It was once again unbelievable in Blacksburg on Friday night as No. 10 Virginia Tech wrestling (9-2, 5-1) handed rivals No. 7 NC State (11-2, 5-1) their first conference loss for a share of the conference regular season title in front of a record crowd in Cassell Coliseum.
With the win, Tech secured the seventh trophy in the Tony Robie era since taking over the program in 2017.
The 2023 All-American No. 5 Eddie Ventresca has returned to form and put himself in title contention with a 4-1 victory over No. 3 Vincent Robinson in thrilling fashion to seal the dual for the Hokies with one match remaining. It was a close first period with both wrestlers nearing a score but to no avail, ending the first period scoreless. Robinson would get on the board first with an escape in the second to which Ventresca responded in kind with an escape of his own in the third. With time dwindling down in regulation tied at one, Ventresca struck again for the deciding – and clinching – takedown to secure the match and the dual meet.
The Hokies celebrated 16 seniors before the final dual of the season in what was the final walk to Cassell floor for seniors Sam Latona, Andy Smith, Connor McGonagle, and Lennox Wolak. The steadfast leader – and immortalized figure in Hokies Wrestling history – Latona led the way with the first win of the dual.
In his final match in Cassell, No. 10 Sam Latona was the first Hokie to take the mat to start off the top-10 dual between program rivals. Latona met Troy Hohman for the Wolfpack in what was a near bonus point victory for the Hokie. Latona struck first with a takedown and would add an escape, riding time, and two stall points to take the 7-0 decision. After six seasons – and three weight classes – in Blacksburg, the Alabaster, Alabama native was congratulated with a standing ovation as he put the Hokies in front.
The local native No. 16 Andy Smith delivered a signature victory over fellow ranked No. 31 Christian Knopp at 197-pounds. Smith would pressure early and often but wouldn’t be able to finish a takedown in the first period. It was Knopp getting on the board first with an escape in the second period, but Smith would answer with one of his own to even the score in the third period. Smith would again pursue more offense, still unable to find a score, but the persistence would pay off as the senior would warrant another stall against Knopp and take the match with a 2-1 victory.
The defending champion is still unblemished in his hunt for a second national title. Caleb “The Hitman” Henson was dominant in a 5-1 decision over No. 22 Koy Beusgens at 149-pounds to give the Hokies their second win of the evening. Despite being slowed down by the Wolfpack wrestler, Henson controlled from start to finish, scoring a takedown in the first and garnering a stall point, riding time, and an escape.
It was a top-15 battle as redshirt freshman No. 12 Rafael Hipolito, Jr. took on No. 15 Ed Scott. In an anticipated high-scoring match, it was opposite of that but with multiple bursts of exciting scrambles and savvy defense by Hipolito. Hipolito would get on the board first with two nearfall points in the second period and would never surrender the lead. Scott would pick up an escape and a stall call, but Hipolito would garner an escape in the third period and hold the 3-2 lead to put the Hokies up 9-0 in the dual.
A big win at 165-pounds as Mac Church returned to the win column with a ranked victory over No. 28 Derek Fields. After escapes exchanged by both competitors and yielding no additional score in regulation, extra time was added on the clock. In a crucial match of the dual, it was Church digging deep in sudden victory rideouts with Church riding out the whole first exchange and executing sound defense to hold the 2-1 victory over the NCSU wrestler for the second time this season.
Virginia Tech Athletics