No. 7 Hokies open conference competition with win over No. 14 PittNo. 7 Hokies open conference competition with win over No. 14 Pitt
Wrestling

No. 7 Hokies open conference competition with win over No. 14 Pitt

PITTSBURGH, PA – The No. 7 Virginia Tech wrestling (5-2, 1-0) split ten matches and held on late to open with a 18-15 road win against conference foe No. 14 Pitt (7-2, 0-1) on Friday night. Led by veterans No. 4 Eddie Ventresca and No. 17 Tom Crook, Tech was powered by two bonus point wins of their five individual victories which proved to be the difference makers against a tough Panther squad.

First Five Fuel Victory

The Hokies rattled off five straight wins to start off the dual in Pittsburgh highlighted by lead off man two-time All-American and defending ACC champion Ventresca and two-time NCAA qualifier Crook providing crucial bonus point wins.

  • Ventresca was surgical on his feet with a 6:31 19-4 tech fall – securing six takedowns and an escape to continue his strong season campaign at 125-pounds
  • At 133-pounds, No. 11 Dillon Campbell took a 5-1 decision in the dual’s first ranked bout. Campbell scored via an escape, a takedown in the second period, and riding time point to push the Hokie lead through two bouts
  • Crook showed veteran poise at 141-pounds with a shoutout 8-0 victory over a surging No. 24 Anthony Santaniello. Crook racked up two takedowns, an escape, and riding time point to keep momentum on the Hokies’ side
  • A Pennsylvania native, Collin Gaj made his dual debut at 149-pounds in gritty fashion. After a heavy scramble-populated first and second period, Gaj was able to secure a takedown in the second period as time expired to take the lead against No. 24 Kade Brown. Gaj would add two escapes and fend off a frenzy by the Panther freshman to secure the 5-4 dec for the Hokies
  • Also making his Tech dual debut was graduate transfer Ethen Miller at 157-pounds. Unranked at 157-pounds, Miller defeated recently crowned Midlands champion No. 18 Dylan Evans with a 4-2 decision. Miller scored the lone takedown of the bout which proved to be the difference and give the Hokies a team lead they would not surrender

Tech returns to competition at home for one of college wrestling’s most unique experiences – wrestling in a sold-out Center for the Arts at Virginia Tech. The Hokies host App State on Friday at 7 p.m. ET live on ACCN Extra. Follow Hokies Wrestling on X, Instagram, and Facebook for all the latest Virginia Tech Wrestling news and updates.

Full Dual Results

No. 7 Virginia Tech – 18 | No. 14 Pittsburgh – 15

125 | No. 4 Eddie Ventresca (VT) TECH FALL Tyler Chappell (PITT), 19-4 6:31

133 | No. 11 Dillon Campbell (VT) DEC No. 29 Evan Tallmadge (PITT), 5-1

141 | No. 17 Tom Crook (VT) MAJ DEC No. 24 Anthony Santaniello (PITT), 8-0

149 | Collin Gaj (VT) DEC No. 24 Kade Brown (PITT), 5-4

157 | Ethen Miller (VT) DEC No. 18 Dylan Evans (PITT), 4-2

165 | Mac Church (VT) loss via dec Jared Keslar (PITT), 2-4

174 | Sergio Desiante (VT) loss via dec No. 23 Luca Augustine (PITT), 1-2 TB1

184 | No. 32 Jaden Bullock (VT) loss via dec Chase Kranitz, 6-9

197 | No. 17 Sonny Sasso (VT) loss via dec No. 11 Mac Stout (PITT), 4-11

285 | No. 12 Jimmy Mullen (VT) loss via dec No. 17 Dayton Pitzer (PITT), 0-1