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BLACKSBURG - Virginia Tech wrestling coach Kevin Dresser and athletic trainer Sean Collins announced Thursday that starting 149-pound wrestler Pete Yates will miss the rest of the season with a torn lateral collateral ligament (LCL) in his right knee. The two also announced that starting heavyweight D.J. Bruce will have an MRI today to determine whether he has a torn ACL, which would mean he would miss the remainder of the season.

Yates, who is 10-6 this season, hurt his knee at the Southern Scuffle in late December while wrestling unattached in the event. Since he has not participated in the first 30 percent of the season, he is eligible for a medical hardship waiver and would gain this season back. This is the same knee he hurt in the ACC Tournament last year which forced him out of the NCAA Championships, but it’s the outside of the knee this time as opposed to the inside of the knee (MCL) he injured last year. Yates is a sophomore and would be back as a redshirt sophomore next year.

In his place, Dresser will pull the redshirt off true freshman Brian Stephens at 149 pounds. Stephens is 17-7 as an unattached wrestler this season.

Bruce is the third heavyweight to go down for the Hokies this year. Andrew Miller (shoulder) and David Marone (shoulder) are both out for the year after having surgeries. Bruce, a junior, bumped up from 197 pounds to help out the team, but may now miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. He suffered the injury on Jan. 1 in practice. An MRI will give a definitive answer Friday but should it be torn, he would miss the rest of the season. He is 7-0 on the year at heavyweight and too would qualify for a medical hardship waiver. He would return as a redshirt junior next season and will be back at 197 pounds.

Marone was already scheduled to redshirt this year, but is not an option to wrestle this season after having surgery Wednesday to repair a labral tear. He will be a redshirt sophomore upon his return next year.

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