Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - The sixth-ranked Virginia Tech wrestling squad opened the 2015-16 season with a Maroon & Orange scrimmage in Roanoke on Thursday, with Orange taking home a decisive 27-11 victory.
Redshirt sophomore Jared Haught won the first wrestle off, using five takedowns and a nearfall to win a 16-2 major decision over Dylan Cook and jumped out to a 4-0 lead. An 11-9 overtime decision from Mattheos Lozier put Orange right back in contention, down just 4-3.
Redshirt junior Cameron Bowen took the next three points, using four takedowns and an escape to best freshman Paul Kalafos 9-7. Senior Joey Dance, ranked fifth in the country at 125 pounds, jumped out to a quick 6-3 lead and never looked back, eventually winning a 20-7 major decision. Both victories combined to add seven more points, giving the Orange team a 11-3 lead.
Sophomore Solomon Chishko earned the next three points for the Maroon team with a 5-4 hard-fought decision over redshirt sophomore Kevin Norstrem. 14th ranked redshirt junior Sal Mastriani won Orange’s fourth match of the evening, winning a 21-6 technical fall over sophomore Chad Saunders that featured nine takedowns and a nearfall.
In a tightly contested match, freshman Dayton Racer beat sophomore Jake Spengler 1-0, extending Orange’s lead. Freshmen David McFadden and Cody Hughes brought home Orange’s next two victories, winning 9-4 and 10-5 decisions, respectively.
The night ended with heavyweight Dan Garwood winning a 4-1 decision and Zach Zavatsky closed out the action with an 18-4 major decision that featured eight takedowns. Orange walked away with a 27-11 victory and eight individual wins.
Tech officially open the season on Saturday, November 7, hosting #13 Iowa State in Cassell Coliseum at 1 p.m. Redshirt sophomore Zach Epperly and redshirt junior Ty Walz will take part in the NWCA All-Star Classic on November 1st, which will be broadcast live on ESPNU beginning at 5 p.m.