Tech wins four bouts against visiting Ohio State in home dual openerTech wins four bouts against visiting Ohio State in home dual opener
Wrestling

Tech wins four bouts against visiting Ohio State in home dual opener

BLACKSBURG - Virginia Tech looked to continue Southeast Open momentum, ready to open the dual season against No. 8 Ohio State in a packed Cassell Coliseum on Friday night. The No. 5 Hokies won four bouts on the night before the Buckeyes pulled away after being neck and neck the majority of the evening with the Buckeyes taking six bouts. Sam Latona, Caleb Henson, Bryce Andonian, and Mekhi Lewis picked up wins for the home team.
 
No. 4 Eddie Ventresca was first up for the Hokies facing unranked Brandon Mccrone as the dual began in the 125-pounds weight class. In a surprising upset, Ventresca was only able to nail one takedown as Mccrone dominated this match putting tOSU on the board first. 
 
Sam Latona coming in at No. 4 got the Hokies on the board in the 133-pounds class, winning his bout 5-3 against No. 16  Nic Bouzakis and firing up the crowd at Cassell Coliseum with his performance. Latona's victory kept the dual tied at 3. 
 


 
At 141-pounds, freshman Hunter Mason got the start for VT, facing off against No. 5 Jesse Mendez from tOSU. In a tough match, underdog Mason was bested 3-16, and will look to bounce back in Sunday's team dual against American. 
 
"The Hitman" was next up in a highly anticipated top-10 matchup in the 149 weight class. No. 4 Caleb Henson revitalized the Hokies, dominating Ohio State's No. 9 Dylan D'Emilio notching two takedowns, and two escapes, winning 10-5 in electrifying fashion, with a stellar performance on the attack.  
 


 
At 157, the Human Highlight Reel and the NCAA's most entertaining wrestler, No. 6 Bryce Andonian made his bout a show to remember as always. But facing No. 15 Paddy Gallgher it was all but guaranteed. Andonian needed this victory to tie the duel up and he delivered. With a dominating attack and leading 7-0 to end the second, BA holds strong and wins his bout 7-4 tieing the team scores up at 9 apiece. 
 


 
No. 22 Connor Brady faced Ohio State's Isaac Wilcox in the 165-pound weight class. Wilcox upset Brady in close fashion, with a defensive locked dual that Wilcox ended up taking 6-5 by decision. 
 
Fan favorite King of Cassell, No. 3 Mekhi Lewis was up next at 174-pounds for his last first match as Virginia Tech Hokie facing off against No. 7 Carson Kharchala in another highly anticipated top-10 duel of the evening. Lewis allowed for zero takedowns, and notched one takedown and one escape earning himself a 4-2 decision victory, and evening up the team dual score at 12 apiece. 
 


 
Sam Fisher was next up for Tech coming in ranked 15th in the country. In another surprising result in the 184-pound weight class, Ohio State's Ryder Rogotzke bested Fisher with a pin at 5:35.
 
At 197-pounds, No 17 Andy Smith was ready to take on Luke Geog. In another unranked upset of the evening, Smith lost in a close one, falling 8-11 to Geog marking the fourth unranked upset for the Hokies in what was turning out to be a disappointing evening. 
 
And in the final bout of the evening, No. 20 Hunter Catka faced off against No. 25 Nick Feldman hoping to finish things off on a high note. In traditional heavyweight fashion, it was a fight to the end, but Feldman ended up taking the final bout of the night in a 3-2 decision. 


 
Virginia Tech returns to Cassell Coliseum Sunday at 4 p.m. for a home dual against American University. The Hokies look to bounce back against an unranked American team.