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BLACKSBURG, Va. – The Virginia Tech wrestling team split a pair of dual matches Saturday in Cassell Coliseum to open the season. The Hokies lost a heartbreaker in the first match, 20-18 to Kent State, but rebounded to beat Chattanooga 21-18 in their second match of the day. Kent State beat Chattanooga, 22-15, in the other match of the day.

“We battled back a little better in the second match after dealing some adversity in the first match,” said head coach Kevin Dresser. “We aren’t even close to where we need to be. There are some positives and there are some negatives, but it gives the coaches some things to work with this week.”

Things got started quickly as 12th-ranked Jarrod Garnett of Tech had to overcome a near fall situation and an injured arm to come back and beat Troy Opfer 8-6 in sudden victory. Opfer nearly picked up the pin in the second period, but Garnett wiggled out of it. Trailing late, Garnett got a takedown with less than 10 seconds left in regulation, and then ended it with a takedown in sudden victory. Seventh-ranked Chris Diaz and 15th-ranked Pete Yates won their matches, but didn’t get any bonus points, which would be huge in the end.

With the Hokies leading 9-7, Matt Epperly picked up a big pin for the Hokies at the 6:20 mark and then Anthony Trongone defeated Chris Estep 3-1 to make it 18-7. But ninth-ranked Dustin Kilgore came back to beat 17th-ranked Tommy Spellman of Tech 9-6 and Adam Cogar picked up a major decision over Tech freshman Chris Penny to close the gap. With regular heavyweight D.J. Bruce sick, Tech bumped up Tim Miller to heavyweight in order to not forfeit. But it didn’t matter as Brendan Barlow picked up a third-period pin to lift the Golden Flashes to victory.

After struggling in the opener, Garnett left no doubt in his second match of the day as he picked up an impressive first-period win. Erik Spjut then earned his first collegiate win with an 11-4 win at 133 pounds. The next match featured a pair of ranked wrestlers, in Diaz for Tech and No. 20 Cody Cleveland of UTC. Diaz got an early takedown but Cleveland came back with a pair of escapes and takedowns to take the lead. After Diaz escaped in the second period, Cleveland took him down to his back for a four-point maneuver that all but sealed the match as Cleveland went on to win 11-6.

Pete Yates made quick work of Dean Pavlou at 149 pounds, pinning him at the 1:38 mark to make it 15-3 in favor of the Hokies. At 157 pounds, Tech freshman Taylor Knapp rode No. 16 Joey Knox for four minutes and turned him once in the second period, but Knox held on for the 5-4 win, despite getting dinged for several stall warnings late, to avoid the upset.

Spellman methodically went about his business for a 7-4 win at 184 pounds to make it 21-9. The Hokies lost at 197 and forfeited at heavyweight to end the day’s festivities.

Tech will host the Hokie Open at the Salem Civic Center all day Sunday. Results and updates can be found at both www.hokieopen.com and www.hokiesports.com/wrestling.

Kent State (1-0) 20
Virginia Tech (0-1) 18

125: #12 Jarrod Garnett (VT) dec. Troy Opfer, 8-6 (SV)
133: #11 Danny Mitcheff (KS) dec. Erik Spjut, 3-2
141: #7 Chris Diaz (VT) dec. Chase Skonieczny, 6-0
149: #15 Pete Yates (VT) dec. Tommy Sasfy, 4-1
157: Mallie Shuster (KS) maj. dec. Taylor Knapp, 12-4
165: Matt Epperly (VT) fall Sli Bostelman, 6:20
174: Anthony Trongone (VT) dec. Chris Estep, 3-1
184: #9 Dustin Kilgore (KS) dec. #17 Tommy Spellman, 9-6
197: Adam Cogar (KS) maj. dec. Chris Penny, 12-4
285: Brendan Barlow (KS) fall Tim Miller, 5:40

Kent State (2-0) 22
Chattanooga (0-1) 15

125: Demetrius Johnson (C) dec. Stevie Mitcheff, 3-1
133: #11 Danny Mitcheff (KS) maj. dec. Josh Sandoval, 12-4
141: #20 Cody Cleveland (C) fall Chase Skonieczny, 5:40
149: Tommy Sasfy (KS) dec. Dean Pavlou, 8-5
157: Mallie Shuster (KS) dec. #16 Joey Knox, 7-5
165: Brandon Wright (C) dec. Obie Simpson, 6-2
174: Jake Young (C) dec. Casey Newburg, 6-2
184: #9 Dustin Kilgore (KS) fall Jason McCroskey, 1:34
197: Adam Cogar (KS) dec. Niko Brown, 3-2
285: Brendan Barlow (KS) dec. Matt Lettner, 3-1 (SV)

Virginia Tech (1-1) 21
Chattanooga (0-2) 18

125: #12 Jarrod Garnett (VT) fall Demetrius Johnson, 1:14
133: Erik Spjut (VT) dec. Josh Sandoval, 11-4
141: #20 Cody Cleveland (C) dec. #7 Chris Diaz, 11-6
149: #15 Pete Yates (VT) fall Dean Pavlou, 1:38
157: #16 Joey Knox (C) dec. Taylor Knapp, 5-4
165: Brandon Wright (C) dec. Matt Epperly, 7-5
174: Anthony Trongone (VT) dec. Jake Young, 7-6
184: #17 Tommy Spellman (VT) dec. Jason McCroskey, 7-4
197: Niko Brown (C) dec. Chris Penny, 7-3
285: Matt Lettner (C) wins by forfeit

For updates on Virginia Tech wrestling, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Wrestling).