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BLACKSBURG - With the season nine days away, the preseason wrestling polls have been released and Virginia Tech is well represented in both.

In the NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll, the Hokies check in at No. 13. With eight wrestlers returning who have seen extensive time as a starter, the preseason ranking is a new program high. Cornell checks in at No. 1 with Boise State at No. 2. Iowa State, Tech’s opener on Nov. 6, is ranked 25th while Wisconsin (No. 5) and Virginia (No. 23) are also on the slate. Kent State, Edinboro, Old Dominion and Maryland are all receiving votes and will face Tech this season.

In the InterMat individual rankings, senior Chris Diaz leads the way for Tech. The All-American is one of seven wrestlers ranked heading into the season. At 125 pounds, junior Jarrod Garnett is 10th while Diaz is eighth at 141 pounds. Sophomore Brian Stephens is 16th at 149 pounds and sophomore Pete Yates is 15th at 157 pounds. Senior Matt Epperly checks in at No. 15 at 165 pounds and senior Tommy Spellman starts the season at No. 11 at 184 pounds. Junior David Marone is back from his redshirt year and will start the season ranked 12th at heavyweight.

Highly recruited Devin Carter, who will likely start at 133 pounds, is not ranked because InterMat does not rank freshmen until they have wrestled a match.

The Hokies will open their 2010-11 season on Saturday, Nov. 6 against No. 25 Iowa State at the Salem Civic Center at 2 o’clock. The next day, Tech will host the Hokie Open, an all-day tournament at the same venue.

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