Hokie ClubRALEIGH, N.C. - In a dual that lived up to the hype, No. 6 NC State topped No. 8 Virginia Tech, 19-15, to win the ACC Dual Meet Championship in front of 1,394 at Reynolds Coliseum on Friday night.
The loss snapped the Hokies’ (14-3, 4-1 ACC) 18-match win streak against ACC opponents.
With David McFadden’s 6-2 decision over Brian Hamann at 165 pounds, he finished the regular season with a record of 29-0. He’s the first Hokie wrestler since Scot Justus in 2001-02 (29-0) to finish the regular season with a flawless record. Head coach Tony Robie finishes his first regular season with the second most dual meet wins by a rookie head coach and the second-highest winning percentage (.823) in the history of the ACC.
McFadden’s decision put the dual meet score at 16-6 and started a string of four consecutive wins that narrowed the deficit.
With the score tied at 2-2 at 174 pounds entering the third period, freshman Hunter Bolen was able to reverse on bottom to take a 4-2 lead. That proved to be the difference maker as he took a 5-3 decision with riding time.
After striking first with a takedown in the first period, redshirt junior Zack Zavatsky was able to pull of a 3-2 upset of third-ranked Pete Renda, drawing the Hokies closer at 16-12. Redshirt junior Jared Haught then followed with a 2-1 decision over No. 6 Michael Macchiavello, setting up the match-deciding bout at heavyweight that was won by 19th-ranked Michael Boyking in sudden victory over time.
After a tech fall at 125 pounds, Gustafson and 13th-ranked Tariq Wilson were tied at 5-5 after the first period. Gustafson secured two back points on top in the second that was key in a 9-7 decision that got the Hokies on the board.
The Hokies will now turn their attention to the postseason as they first look to defend their ACC tournament title at the ACC Championship on March 3 in Chapel Hill, N.C.
NO. 6 NC STATE 19, NO. 8 VIRGINIA TECH, 15
125: #5 Sean Fausz TF Kyle Norstrem, 15-0 (5:08)
133: #18 Dennis Gustafson dec. #13 Tariq Wilson, 9-7
141: #2 Kevin Jack TF Brent Moore, 15-0
149: #13 Beau Donahue dec. #16 Ryan Blees, 6-4 (SV OT)
157: #3 Hayden Hidlay dec. Solomon Chishko, 8-4
165: #4 David McFadden dec. Brian Hamann, 6-2
174: #15 Hunter Bolen dec. #19 Daniel Bullard, 5-3
184: #8 Zack Zavatsky dec. #3 Pete Renda, 3-2
197: #2 Jared Haught dec. #6 Michael Macchiavello, 2-1
285: #19 Michael Boykin dec. #18 Andrew Dunn, 2-1 (SV OT)