Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG - Returning to the site of its highest finish at the NCAA Championships, No. 10 Virginia Tech will face Princeton in the annual Grapple at the Garden on Sunday, Dec. 10, at 4:30 p.m. in the Theater at Madison Square Garden.
Tickets can be purchased by clicking on the link at the top right of the story. Live stream and live stats can be found on FloWrestling.
The Hokies are coming off of a strong performance at the annual Cliff Keen Invitational last weekend in Las Vegas. Tech saw four grapplers place including David McFadden, who became the third Hokie to win a Cliff Keen title when he pinned Wisconsin’s Evan Wick in the first period of the 165-pound championship bout.
Last time Tech was in New York City, it placed fourth in the country at nationals and had six wrestlers earn All-America honors, including redshirt senior Jared Haught, redshirt junior Solomon Chishko and redshirt sophomore David McFadden. The Hokies’ fourth place finish was the highest by an ACC school in the history of the conference.
VIRGINIA TECH VS. PRINCETON - INSIDE THE MATCH
-The Hokies are 2-1 all-time vs. the Tigers and won the last meeting, a 30-11 victory in Princeton on Jan. 6, 2017.
-Fans could see a top 11 bout at 149 pounds between the Hokies’ Solomon Chishko and No. 7 Matthew Kolodzik. It would be the first meeting between the two.
-Princeton wrestling assistant Sean Gray was a two-time All-American for the Hokies in 2000 and 2001.
-Gray was Tech’s first two-time All-American and still ranks first in program history with 133 career wins and 45 career pins.
PRINCETON PROJECTED LINEUP
125 - Jonathan Gomez
133 - Trey Aslanian or Ty Agaisse
141 - Pat D’Arcy
149 - #7 Matthew Kolodzik
157 - Mike D’Angelo
165 - Jonathan Schleifer
174 - Carlin Powell
184 - Kendall Elfstrum or Kevin Parker
197 - Patrick Brucki
285 - Michael Markulec or Christian Araneo
VIRGINIA TECH PROJECTED LINEUP
125: Kyle Norstrem
133: #14 Dennis Gustafson
141: Brent Moore
149: #11 Solomon Chishko or Brendan Grammes
157: Ryan Blees or B.C. LaPrade
165: #4 David McFadden
174: Cody Hughes or Hunter Bolen
184: #7 Zack Zavatsky
197: #3 Jared Haught
285: #17 Andrew Dunn