BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech wrestling squad will return to the mats Sunday for the Fourth Annual ACC Challenge, hosted by the University of North Carolina. The Hokies, UNC and Virginia will represent the ACC while Bucknell, American and Garnder-Webb will provide the opposition. The event will begin at noon and all action will take place in the Eddie Smith Field House. Tech will open with American at noon, followed by Bucknell at 2 p.m., and then Gardner-Webb at 4 o’clock.
The Hokies are coming off a weekend where they went 1-1 with a few starters missing. That will again be the case this weekend, but with different guys missing. Last weekend, Jesse Dong was suspended and D.J. Bruce was sick. They are slated to return, but No. 12 Jarrod Garnett (125 pounds) is expected to miss several weeks with an injury and Chris Penny is out at 197 pounds with an injury also. The Hokies are ranked 24th in the country in the initial NWCA/USA Today Division I Team Coaches Poll.
American will also be making its dual meet debut Sunday after competing in the Clarion Open last weekend. American is led by Kyle Borschoff at 149 pounds and Mike Cannon at 184 pounds, who are both ranked fourth in the country at their respective weight class. The Eagles are receiving votes in the NWCA National Poll.
Bucknell is coached by former Hokie assistant Dan Wirnsberger and he is assisted by former Tech All-American David Hoffman and former Hokie Donny Ooton. This is Bucknell’s first dual meets of the season as the Bison participated in the Clarion Open last weekend. Bucknell is receiving votes in the NWCA National Poll, as well. The Bison feature four ranked wrestlers in its lineup.
Gardner-Webb features a young lineup littered with freshmen and sophomores. The Bulldogs will open their season at Chattanooga on Saturday before heading to Chapel Hill for Sunday’s festivities. This will be the first of two matchups between the Hokies and Bulldogs this season.
Results for the event can be found on UNC’s Athletic Web site and a full recap will be posted on hokiesports.com at the conclusion.
Additionally, eight Tech wrestlers will compete in the King College Open in Bristol, Tenn., and David Marone and Brian Stephens will wrestle in the Michigan State Open. All will wrestle unattached.
Below are our probables for this Sunday's matches at the ACC Challenge Duals as submitted by the coaching staffs.
#24 Virginia Tech (1-1)
125: Schuyler Swanton (0-0)
133: Erik Spjut (1-1)
141: #7 Chris Diaz (1-1)
149: #15 Pete Yates (2-0)
157: #15 Jesse Dong (0-0)
165: Matt Epperly (1-1)
174: Anthony Trongone (2-0)
184: #17 Tommy Spellman (1-1)
197: Tim Miller (0-1)
285: D.J. Bruce (0-0) OR Andrew Miller (0-0)
American (0-0)
125: Jasen Borshoff
133: Thomas Williams
141: Jordan Lipp
149: #4 Kyle Borshoff
157: Steve Fittery
165: Tanner Shaffer
174: Thomas Barreiro
184: #4 Mike Cannon
197: Kenneth Clessas
285: Mingo Grant
Bucknell (0-0)
125: Derrik Russell (3-2)
133: #13 David Marble (0-0)
141: Zac Hancock (4-1)
149: Kevin LeValley (5-0)
157: Brantley Hooks (5-2)
165: #6 Andy Rendos (5-0)
174: #13 Shane Riccio (7-1)
184: #19 David Thompson (4-0)
197: Joe McMullan (0-0)
285: Conor Sweeney (0-2)
Gardner-Webb (0-0)
125: Marc Rocha (0-1) OR Brett Kostern (1-2)
133: Richie Spicel (3-2)
141: Kurt Wentick (0-1)
149: Ryan Medved (2-2) OR Tim Burdine (0-0)
157: Alex Medved (2-2)
165: David Pelsang (1-2)
174: Dave Sweeney (0-2) OR Vincent Sayler (0-1)
184: Jonathon Velazquez (3-2)
197: Travis Porter (2-2)
285: Open
For updates on Virginia Tech wrestling, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Wrestling).