Hey sorry for the lack of wrestling updates. Seasonal depression has been kicking my ass the past month. But enough about me let's get to the preview of the match. So the hokies are coming off a big win Against the Stall Puppies of North Carolina Stall university and now look to defend Cassell again against the Pitt Panthers. The number #24 Pitt are coming off a destruction of UVA 25-6 and have quietly built a solid lineup. 4 top 10 wrestlers and 8 out of the 10 weights they are ranked. I'm gonna talk about some important matches/things to watch out for
125: Cooper Flynn vs Colton Camacho. Robie has been not happy with Eddie V performances lately so Cooper will be getting the start
141: Tom Crook vs Cole Matthews. Crook almost got a signature win against Ryan Jack but came up short. I want him to get a big win to get around that top 8 spot in the country.
157: Bryce Andonian vs Castro. Look for Bryce to get another bonus point win here
197: Andy Smith OR TJ Stewart vs Nino Bonaccorsi. Would love to see what TJ could do tbh but also wouldn't mind seeing if Smith can pull another upset and Solidify him as a top 12ish wrestler
Comments
Let's go
HOKIES!!
Pack The Cassell! The match happens tonight (Friday) at 7 on the ACCN.
If this is anything like the last match I'm looking forward to it even if I have no idea how wrasslin' really works. Go Hokies!
Bad news. Was not like last match in a bad way
Yeah that was quite rough.
APH, glad you're back. love the wrasslin updates. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the write up! Didn't get to watch all of last match like I wanted to, however the matches I did see were Andonian and Smith for the upset so cant complain
Official pre-match story from HokieSports
Match starts at 7 tonight and will be covered on ACCN
Thank you for these posts. When I was tapped in the Tampa area as an alum, I learned about wrestling from some awesome guys that went to our university. Over the weeks/years I finally learned the sport as we would meet and discuss at Lee Roy Selmons. It makes me happy to see how much it has grown and how proud of a program we have now.
As an added bonus, I wear a VT hat to all my meetings. An NCSU alum was running it. He made sure to ask me vaguely if I knew we beat them in wrestling. Thanks to y'all I looked like a genius and even said the final score. I do try and still follow when I can.
Excited to see what Flynn can do. He's look pretty good this year and has a more offensive style. Latona vs Phillippi is a huge match. Latona has been wrestling great and could add another top 10 win to his resume. Tom Crook had a tough test against Mathews but he is beatable. He has limited offense so just keep it toght and finish quick to get a win. Brady has another chance against a beatable ranked opponent, hopefully he can finish his shots and get the win. At 197 they could put in TJ Stewart to try to protect Andy Smiths seed for ACCs. Either way it will be very difficult to slow down Bonaccorsi. He's pretty relentless. Not sure if Pitt will send out their starting heavyweight or not. Read he might not be completely healthy. Hokies can't afford to drop 4 SV matches again.
I heard Pitzler might not go cause they trying to save his redshirt
Either way if he doesn't go it gives Tech a lot more breathing room in the dual.
Can someone explain why that was a fall? Only one shoulder down?
Ref didn't see it that way.
About the worst start we could have.
Off to a bad start. I hate the 30 second ride out overtime rule... but it is what it is.
Tiebreaker rules are absolute bullshit. Rewards wrestlers for doing absolute nothing
Agreed. Latona was the better wrestler there.
I can't believe Phillippi didn't even get a stall warning. He didn't take a single shot. The ref had his eyes closed. It's bad for wrestling.
So why can't wrestling just keep adding sudden victory periods until somebody gets a takedown? Seems like that would be better than the current nonsense.
The problem would quickly become that the wrestlers would both be gassed so it would fall on the ref to call stalling.
Hokies already on the ropes. The Latona match is what's wrong with wrestling. Latona generates all the action, Phillippi takes 0 shots all match and doesn't even get a stall warning. Latona loses in rideouts. Pitt up 9-0.
Not an ideal start.....
This is not good
Hokies can't lose any more toss ups and need a pile of bonus points or upsets. Need BA and Bolen to get some turns.
Caleb Henson with a big 14-2 major decision
Almost felt bad for the Pitt kid, his elbow must have been fucked by the end
I don't. It's Pitt and Wentzel tore Mekhi's bicep with a questionable ride.
Great job to get the bonus point. Henson is an extremely well rounded wrestler which is so impressive for a true freshman.
Well rounded and very high wrestling IQ
15-1 major decision By Bryce Andonian
This official refuses to call stalling on guys not taking shots. Casto didn't do anything but stall after the first scramble that caught him on his back.
Brady just ain't it
Brady is pathetic on bottom. He gets ridden out by mediocre wrestlers regularly.
