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Road warrior No. 5 Bassett upends No. 1 Stanich as No. 5 Hokies dominate No.12 Lehigh in BethlehemRoad warrior No. 5 Bassett upends No. 1 Stanich as No. 5 Hokies dominate No.12 Lehigh in Bethlehem
Wrestling

Road warrior No. 5 Bassett upends No. 1 Stanich as No. 5 Hokies dominate No.12 Lehigh in Bethlehem

No. 5 Virginia Tech wrestling handles No. 12 Lehigh on the road, winning eight of ten matches including five bonus Hokie wins

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BETHLEHEM, PA - The No.5 Virginia Tech wrestling team made a statement to open their 2026-2027 dual schedule with a drumming over No. 12 Lehigh on Friday night to move to 1-0 on the season. The Hokies won eight of ten bouts on the evening, notching five via bonus point wins to a 30-6 final. In a battle of four world championships between them, No. 5 Bo Bassett highlighted the evening with a main event thriller against No. 1 Luke Stanich, notably the last domestic loss of Bassett's career in over a year.

In front of a wrestling faithful sold-out crowd of 5,814, the Hokies and the Mountain Hawks thrilled fans all evening long to culminate in a main event between two world champions and an intertwined history. Leading up to a pay-per-view finish, the Hokies struck first and struck strong to never look back on an authoritative statement over the No. 12 team in the country. Tech's eight bout wins were powered by five bonus point victories from No. 3 Aaron Seidel, Drew Gorman, Mac Church, No. 18 Ryan Burton, and No. 8 Sonny Sasso. Tech then added three decisions from No. 6 Eddie Ventresca, Bassett, and No. 23 Jaden Bullock.

Worlds Collide to End the Night

Stabler Arena was the place to be with all the eyes of the wrestling world locked in for a battle of world champions – and the top spot at 141-pounds – as recently crowned double U20 and senior world champion No. 5 Bo Bassett facing the last domestic competitor to defeat him back in June 2025, the 2025 U20 world champion and two-time All-American No. 1 Luke Stanich. Right out of the gate it was a flurry of hand fighting between the two competitors with Bassett striking first to lead 3-1 after a Stanich escape right at the end of the first period. Basset would add two more takedowns and a stall point to his total to lead 9-2 with over a minute of riding time to end the second. Two escapes and another stall point would push Bassett’s lead to 13-9 after Stanich made it interesting with two takedowns. The Hokie would fend off the No. 1 ranked Mountain Hawk to put an explanation mark on the evening and make a statement – best in the nation, best in the world.

Bethlehem Bonus Party

Five Hokies went on a bonus point run to ice the first dual season victory for Virginia Tech. Second year Drew Gorman got the dual started for Tech with an emphatic 17-2 technical fall at 149-pounds in short time over Kelvin Griffin. Gorman struck early and big with a takedown right to back points to lead 7-0 early before adding another takedown to close out the first period. Gorman would add another takedown and four more swipes to finish the bout 17-2 just 0:36 into the second period.

After a close loss at 157-pounds, it was two-time NCAA qualifier and ACC runner-up Mac Church got the Hokies back on track and didn’t let up with a bonus point win of his own – a 10-0 major decision win over Richie Grungo. Church scored first with an escape and an illegal point before adding a takedown and four near fall to close out the second period with a comfortable 9-0 lead. Church put on a gritty third period ride out to add on a riding time point for the shoutout 10-0 major decision.

Following up was 2026 U20 world bronze medalist No. 18 Ryan Burton at 174-pounds adding a dominant major decision over Brady Collins to add the Hokie bonus tally. Burton was dominant from start to finish to continue his undefeated season. Burton scored three takedowns in the opening period to lead 9-2 before adding seven points to his total via penalty point, two escapes, a takedown, and riding time point for the 16-6 victory.

Lehigh valley legend No. 8 Sonny Sasso made his season debut in a return to the area that saw him become a two-time state champion and high school gridiron sensation. Sasso did not disappoint with a dominant showing with a third period technical fall over Lehigh’s Cael Weidemoyer. Sasso led 3-0 to end the first before adding a takedown and four back points along with 2:42 riding time entering the third period. Sasso got two more takedowns in the third to end the match 16-1 before the regulation buzzer.

Sophomore sensation No. 3 Aaron Seidel finished off right where he left off his phenomenal freshman season with yet another bonus point victory in his young career. The 2026 U20 world champion and returning All-American was his buzzsaw self once again, securing a controlling 14-2 major decision over Lehigh’s Keanu Dillard, one of the few losses of Seidel’s Pennsylvania high school career. With seven state titles between the two Pennsylvania legends, it was the North Lebanon Hokie who controlled the bout from the start with four takedowns, a stall point, and a riding time point to finish off the bonus point party with a Tech major decision.

The Vets Find a Way

No. 6 Eddie Ventresca made his last first dual appearance of his career with a controlling 4-2 decision against Mason Ziegler at 125-pounds. Ventresca was in on multiple shots but couldn’t find a finish till a clean single to double for the lone takedown of the match. He would add an escape and fend off a sprinting Ziegler in the closing period for the first win of his final campaign.

No. 23 Jaden Bullock bounced back from a third-place finish at the Southeast Open with a ranked victory over former Michigan teammate No. 13 Rylan Rogers on Friday night. After near offensive scores by both competitors in the first two periods, it was a tied bout at 1 a piece via escapes exchanged entering the final minute before Bullock found a knee pull to a double leg finish for the deciding takedown for the 4-3 decision win.

No. 5 Virginia Tech – 30, No. 12 Lehigh – 6

Results

149 | Drew Gorman (VT) TECH FALL Kelvin Griffin (LEH), 17-2 3:36

157 | No. 8 Collin Gaj (VT) loss via dec No. 15 Logan Rozynski (LEH), 3-5

165 | Mac Church (VT) MAJ DEC Richie Grungo (LEH), 10-0

174 | No. 18 Ryan Burton (VT) MAJ DEC Brady Collins (LEH), 16-6

184 | No. 23 Jaden Bullock (VT) DEC No. 12 Rylan Rogers (LEH), 4-3

197 | No. 8 Sonny Sasso (VT) TECH FALL Cael Weidemoyer (LEH), 17-1

285 | No. 13 Jimmy Mullen (VT) loss via dec No. 5 Nathan Taylor (LEH), 0-6

125 | No. 6 Eddie Ventresca (VT) DEC Mason Ziegler (LEH), 4-2

133 | No. 3 Aaron Seidel (VT) MAJ DEC Keanu Dillard (LEH), 14-2

141 | No. 5 Bo Bassett (VT) DEC No. 1 Luke Stanich (LEH), 13-9