Hokies ready for Commonwealth ClashHokies ready for Commonwealth Clash
Wrestling

Hokies ready for Commonwealth Clash

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BLACKSBURG – The No. 9 Virginia Tech wrestling team will host Virginia for the on the mat edition of the Commonwealth Clash on Friday night at 7 p.m. live on ACC Network Extra in Cassell Coliseum for the regular season finale. With a win on Friday night, the Hokies will secure a share of the ACC regular season title.
 


 
No. 9 Virginia Tech Hokies (9-3, 3-1) vs Virginia Cavaliers (8-5, 1-3)
When: Friday, February 17, 2023
Time: 7PM EST
Where: Cassell Coliseum, Blacksburg, VA
Admission: FREE, Doors open at 6PM
How to Watch: ACC Network Extra
Live Updates: Hokies Wrestling Twitter
*We request spectators be settled in by 6:40PM for Senior Night ceremony
 
Hokies in the Rankings

 
Battle for the Commonwealth – History

  • Tech leads the series 50-28-1
  • Tech owns the series at home and on the road – 20-12 and 26-15-1, respectively
  • The Hokies will look for their eleventh straight win against the Cavaliers; their 19th in the last 20 meetings
  • Tech owns the first meeting, largest margin of victory, and the smallest margin of victory – 21-6, 2/4/1922; 49-0, 2/21/1967; 16-15, 1/10/2015
  • Smithfield, the presenting sponsor of the Commonwealth Clash, enters its second year sponsoring the friendly, statewide rivalry between Virginia Tech and Virginia. With 22 individual event points on the line, the school that accumulates 11.5 or more points is crowned the winner and takes home the Commonwealth Clash trophy. For more information, visit vthoki.es/Smithfield.
  • A half point is up for grabs in the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash. UVA currently leads, 5-2.


 
Tale of the Tape, What's at Stake

  • A win against the Cavaliers on Friday night will guarantee the Hokies a share of the 20022-2023 regular season title
  • There will be a combined 14 ranked wrestlers from both squads on Friday night – the Hokies fielding a full starting lineup ranked in the latest Intermat polls to the Cavaliers' five

 
Looking Back at Last Week

  • The Hokies throttled North Carolina 28-8 last Friday night, winning eight of ten bouts in Chapel Hill to improve to 9-3, 3-1 on the season
  • No. 3 Mekhi Lewis and No. 7 Sam Latona both secured bonus point victories; No. 7 Hunter Bolen picked up his first win against No. 11 Gavin Kane in three meetings; Eddie Ventresca pulled off the 7-2 upset over No. 17 Jack Wagner
  • Virginia defeated Duke 45-3, winning nine of ten bouts

 
Recognizing our Seniors

  • Tech will recognize six graduating seniors who have helped shape the culture in Blacksburg and who have exemplified what it means to be part of Hokies Wrestling on Friday night for the last home match of the season.
    • Hunter Bolen, Mekhi Lewis, Collin Gerardi, Jordan Florence, Brandon Wittenberg, and Drew Nicholson

 
Pledge per Takedown

  • Join the team and celebrate their success on the mat with Pledge Per Takedown, presented by the Hokie Club. Make a pledge for each takedown the Hokies have this season, and every gift will go directly to their biggest needs.

 
No. 9 Virginia Tech vs Virginia
Probables
125 – No. 23 Eddie Ventresca vs Patrick McCormick (Virginia)
133 – No. 6 Sam Latona vs Marlon Yarbrough II (Virginia)
141 – No. 12 Tom Crook or Collin Gerardi vs Dylan Cedeno (Virginia)
149 – No. 8 Caleb Henson vs No. 26 Jarod Verkleeren (Virginia)
157 – No. 5 Bryce Andonian vs Jake Keating (Virginia)
165 – No. 27 Connor Brady vs No. 17 Justin McCoy (Virginia)
174 – No. 3 Mekhi Lewis vs Vic Marcelli (Virginia)
184 – No. 7 Hunter Bolen vs No. 16 Neil Antrassian (Virginia)
197 – No. 22 Andy Smith vs No. 25 Michael Battista (Virginia)
285 – No. 19 Hunter Catka vs Ethan Weatherspoon (Virginia)