I've been so unimpressed with Brady all year. He can't finish shots and gets manhandled on top. Hopefully he can figure something out.
Its been like this since Brady has gotten to college
Unfortunately Nicholson turned out to be pretty underwhelming. They'll probably be in the market for another transfer next year unless one of the recruits can start.
I am lowkey excited for Rafael hipolito tbh
Is he forecast for 165? I love his BJJ pedigree. The spots open all he has to do is take it.
165/174 is where is he is projected
Come on Lewis need a tech fall
Pizter is wrestling tonight
Lewis with a 14-4 decision. 15-12 pitt with 3 matches left
Welp that's ballgame
Wow.
Why can't we have nice things.
I legit think tech got voodoo cursed by someone. I don't how to explain all the weird sports shit that has happened
Bolen pulls a Jared Haught. Was trying to get back points to give the team a chance and instead gives up a pin. If he wrestled that for himself he cruises to a regular decision.
Sloppy wrestling. Time to tune into Iowa/Penn St
Frustrating. Like most tech sports 😤
26-12 final pitt
I have barely any words to say. Thanks Henson Andonian and Lewis for showing up. Latona I don't blame you for a ref that doesn't wanna do his job. Andy you didn't do bad. The rest of yall need a talking to and by talking I mean yelled at into oblivion tbh
I feel for Bolen to an extent. I think he was trying to push for the team and get a bonus point or pin and simply got stuck. That's wrestling.
Yeah I know just reeeeee
14-26 WTF?
Pain
Better times
2022
Duke shut out!
No. 9 Hokies – 45, Blue Devils – 0
Official Results
125 – Eddie Ventresca TECH FALL Ethan Grimminger (Duke), 17-2
133 – No. 7 Sam Latona MAJ DEC Logan Agin (Duke), 15-5
141 – No. 12 Tom Crook MAJ DEC Christian Colman (Duke), 11-2
149 – No. 8 Caleb Henson TECH FALL Patrick Rowland (Duke)
157 – No. 5 Bryce Andonian FALL Logan Ferrero (Duke), 2:40
165 – No. 26 Connor Brady DEC Gabe Dinette (Duke), 12-5
174 – No. 3 Mekhi Lewis Forfeit
184 – Sam Fisher MAJ DEC Luke Chakonis (Duke), 15-6
197 – TJ Stewart MAJ DEC Brayden Ray (Duke), 14-6
285 – No. 23 Hunter Catka MAJ DEC Connor Barkert (Duke), 14-6
Gorram, that's a whipping.
HOLY BONUS POINTS, BATMAN!
This may be a dumb question but do you need tickets for wrestling matches? I want to go to the UNC match this Friday but can't seem to find any useful information.
I'd just walk up! If you need a ticket, it would not be much.
Not for home matches. I don't know about at UNC though. Have fun, should be exciting.
Thanks I'm going to go and see what happens. GO HOKIES!!
Says it is free.
https://goheels.com/sports/2020/10/21/non-ticketed-sports.aspx
Smoked uncheat!
BA was a letdown. He made his couple of mistakes and Connor took advantage.
No. 8 Virginia Tech vs North Carolina
Results
125 – Eddie Ventresca DEC No. 17 Jack Wagner (UNC), 7-2
133 – No. 7 Sam Latona MAJ DEC Jace Palmer (UNC), 12-3
141 – No. 11 Tom Crook loss No. 12 Lachlan McNeil (UNC), 3-12
149 – No. 8 Caleb Henson DEC Wil Guida (UNC), 4-0
157 – No. 5 Bryce Andonian loss No. 3 Austin O'Connor (UNC), 3-11
165 – No. 27 Connor Brady DEC Joey Mazzara (UNC), 4-2
174 – No. 3 Mekhi Lewis FALL Michael Goldfeder (UNC), 4:55
184 – No. 7 Hunter Bolen DEC No. 11 Gavin Kane (UNC), 6-0
197 – No. 22 Andy Smith DEC Cade Lautt (UNC), 10-3
285 – No. 20 Hunter Catka vs Brandon Whitman (UNC), 6-2
That was fun to watch! It looked like VT had more fans there too.
Like a Duke FB game! Or Miami!
Ventresca looked like he returned to form. Wrestle like that and he will win the ACC. Bolen flipped the script against Kane and absolutely dominated.
I'm thinking top 10 maybe 5 at Champs!
O'Connor really knows how to control BA in their matches. Also BA is a small 157 O'Connor looks high at 157
Big difference an extra season at that weight makes. O'Connor did a great job of controlling the ties and then converting quick shots that made it hard for Andonian to counter. I think BA's sprawling and counter offense is strong, just gets overshadowed by his throws and top game.