DEC #26 David Key (Navy), 3-2
 
197-pounds
#21 Andy Smith loss #12 Zac Braunagel (Illinois), Fall 3:59
 
285-pounds
#22 Hunter Catka loss #11 Trent Hillger (Wisconsin), 0-2