Brackets released for NCAA Wrestling Championships

March 10, 2010

Dong receives No. 3 seed, Diaz an 11 seed

2010 NCAA Wrestling Championships Brackets

BLACKSBURG - The NCAA released the seeds and matchups Wednesday for the upcoming NCAA Wrestling Championships, to be held March 18-20 at Omaha, Neb., inside the Qwest Center. Six Hokies quailifed for the Big Dance based on their performances at last weekend’s ACC Championships. Of the six wrestlers, two received seeds.

Jesse Dong earned a No. 3 seed at 157 pounds, the highest seed for the Hokies this year. Chris Diaz grabbed a No. 11 seed at 141 pounds.

Below are the first-round matchups for the Hokies. Action begins next Thursday morning. Be sure to check back often for updates once the action begins.

125: Jarrod Garnett

First Round: vs. #6 seed Zach Sanders (Minnesota)

Possible Second Match: #11 seed Michael Martinez (Wyoming) or Aaron Kalil (Navy)

History: did not wrestle and of the three this year

141: #11 seed Chris Diaz

First Round: vs. Connor Beebe (Central Michigan)

Possible Second Match: #6 seed

History: beat Beebe 7-4 in dual meet

149: Brian Stephens

First Round: vs. winner of #8 seed Jason Chamberlain (Boise State) or David Cheza (Michigan State)

Possible Second Match: #9 seed Kevin LeValley (Bucknell) or Andrew Nadhir (NWU)

History: did not wrestle any of the three this year

157: #3 seed Jesse Dong

First Round: vs. Joseph Booth (Drexel)

Possible Second Match: Andrew Sorenson (Iowa State) or Anthony Jones (Michigan State)

History: did not wrestle any of the three this year

165:Matt Epperly

First Round: vs. #6 seed Dan Vallimont (Penn State)

Possible Second Match: #11 seed Rick Schmelyun (Bloomsburg) or Paul Gillespie (Hofstra)

History: lost to Vallimont 3-2; lost to Schmelyun 13-5;

184: Tommy Spellman

First Round: vs. Nick Purdue (Ohio)

Possible Second Match: #4 seed Michael Cannon (American) or Michael Larson (CSU Bakersfield)

History: lost to Purdue 7-5 in SV; lost to Cannon 7-2

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