Hokies take down Hoos in Commonwealth Clash

BLACKSBURG – In its ACC opener, Virginia Tech wrestling made it nine straight against Virginia Friday night with a 19-15 win in Cassell Coliseum.
 
The eighth-ranked Hokies (5-0, 1-0 ACC) rode the momentum off two early bonus-point wins and never relinquished the lead for their 17th win out of the last 18 meetings with the Cavaliers (1-2, 0-2 ACC). Each team won five matches, but Tech's three bonus-point victories proved to be the difference.
 
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

• Kicking the dual off with a bang, No. 10 Sam Latona pulled out a technical fall over Sam Book in the last minute of the match. Latona led 7-3 with 45 seconds left when he secured a takedown and turned Book for two four-point near falls before the horn sounded. With riding time, the redshirt freshman opened the dual with an 18-3 tech.
• In the marquee matchup of the night, No. 8 Korbin Myers picked up a top-15 win over No. 12 Louie Hayes. The graduate student looked dominant in a 12-1 major decision, his first bonus-point win of the season, and racked up 3:42 in riding time.
• Also staying undefeated on the season was sophomore Bryce Andonian, who shut out his opponent Denton Spencer for an 8-0 major decision. Andonian, the No. 12 149-pounder in the country, was on top for over half the match, securing 4:15 in riding time. The Kirtland, Ohio product is now 22-6 in his career and 12-3 in dual matches.
• No. 1 Mekhi Lewis beat No. 15 Jake Keating in a top-15 showdown that saw Lewis increase his collegiate winning streak to 24 straight matches. Lewis' last loss came on Dec. 1, 2018 and he has yet to be taken down during that span.
• Second-ranked Hunter Bolen secured his fourth win of the season with a 10-4 decision over Michael Battista. The 2020 ACC Champion held on for 2:23 of riding time to extend Tech's lead to 19-9.

 
BOX SCORE
No. 8 Virginia Tech 19, Virginia 15
125: No. 10 Sam Latona (VT) TF Sam Book (UVA), 18-3 (7:00)
133: No. 8 Korbin Myers (VT) MD No. 12 Louie Hayes (UVA), 12-1
141: Brian Courtney (UVA) dec. Sam Hillegas (VT), 8-3
149: No. 12 Bryce Andonian (VT) MD Denton Spencer (UVA), 8-0
157: No. 15 Justin McCoy (UVA) dec. Connor Brady (VT), 3-2
165: No. 1 Mekhi Lewis (VT) dec. No. 15 Jake Keating (UVA), 8-2
174: Vic Marcelli (UVA) dec. Dakota Howard (VT), 6-4
184: No. 2 Hunter Bolen (VT) dec. Michael Battista (UVA), 10-4
197: No. 3 Jay Aiello (UVA) dec. Andy Smith (VT), 10-3
285: No. 20 Quinn Miller (UVA) dec. Hunter Catka (VT), 4-0
 
Extra Matches
141: Collin Gerardi (VT) dec. Dylan Cedeno (UVA), 7-6
149: Caden Darber (VT) MD Ray Costa (UVA), 14-5
157: Clayton Ulrey (VT) MD Nic Sansone (UVA), 12-4
174: Robby Patrick (UVA) WBF Sam Fisher (VT), 1:02
184: Hudson Stewart (UVA) dec. Nathan Warden (VT), 8-6 (SV-1)
197: Stan Smeltzer (VT) dec. Ethan Weatherspoon (UVA), 2-1
 Gallery: (1-22-2021) 2021 WRESTLING vs. VIRGINIA