BLACKSBURG, VA – The No. 12 Virginia Tech wrestling team opened conference competition with a resounding 33-3 victory over the North Carolina Tar Heels in Cassell on Friday night. The Hokies improve to 5-3, 1-0 on the season with the start of ACC slate thanks to upset victories highlighted by No. 14 Tom Crook and No. 26 Andy Smith. Tech also registered four bonus point victories on the evening.
It was No. 14 Tom Crook with the bout of the evening in a 5-4 upset victory over No. 5 Lachlan McNeil at 141-pounds to epitomize the kind of night it was for the Hokies in the opening weekend of ACC dual competition. Crook would surrender the first takedown in the first period but would earn an escape to close the gap as the period ended. McNeil would take a bottom to begin the second period and earn an escape as Crook would once again trail by three going into the final frame. The Tampa, Florida native would earn an escape and apply pressure into the final minute of the bout. With just under :30 left in the period, Crook would go cross ankle pick and ride out the bout for his first top-5 career victory.
Also highlighting the night for the home team and getting the Hokies on the board first was Christiansburg, Virginia native No. 26 Andy Smith at 197-pounds with an upset victory over No. 19 Max Shaw via decision. It was a relentless handfight and forward pressure from Smith from the start that would eventually wear on the higher ranked Tar Heel. The two would enter the third period tied at one via escapes exchanged by both competitors but it would be Smith who would secure a knee pull and convert for the takedown to ultimately take the bout 4-2 and tying the dual at three through two bouts.
Keeping the momentum going was No. 21 Hunter Catka with a dominating performance over North Carolina's Cade Lautt at 285-pounds. Catka would rack up the 14-5 major decision courtesy of four takedowns, an escape, and over 2:45 of riding time to pick up four points to add to the Hokies' team score and lead the dual 7-3.
The lightweight duo of No. 6 Cooper Flynn and No. 11 Sam Latona pushed Tech's lead even further. Flynn would snag a 4-2 decision victory over No. 29 Spencer Moore at 125-pounds in what was his third straight win over a ranked opponent. Adding more points to the team score and lighting up the scoreboard in his own bout was Latona to the tune of four takedowns and four nearfall via cradle to complete a dominant 19-3 tech fall over North Carolina's Jace Palmer to push the team score in favor of the Hokies, 15-3.
No. 2 Caleb Henson continues to do Hitman things with a 19-3 tech fall over Will Guida in 5:24. Henson would rack up five takedowns and three nearfall in a dominant display to move to 21-1 and his eighth tech fall of the season in his sensational sophomore campaign. Clayton Ulrey rebounded from his App State outing with a gritty 4-1 victory over Sonny Santiago. Ulrey would secure the winning takedown with :15 left in the bout to continue the Hokies' dominant evening in Blacksburg.
Making his return to the lineup after an absence against was No. 23 Connor Brady in a 4-2 victory over Isaias Estrada at 165-pounds. Brady was dominant throughout the evening and would secure the lone takedown of the bout in the closing seconds of the second period to push the Hokies' lead 29-3 with one bout remaining. It was none other than No. 2 Mekhi Lewis to close out the night against Tyler Eischens at 174-pounds. Lewis would rack up three takedowns, an escape, and riding time to secure the 11-3 major decision to put an exclamation point on the night in his second to last Cassell match in his storied career. Lewis moves to 8-0 on the season with five bonus points.
The Hokies return to action on February 2 in Charlottesville to take on Virginia in the Commonwealth Clash at 7 p.m. in John Paul Jones Arena.
No. 12 Virginia Tech – 33, North Carolina – 3
Friday, January 26, 2024; Blacksburg, VA
Match Results
184-pounds
TJ Stewart (VT) loss No. 23 Gavin Kane (UNC), 8-11 SV
197-pounds
No. 26 Andy Smith (VT) DEC No. 19 Max Shaw (UNC), 4-2
285-pounds
No. 21 Hunter Catka (VT) MAJ DEC Cade Lautt (UNC), 14-5
125-pounds
No. 6 Cooper Flynn (VT) DEC No. 29 Spencer Moore (UNC), 4-2
133-pounds
No. 11 Sam Latona (VT) TECH FALL Jace Palmer (UNC), 19-3, 6:05
141-pounds
No. 14 Tom Crook (VT) DEC No. 5 Lachlan McNeil (UNC), 5-4
149-pounds
No. 2 Caleb Henson (VT) TECH FALL Wil Guida (UNC), 19-3, 5:24
157-pounds
Clayton Ulrey (VT) DEC Sonny Santiago (UNC), 4-1
165-pounds
No. 23 Connor Brady (VT) DEC Isaias Estrada (UNC), 4-2
174-pounds
No. 2 Mekhi Lewis (VT) MAJ DEC Tyler Eischens (UNC), 11-3Gallery: (1-26-2024) WRE: North Carolina Match