RALEIGH, NC – The No. 13 Virginia Tech wrestling team (9-4, 4-1) won four matches on Friday night but fell short against No. 8 NC State (16-2, 5-0) in the regular season finale in Raleigh, 12-20. Caleb Henson, Connor Brady, Mekhi Lewis, and Thomas Stewart, Jr. led the Hokies in a conference runner-up finish for the Hokies. Tech now turns its sights to the ACC Championships in Chapel Hill, NC on March 10, 2023.
It was a top-three battle at 149-pounds to get the dual started as No. 2 Caleb Henson took the mat against No. 3 Jackson Arrington in Reynolds Coliseum. Henson would score the only takedown of the match in the first period off an Arrington attack to take the lead and wouldn't look back. Henson would add an escape in the second after starting on bottom to push his lead and would surrender only an escape in the third to put the Hokies on the board first with the 4-1 decision.
Caleb Henson big fan of scoring at the end of periods.#Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/iDSbq4gGOl
— Virginia Tech Wrestling (@HokiesWrestling) February 24, 2024
At 165-pounds it was No. 22 Connor Brady with a critical win for the Hokies over No. 12 Derek Fields. Brady would push for an aggressive hand-fighting pace, paying off in the third period. Brady would secure the go-ahead takedown with :30 left in the bout to take the upset and give the Hokies another lead in the dual.
CONNOR BRADY WITH THE CLUTCH!#Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/O0ZwjnQCbP
— Virginia Tech Wrestling (@HokiesWrestling) February 24, 2024
Wrestling in the last dual of his storied career was No. 2 Mekhi Lewis at 174-pounds. Lewis faced off against No. 30 Alex Faison for the third time in their careers with Lewis pushing his series to 3-0 in dominant fashion on Friday night. Lewis would score early and rideout the first period then add another takedown in the second period along with an escape, riding time point, and a stall call to take the 9-2 decision. With the win, Lewis improved to 13-0 on the season and had not surrendered an offensive point throughout the regular season.
Whole lot of POP from the Kid from Somerset!#Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/jciAZaTcsR
— Virginia Tech Wrestling (@HokiesWrestling) February 24, 2024
In another upset of the night, it was redshirt freshman No. 24 Thomas Stewart, Jr. with a controlling 7-2 victory over No. 7 Dylan Fishback at 184-pounds. In a battle of ACC Co-Wrestlers of the Week, it was the Hokie who would come out on top for his second top-10 victory in as many matches. Stewart would strike early in the first period and add another takedown in the third period to seal the match.
You shouldn't be that big and that fast... but TJ Stewart is.#Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/o2hUerwioq
— Virginia Tech Wrestling (@HokiesWrestling) February 24, 2024
The Hokies now turn their sights to the ACC Championships in two weeks in Chapel Hill, NC on March 10. Follow Hokies Wrestling on X, Instagram, and Facebook for all the latest news and updates.
No. 13 Virginia Tech – 12, No. 8 NC State – 20
Official Dual Results
149-pounds
No. 2 Caleb Henson (VT) DEC No. 3 Jackson Arrington (NCSU), 4-1
157-pounds
Rafael Hipolito, Jr. (VT) loss No. 12 Ed Scott (NCSU), 7-12
165-pounds
No. 22 Connor Brady DEC No. 12 Derek Fields (NCSU), 4-2
174-pounds
No. 2 Mekhi Lewis (VT) DEC No. 30 Alex Faison (NCSU), 9-2
184-pounds
No. 24 Thomas Stewart, Jr. (VT) DEC No. 7 Dylan Fishback (NCSU), 7-2
197-pounds
No. 26 Andy Smith (VT) loss No. 2 Trent Hidlay (NCSU), 3-18, 7:00
285-pounds
Jimmy Mullen (VT) loss No. 15 Owen Trephan (NCSU), 1-4
125-pounds
No. 3 Cooper Flynn (VT) loss No. 14 Jakob Camacho (NCSU)
133-pounds
No. 13 Sam Latona (VT) loss No. 4 Kai Orine (NCSU), 1-2
141-pounds
No. 15 Tom Crook (VT) loss No. 4 Ryan Jack (NCSU), 3-7