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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The Virginia Tech wrestling team had high hopes of claiming its first ACC title, but disappointing performances from two of its top wrestlers, coupled with three competitors falling in the finals, sealed its fate as the team finished second at the ACC Wrestling Championships, held Saturday at John Paul Jones Arena. Individually, Tech crowned three champions and qualified four wrestlers for the NCAA Championships. Jarrod Garnett and Jesse Dong each won their second ACC titles while freshman Devin Carter steamrolled his competition en route to his first crown. Three others took runner-up honors while on other placed third.

Heading into the final session, Tech sat in second place, seven points behind Maryland, and tied it up when Dong picked up his title. But the Terrapins picked up upset wins at 174 and heavyweight and also won four of the last five weight classes to pull away from the Hokies for the team title.

In the finals, Garnett got things off to a good start for the Hokies with a 6-4 win over Matt Snyder in sudden victory. Garnett, the top-seed, got a first-period takedown, but Snyder battled back and forced overtime based on riding time. There, Garnett snuck in and got the ankle and converted the takedown for his second ACC title and a 6-4 win in sudden victory. At 133 pounds, freshman Devin Carter was simply dominating as he picked up a 19-4 technical fall over Joe Spisak to claim the title and a spot to the NCAA Championships. Carter recorded several takedowns in the first period and turned Spisak to his back several times en route to the big win. At 157 pounds, top-seeded Jesse Dong had his way with No. 2 seed Kyle John, picking up a pair of takedowns en route to a 6-3 win.

As quickly as the Hokies got off to in the finals with three wins, the last three matches didn’t go well. Pete Yates fell at 165 pounds to top-seeded John Asper of Maryland, falling 9-3 in the championship bout. Chris Penny fell to second-seeded Zac Bennett of North Carolina, 9-4 at 197 pounds and in the heavyweight division, top-seeded David Marone dropped a heartbreaker to third-seeded Spencer Myers of Maryland, 3-2 in the first tiebreaker.

Overall, Tech qualified four wrestlers automatically for the upcoming NCAA Championships. Garnett, Carter, Dong and Yates are assured of making the trip to Philadelphia for the March 17-19 event. Chris Diaz, who finished fourth at 141 pounds, Brian Stephens, who took third at 149 pounds, and Marone will also be amongst those in the discussion of receiving at-large bids at their respective weight classes. The bids are announced Tuesday, March 9.

Maryland won the title with 94.5 points, outdistancing Tech’s 82.5 points. Maryland finished with five individual champions, as well as a runner-up.

Below are all of Tech’s wrestlers and results:

125: #1 seed Jarrod Garnett (CHAMPION; qualified for NCAA)
Quarterfinals: BYE
Semifinals: dec. #5 Mike Moreno (NCSU), 5-0
Finals: def. #2 Matt Snyder (VA), 6-4 (SV)

133: #1 seed Devin Carter (CHAMPION; qualified for NCAA)
Quarterfinals: BYE
Semifinals: def. #4 Pat Owens (UNC), Fall 1:57
Finals: def. #3 Joe Spisak (VA), TF 19-4

141: #2 seed Chris Diaz (FOURTH PLACE; must await wildcard bid to NCAA)
Quarterfinals: lost to #5 Nick Nelson (VA), 5-4 (TB-2)
Consolations: def. #4 Mike Rappo (NC), 6-0
Third-place Match: lost to #5 Nick Nelson (VA), 3-2

149: #3 seed Brian Stephens (THIRD PLACE; must await wildcard bid to NCAA)
Quarterfinals: BYE
Semifinals: lost to #2 Derek Valenti (VA), 3-1
Consolations: def. #6 Justin Cash (MD), MD 11-2
Third-place Match: def. #4 Nick Stabile (NC), 2-1

157: #1 seed Jesse Dong (CHAMPION; qualified for NCAA)
Quarterfinals: def. #6 Ryan Harding (Duke), Fall 4:43
Semifinals: def. #4 Colton Palmer (NCSU), 6-1
Finals: def. #2 Kyle John (MD), 6-3

165: #2 seed Pete Yates (RUNNER-UP; qualified for NCAA)
Quarterfinals: def. #5 Willy Mello (Duke), MD 11-1
Semifinals: def. #3 Thomas Scotten (UNC), 5-2 (TB-2)
Finals: lost to #1 John Asper (MD), 9-3

174: #4 seed Matt Epperly
Quarterfinals: BYE
Semifinals: lost to #1 Chris Henrich (VA), MD 13-1
Consolations: def. Brett Klopp (DU), 5-3
Third-Place Match: lost #3 Thomas Ferguson (NC), 9-2

184: #5 seed John Dickson
Quarterfinals: def. #2 Antonio Giorgio (UNC), 3-0
Semifinals: lost to #3 Corey Peltier (MD), 3-1
Consolations: lost to #6 Quinton Godley (NCS), 5-4

197: #4 seed Chris Penny (RUNNER-UP)
Quarterfinals: BYE
Semifinals: def. #1 Mike Salopek (VA), MD 12-4
Finals: lost to #2 Zac Bennett (UNC), 9-4

285: #1 seed David Marone (RUNNER-UP; must await wildcard bid to NCAA)
Quarterfinals: BYE
Semifinals: def. #4 Eloheim Palma (NCSU), 7-5 (SV)
Finals: lost to #3 Spencer Myers (MD), 3-2 (TB-1)

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