Virginia Tech Wrestling takes on UVA at home for senior day.
๐๐ฃ๐ ๐๐๐จ๐ฉ ๐๐๐ข๐ ๐๐ฃ๐๐๐ง ๐พ๐๐จ๐จ๐๐ก๐ก ๐๐๐๐๐ฉ๐จ ๐ฐHokies ๐ Hoos๐๏ธ Feb. 17, 2023๐ฐ Cassell Coliseumโ๏ธ 7PM EST๐ซ FREE๐บ ACCN Extra๐ @HokiesWrestling ๐ฐ https://t.co/LB6aE6ZuCHยป @SmithfieldBrand #CommonwealthClash#Team100 #Hokies #ALLINALLTHETIME ๐ฆ pic.twitter.com/BPiUMqFr0aโ Virginia Tech Wrestling (@HokiesWrestling) February 17, 2023
The Hokies will recognize six seniors, Hunter Bolen, Mekhi Lewis, Collin Gerardi, Jordan Florence, Brandon Wittenberg, and Drew Nicholson. Mekhi Lewis does have one year of eligibility left if he wants it. Before the season it sounded like it was pretty up in the air if he returns as he has been in the program since 2017. Hunter Bolen has made the most of his final run, returning to form and on track to make another AA run. Collin Gerardi has been a great team guy. He contributed for a good bit of his career and stuck around after getting passed by Crook. He's a Virginia guy and the type of wrestler that the Hokies rely on to be successful. He might get one last match tonight which would be cool.
No. 9 Virginia Tech vs Virginia
Probables
125 โ No. 23 Eddie Ventresca vs Patrick McCormick (Virginia)
133 โ No. 6 Sam Latona vs Marlon Yarbrough II (Virginia)
141 โ No. 12 Tom Crook or Collin Gerardi vs Dylan Cedeno (Virginia)
149 โ No. 8 Caleb Henson vs No. 26 Jarod Verkleeren (Virginia)
157 โ No. 5 Bryce Andonian vs Jake Keating (Virginia)
165 โ No. 27 Connor Brady vs No. 17 Justin McCoy (Virginia)
174 โ No. 3 Mekhi Lewis vs Vic Marcelli (Virginia)
184 โ No. 7 Hunter Bolen vs No. 16 Neil Antrassian (Virginia)
197 โ No. 22 Andy Smith vs No. 25 Michael Battista (Virginia)
285 โ No. 19 Hunter Catka vs Ethan Weatherspoon (Virginia)
The big matches are 125, 165, and 197. Ventresca looked great in his win last week and needs to keep up the momentum going against a veteran opponent before tournament season. Brady has a very winnable match that could really help his seeding. Smith has a chance to potentially secure the 2 seed for ACCs but has a tough match against a guy known for his gas tank so he has give high effort the full 7 minutes.
Hokies should win the dual but a blowout would mean they won the toss ups which is critical for making a trophy run at the ACC Tournament.
Comments
Let's Go!!
Do the wrestling guys get the same Covid year as basketball and football?
Hokies!!
Yes, every college athlete competing in 19-20 for Spring sports and 20-21 for Fall/Winter sports is eligible for the extra year.
Unfortunately, the two best matches of the night may not take place.
@197. Smith has clinched the #2 seed in the ACCT (win %). While I think he would beat Battista, he could drop to a 4-seed with a loss. Bona from Pitt is a stud so would be great to avoid him.
@165. Similarly, McCoy for UVA has the #2 seed locked up. If he were to lose to Brady and Singleton wins at UNC, then Singleton would get the 2-seed, Brady a 3-seed, and McCoy would fall to a 4-seed. If McCoy doesn't go and Singelton wins, Brady will fall to the 4-seed (even if he beats the backup for UVA).
It sucks because teams are incentivized to strategically avoid the best matchups of the dual.
Standings below are courtesy of VTDante on TSL:
Trying to predict our guys' seeds based on tonights results:
125: Ventresca #2 (Slight chance he is #3)
133: Latona #2 (Slight chance he is #1)
141: Crook #4
149: Henson #1
157: Andonian #2
165: Brady #4
174: Lewis #1
184: Bolen #3
197: Smith #2
HWT: Catka #4
Won 33-3. Dominated the boohoos!
Brady drops a tough match as the only loss for the Hokies.
First Duel I've watched since the first NC St. Absolutely dominant performance against a solid and pretty experienced UVA squad.