No. 7 Tech hosts No. 24 Pitt for second edition of Friday Night DualsNo. 7 Tech hosts No. 24 Pitt for second edition of Friday Night Duals
Wrestling

No. 7 Tech hosts No. 24 Pitt for second edition of Friday Night Duals

BLACKSBURG – After an electric start to conference competition over rival, NC State, last Friday night, the No. 7 Virginia Tech (7-2, 1-0) wrestling team will host another formidable foe in the No. 24 Pittsburgh Panthers (7-2, 1-0). The bout on Friday is the second edition of Friday Night Duals for the Hokies on ACC Network at 7 p.m. EST live from Cassell Coliseum.
 


 
No. 7 Virginia Tech Hokies vs No. 24 Pittsburgh Panthers
When: Friday, January 27, 2023
Time: 7PM EST
Where: Cassell Coliseum
Admission: FREE
How to Watch: ACC Network
Live Updates: Hokies Wrestling Twitter
Mat Side Seating: http://vthoki.es/pg9Iv
 
Hokies vs Panthers History

  • This will be the 20th all-time meeting between the two programs – Tech trails the series 7-12 heading into Friday night
  • The Hokies hold the lead in the last ten meetings 7-3 including both the largest margin of victory (38-9, 1/20/2017) and the smallest margin of victory (24-12, 1/30/2022)

 
Tale of the Tape

  • The Hokies enter Friday night with ten ranked wrestlers – No. 27 Eddie Ventresca (125), No. 5 Sam Latona (133), No. 12 Tom Crook (141), No. 9 Caleb Henson (149), No. 5 Bryce Andonian (157), No. 25 Connor Brady (165), No. 3 Mekhi Lewis (174), No. 7 Hunter Bolen (184), No. 22 Andy Smith (197), and No. 23 Hunter Catka (285).
  • The Hokies boast an ACC best four in the top-five and one of two conference teams with all ten wrestlers ranked according to Intermat rankings
  • This will be the third year in a row both squads are ranked in the top-25 and the potential for seven ranked matchups in the second edition of ACC Friday Night Duals
  • Pittsburgh will bring in eight ranked competitors to Blacksburg on Friday night – No. 7 Micky Phillippi (133), No. 3 Cole Matthews (141), No. 29 Tyler Badgett (149), No. 33 Dazjon Casto (157), No. 23 Holden Heller (165), No. 19 Reece Heller (184), No. 2 Nino Bonaccorsi (197), and No. 5 Dayton Pitzer (285)

 
Looking Back at Last Week

  • The Hokies made for spectacular television with their 16-14 upset victory over rival, NC State in Cassell Coliseum in front of a record crowd to start off conference competition.
  • The Panthers dismantled Virginia in Charlottesville, 25-6 last Friday night
  • With both teams standing at 1-0 in conference competition, Friday night will prove pivotal in the dual meet title standings

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No. 7 Virginia Tech Hokies vs No. 24 Pittsburgh Panthers
Probables
125 – Cooper Flynn, r-Fr vs Colton Camacho, r-Jr
133 – No. 5 Sam Latona, r-Jr vs No. 7 Micky Phillippi, r-Sr
141 – No. 12 Tom Crook, Fr vs No. 3 Cole Matthews, Jr
149 – No. 9 Caleb Henson, Fr vs No. 29 Tyler Badgett, r-So
157 – No. 5 Bryce Andonian, Sr vs No. 33 Dazjon Casto, Sr
165 – No. 25 Connor Brady, r-So vs No. 23 Holden Heller, r-Sr
174 – No. 3 Mekhi Lewis, r-Sr vs Luca Augustine, r-Fr
184 – No. 7 Hunter Bolen, r-Sr vs No. 19 Reece Heller, r-Jr
197 – No. 22 Andy Smith, r-So OR TJ Stewart, Fr vs No. 2 Nino Bonaccorsi, r-Sr
285 – No. 23 Hunter Catka, r-So vs No. 5 Dayton Pitzer, Fr or Jake Slinger, Sr