Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - Head coach Kevin Dresser picked up his 100th career win as the eighth-ranked Virginia Tech wrestling team downed American, 30-9, and Manchester, 59-0, Sunday evening inside Cassell Coliseum to improve to 7-0 on the season.
Freshman Joey Dance got the first bout started off on the right foot at 125 pounds, upsetting 12th-ranked David Terao 3-1 in the tiebreaker. In the first 30-second tiebreaker, Dance rode Terao for the whole 30 seconds and then got a reversal with 5 seconds left to pick up the win. Erik Spjut dropped a 2-1 decision in the first tiebreaker to Esteban Gomez-Ramirez to tie up the match, but the Hokies then went on a six-match win streak to quickly put it away.
Gerald Ronnau made his varsity debut at 141 pounds and it was a successful one as he picked up a first-period pin of Matthew Crockett. Devin Carter, ranked third in the country at 141 pounds, bumped up to 149 pounds and didn’t miss a beat, pinning Mark Cirello at the 3:31 mark for his fifth pin in sixth matches this season. Sal Mastriani jumped out to a big lead on John Boyle at 157 pounds, but had to get a reversal with 2 seconds left to pull out the 10-8 win. Chris Moon rolled at 165, picking up a 10-5 win over Marcos Peralta. Austin Gabel took care of business at 174 pounds, earning a 10-3 win over Keithen Cast at 174 pounds before Nick Vetterlein eased to an 8-4 win over Jason Grimes at 184 pounds.
At 197 pounds, Chris Penny gave 12th-ranked Daniel Mitchell all he wanted and was trailing just 8-6 with under a minute left. Penny shot in on Mitchell and had a chance, but got into a bad position and Mitchell got the quick pin with just 26 seconds left. Ty Walz continued his torrid start to the season, picking up his second win of the weekend over a ranked opponent. The freshman heavyweight got two takedowns on No. 15 Blake Herrin and held off a late attack to pick up the big 6-5 victory.
In the second match, the Hokies blanked Division III Manchester University out of Indiana, 59-0. Tech picked up eight pins and a forfeit win to move to 7-0. Ronnau picked up his second pin of the day and Carter again pinned his opponent, giving him six pins in seven matches this season. The fall gave him 28 for his career, moving him into fourth place all-time at Tech for career pins (Sean Gray, 45). Chad Strube picked up a pin in his lone action of the day. Manchester is coached by former Hokie wrestler Matt Burlingame.
With the wins, Tech head coach Kevin Dresser picked up his 100th coaching victory. He becomes the third Tech coach to reach the century mark in terms of coaching wins, joining Jerry Cheynet (188 wins; 1974-96) while Frank Teske had 122 wins from 1951-74. he currently sits at 100-41 in eight seasons.
Tech (7-0) will be back in action next weekend, opening up ACC play at No. 18 Virginia on Sunday at John Paul Jones Arena. Action is set to begin at 1 p.m. The team will head straight to Norfolk to take on Old Dominion the following night.
#8 Virginia Tech (6-0) 30, American (0-1) 9
125: #20 Joey Dance (VT) dec. #12 David Terao, 3-1 (TB-1)
133: Esteban Gomez-Rivera (AU) dec. Erik Spjut, 2-1 (TB-1)
141: Gerald Ronnau (VT) fall Matthew Crockett, 2:17
149: #3 Devin Carter (VT) fall Mark Cirello, 3:31
157: Sal Mastriani (VT) dec. John Boyle, 10-8
165: #16 Chris Moon (VT) dec. Marcos Peralta, 10-5
174: Austin Gabel (VT) dec. Keithen Cast, 10-3
184: Nick Vetterlein (VT) dec. Jason Grimes, 8-4
197: #12 Daniel Mitchell (AU) fall Chris Penny, 6:34
285: Ty Walz (VT) dec. #15 Blake Herrin, 6-5
#8 Virginia Tech (7-0) 59, Manchester (1-1), 0
125: Joey Dance (VT) fall Alan Mock, 3:59
133: Erik Spjut (VT) fall Kalib Jackson, 6:26
141: Gerald Ronnau (VT) fall Josh Juarez, 4:04
149: Devin Carter (VT) fall Rob Lane, 1:01
157: Chad Strube (VT) fall Collin Wise, 3:44
165: Chris Moon (VT) tech fall Dylan Lauffer, 18-3 (6:37)
174: Austin Gabel (VT) fall Logan Floor, 4:03
184: Nick Vetterlein (VT) fall Brian Clark, :57
197: Chris Penny (VT) wins by forfeit
285: Ty Walz (VT) fall Jason Pedigo, 1:46
Referee: Lenny Geno
Attendance: 692
The following Hokies participated in the Wolfpack Open, hosted by NC State, Sunday in Raleigh, N.C. Zach Epperly and Nick Brascetta both took home titles while Dennis Gustafson placed second. Dan Garwood and Jared Haught both took fifth place.
