BLACKSBURG - The seventh-ranked Virginia Tech wrestling squad will host the University of Virginia Saturday night as the program pushes for an attendance record for a wrestling match inside Cassell Coliseum. The “Drive for Five” will kick off at 7 o’clock inside the Cassell as the staff has set a goal of 5,000 fans for the dual meet.
“Virginia Tech versus Virginia is really all that needs to be said,” head coach Kevin Dresser stated. “We need to get the whole Hokie Nation out in full force Saturday night at 7 o’clock inside Cassell Coliseum. We need a lot of noise and a lot of enthusiasm. Bring a friend; bring five friends. Just be there and be loud!”
The Hokies have been on top of late, winning the last four matches against UVa to take a 34-26-1 lead in a series that dates back to 1922. The last time Virginia beat the Hokies was in 2008 in the ACC dual match. Tech lost later in the year to NC State, but has since won 12 consecutive conference dual meets.
Tech comes into the bout at 15-4 overall and 2-0 in the league after beating No. 12 Lehigh last weekend. Virginia is 15-5 overall, 2-0 in the ACC and is receiving votes in the NWCA/USA Today Coaches’ Poll. The Cavaliers are coming off a 30-6 win over Princeton.
The two schools have six common opponents this year as both beat Campbell, Edinboro, North Carolina, The Citadel and Kent State. Tech beat Lehigh 23-15 while the Cavaliers lost to the Mountain Hawks, 36-7.
Tech will be led by its first six weight classes as each of those wrestlers are ranked in the top 20 of the latest InterMat poll. While it doesn’t have any wrestlers ranked there, Virginia counters with three ranked competitors near the bottom of its lineup. The heavyweight match between Tech’s David Marone (13-7) and UVa’s Jack Danilkowicz (19-10) is a big one in terms of seeding at next month’s ACC Championships, and could be a key one in the dual match as well.
Admission is free for all and doors will open 90 minutes before the match begins. Fans are asked to fill in as close to the bottom as possible and to stay below the entrance ways to create a loud and raucous environment.
Free live stats will be available here and fans who can’t make it have the option to pay to watch the event on Hokies All-Access.
Below are the probable lineups for both squads, as submitted by the respective coaching staffs:
#7 Virginia Tech (15-4, 2-0 ACC)
125: #16 Jarrod Garnett (22-6)
133: #10 Devin Carter (25-5)
141: #19 Chris Diaz (22-7) OR Zach Neibert (19-6)
149: #9 Brian Stephens (23-7)
157: #6 Jesse Dong (10-1)
165: #15 Pete Yates (21-6)
174: Matt Epperly (10-11) OR Nick Vetterlein (12-9)
184: John Dickson (15-13)
197: Chris Penny (9-19)
285: David Marone (13-7)
Virginia (15-5, 2-0 ACC)
125: Matt Snyder (18-6)
133: Joe Spisak (19-10)
141: Gus Sako (17-16)
149: Derek Valenti (16-11)
157: Shawn Harris (14-11) OR Nicky Gordon (7-6)
165: Jedd Moore (3-1)
174: #4 Chris Henrich (24-1)
184: #18 Jon Fausey (21-6)
197: #18 Mike Salopek (8-4) OR Stephen Doty (20-9)
285: Jack Danilkowicz (19-10)
For updates on Virginia Tech wrestling, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Wrestling).