January 19, 2012
Tech looks to break attendance record this weekend
Hokies host Duke, UNC in Cassell Coliseum

BLACKSBURG - The 23rd-ranked Virginia Tech wrestling squad will wrap up conference action this weekend when it hosts Duke University and the University of North Carolina inside Cassell Coliseum. The Hokies will host the Blue Devils on Saturday at 7 p.m. and will then take on the Tar Heels Sunday at 2 p.m. in the “Drive For 5,000” match. Both matches are free to attend.

Tech is scheduled to send out three ranked wrestlers to the mat this weekend. Devin Carter is still No. 1 at 133 pounds according to InterMat while Zach Neibert is No. 20 at 141 pounds and Pete Yates is No. 8 at 165 pounds. Duke does not have any ranked wrestlers while UNC is led by Evan Henderson (No. 18 at 141) and Corey Mock (No. 19 at 157). Former Hokie wrestler Brock LiVorio will take the mat for UNC on Sunday and will take on Carter at 133 pounds.

Both matches will have live stats available through TrackWrestling.com and both will be broadcast on Hokies All-Access.

On Saturday, the first 300 fans will get a free VT knit hat while Sunday’s match is a big one as the program tries to break the attendance mark of 3,378 set last year against Virginia. This year, the staff has set a goal of 5,000 fans once again. Last year’s crowd was the largest crowd in the south for a wrestling match in over 30 years (and the second-largest ever in the south). Auburn had 5,000 fans at a match against Oklahoma in 1980.

There will be several promotions and giveaways for Sunday, including free pizza to the first 300 Tech students; free VT tumbler cups, color-changing cups and photo albums to the first 450 fans; numerous gift card giveaways, including $100 to TOTS & PKs; a raffle for Coach Beamer signed baseball hats; and a post-match wrestling autograph session on the Cassell concourse. Additionally, Tech football players Logan Thomas and Andrew Miller (former wrestler) will be throwing out T-shirts during the match and members of the football team will be holding an autograph session on the Cassell concourse from 1:15 until the match starts at 2.

Below are the probable lineups for all three teams as submitted by the respective coaching staffs. Duke wrestles at the University of Virginia on Friday night and UNC wrestles at UVa on Saturday.

#23 Virginia Tech (4-3, 2-1 ACC)

125: Erik Spjut (23-8, 0-1 ACC) OR Ty Mitch (5-3, 0-2 ACC)
133: #1 Devin Carter (23-1, 3-0 ACC)
141: #20 Zach Neibert (13-6, 1-2 ACC)
149: Nick Brascetta (1-1, 1-0 ACC)
157: Cameron Hurd (10-7, 1-0 ACC)
165: #8 Pete Yates (17-3, 2-0 ACC) OR Matt Stephens (3-6, 0-2 ACC)
174: Chris Moon (12-9, 1-2 ACC)
184: John Dickson (13-11, 1-2 ACC)
197: Nick Vetterlein (21-6, 2-1 ACC)
285: Chris Penny (7-5, 3-0 ACC)

Duke (0-2, 0-1 ACC)
125: Peter Terrezza (13-10, 0-1 ACC)
133: Brandon Gambucci (15-5, 0-0 ACC) OR Nick Adamo (0-0, 0-0 ACC)
141: Tanner Hough (14-5, 0-1 ACC)
149: AJ Guardado (12-6, 1-0 ACC)
157: Immanuel Kerr-Brown (17-9, 0-1 ACC)
165: Ryan Harding (15-11, 0-1 ACC)
174: Randy Roden (10-11, 0-1 ACC)
184: Diego Bencomo (1-1, 0-1 ACC)
197: Brian Self (4-8, 0-1 ACC)
285: Andrew Fulk (3-5, 1-0 ACC)

North Carolina (2-9, 1-0 ACC)

125: Brian Bokoski (15-12, 1-0 ACC)
133: Brock LiVorio (6-12, 0-0 ACC)
141: #18 Evan Henderson (21-6, 1-0 ACC)
149: Jon Burns (9-11, 1-0 ACC) OR Nick Heilmann (2-5, 0-1 ACC)
157: #19 Corey Mock (20-8, 0-0 ACC)
165: Kyle Kiss (13-7, 1-0 ACC)
174: Alex Utley (10-11, 1-0 ACC)
184: Thomas Ferguson (13-9, 1-0 ACC)
197: Zac Bennett (4-4, 1-0 ACC)
285: Frank Abbondanza (2-12, 0-1 ACC)

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

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