125: Tyler Awtry (1-2)
First Round: lost to Brenden Calas (NCSU), Fall (6:03)
Consolations: def. Jake Reinemund (UNC), Fall (2:29)
Consolations: lost to Trung Duong (Newberry), 18-5 (MD) *
174: Brooks Morrison (2-2)
First Round: lost to Forrest Przybysz (ASU), 6-4
Consolations: def. Philip Burrows (Coker), 16-0 (TF) *
Consolations: def. Matt Meyer (UNC), 7-3
Consolations: lost to Scott Marmoll (UNC), 6-2
184: John Dickson (3-1)
First Round: def. Tyrece Jones (ASU), TF 16-0
Second Round: def. James Suvak (VA), 7-5 (SV)
Quarterfinals: lost to Alex Utley (UNC), 7-3
Consolations: def. Brett Dempsey (American), 11-6
Forfeited out
285: Brandon Taylor (0-2)
First Round: lost to Luis Beteta (MD), 3-1
Consolations: lost to Austin Akins (Coker), 1-0 *
These wrestlers were unattached, meaning their results do not count toward their season or career ledgers and preserve possible redshirts:
133: Dennis Gustafson (unattached; 4-1, SECOND PLACE)
First Round: def. Charlie Huff (Coker), 12-3 (MD) *
Second Round: def. Nikolas Weiser (GMU), 21-3 (TF)
Quarterfinals: def. Drew Walker (Campbell), 14-3 (MD)
Semifinals: def. Chris Wilkes (NCSU), 5-2
Finals: lost to Vince Rodriguez (GMU), 4-3
149: David Wesley (unattached; 1-2)
Prelims: lost to TJ Miller (VA), 9-4
Prelims: def. Eric Milks (UNCP), MD 22-14 *
Consolations: lost to Austin Eads (ODU), Fall 3:41
157: Nick Brascetta (unattached; 4-0, CHAMPION)
First Round: def. Grant Blumenthal (Campbell), 22-5 (TF)
Quarterfinals: def. Chad Pyke (NCSU), 13-5 (MD)
Semifinals: def. Jake Crawford (UNC), 10-4
Finals: def. Tristan Warner (ODU), 9-8
165: David Bergida (unattached; 1-2)
First Round: def. Hayden Smith (UNCP), Fall 2:27 *
Second Round: lost to Blake Ridenour (Newberry), 6-4 *
Consolations: lost to Andrew DeHart (Duke), 8-6
174: Zach Epperly (unattached; 5-0, CHAMPION)
First Round: def. Philip Burrows (Coker), Fall 2:28 *
Second Round: def. Jordan Ford (UNCP), TF 17-2 *
Quarterfinals: def. Austin Coburn (ODU), 9-2
Semifinals: def. Nick Kee (ASU), 8-2
Finals: def. Peter Renda (NCSU), 3-2
197: Jared Haught (unattached; 5-1, FIFTH PLACE)
First Round: def. Dylan Devine (MD), 7-1
Second Round: def. Josh Lehner (UNC), 7-4
Quarterfinals: lost to KaRonne Jones (NCSU), 5-3
Consolations: def. Frank Abbondanza (UNC), 6-4 (SV)
Consolations: def. Josh Lehner (UNC), 10-1 (MD)
Fifth-Place Match: def. Matt Meadows (GMU), 3-2
285: Dan Garwood (unattached; 5-1, FIFTH PLACE)
First Round: def. Chris Giddens (UNCP), 3-1 (SV) *
Second Rouncd: def. Chris Giddens (UNCP) 3-1 (SV) *
Quarterfinals: lost to Matt Tourdot (ODU), 3-1 (SV)
Consolations: def. Austin Akins (Coker), 10-4 *
Consolations: def. Mike Kosoy (NCSU), 4-2 (SV)
Fifth-Place Match: def. Robert Coe (UNC), 9-4
285: Dawson Peck (unattached; 0-2)
First Round: lost to Nick Gwiazdowski (NCSU), 17-4 (MD)
Consolations: lost to Eddie Isola (Davidson), Fall (3:09)
* - non-Division-I opponent that won’t count toward NCAA qualification, if needed