BLACKSBURG – It's no surprise that the No. 8 Virginia Tech wrestling team has been tabbed another ACC Wrestler of the Week honor and it's no surprise as to who it is this week. Christiansburg native, redshirt sophomore Andy Smith has been named this week's award winner for his pivotal victory over Isaac Trumble last Friday night which proved to be the difference in Tech defeating rival No. 5 NC State in the first edition Friday Night Duals.
SAY IT WITH US: "LET'S GO!"#Team100 #Hokies #ALLINALLTHETIME 🦃 pic.twitter.com/kauFU6FI4W
— Virginia Tech Wrestling (@HokiesWrestling) January 21, 2023
Smith entered Friday night ranked No. 26 looking to improve his record to 2-0 against the Pack's No. 6 Trumble – their first meeting coming over the summer in freestyle at the 2022 US Open. Smith would do just that in what proved to be the clincher for the Hokies' upset over the rival Wolfpack in an electric Cassell Coliseum.
After a scoreless first period, Trumble would get an escape in the second period in what was the only point of the period to lead 1-0 into the final frame. Into the third, Smith would get an escape of his own to tie the dual with 1:00 remaining and the fate of the dual on the line. With just :40 on the clock, Trumble would attack, only to be met by Smith's stout defense and counter offense, giving the Hokie a 3-1 lead. Trumble would then get an escape and look to attack, nearly finishing, but Smith's defense was too much and the Christiansburg native would eventually hold on for the 3-2 decision and the final win for the Hokies to secure the dual.
"𝐇𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐮𝐬, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝. 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐝𝐨."
— Virginia Tech Wrestling (@HokiesWrestling) January 23, 2023
Cassell was 𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙫𝙚.
The night was 𝙡𝙚𝙜𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙧𝙮.
A memory we will remember 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧.
This is Hokie Nation. This is HOME.#Team100 #Hokies #ALLINALLTHETIME 🦃 pic.twitter.com/4H7NXTw6bL
This marks the eighth time a Tech wrestler has garnered the award this season and Smith becomes the fifth Hokie to be named conference wrestler of the week this season. Smith and the Hokies return to action on Friday at 7 p.m. EST live on ACC Network in Cassell Coliseum against the Pitt Panthers for Friday Night Duals.
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