January 17, 2013
Tech grapplers preparing for two ACC matches
Hokies travel to UNC, host NC State this weekend

BLACKSBURG - The ninth-ranked Virginia Tech wrestling team, fresh off a team title at the Virginia Duals, will look to build off its success last weekend when it jumps back into ACC dual meet action this weekend with a pair of matches. The Hokies will travel to Chapel Hill to take on North Carolina Saturday at 2:30 p.m. inside Carmichael Auditorium before returning home Sunday to take on NC State at 2 p.m. inside Cassell Coliseum.

Tech is 9-2 overall, 2-0 in the conference, while UNC is 4-2, 0-0 in the ACC (with a home match against UVa Friday night available on ESPN3) and NCSU is 3-0, 0-0 in the ACC (with a home match against American Friday night).

Tech’s lineup could feature five ranked wrestlers this weekend, led by fourth-ranked Jarrod Garnett at 125 pounds. Nick Brascetta is ranked seventh at 149 pounds. Jesse Dong is ranked sixth at 157 pounds and Pete Yates is fifth at 165 pounds. Zach Neibert sits at No. 13 at 141 pounds. UNC features ranked wrestlers at 125 pounds (#13 Nathan Kraisser) and 141 pounds (#8 Evan Henderson) while NC State features 18th-ranked Nijel Jones at 165 pounds.

Tech has won 21 of its last 22 ACC dual matches dating back to 2008.

Live stats for the UNC match will be available here while the live stats for the NCSU match can be found here. UNC will have a broadcast of the match. The link will be posted here the day of the match. The SD broadcast is listed as free while the HD broadcast requires a fee.

Sunday’s match against the Wolfpack can be watched thru Hokies All-Access, with the link here.

Below are the probable lineups for all three squads, as submitted by the respective coaching staffs:

#9 Virginia Tech (9-2, 2-0 ACC)
125: #4 Jarrod Garnett (18-1)
133: Erik Spjut (9-7)
141: #12 Zach Neibert (15-6)
149: #6 Nick Brascetta (19-2)
157: #7 Jesse Dong (14-2)
165: #5 Pete Yates (20-1)
174: Austin Gabel (12-7)
184: Nick Vetterlein (10-8)
197: Derrick Borlie (12-7)
285: David Marone (9-6)

North Carolina (4-2, 0-0 ACC)
125: #13 Nathan Kraisser (22-4)
133: Joey Ward (16-5) OR Pat Owens (7-6)
141: #8 Evan Henderson (24-6)
149: Nick Heilmann (15-10) OR Christian Barber (17-10)
157: Jake Crawford (10-5)
165: John Staudenmayer (16-7) OR Chris Mears (4-10)
174: Tanner Eitel (3-0) OR Frank Abbondanza (7-11)
184: Alex Utley (18-8)
197: Antonio Giorgio (8-5)
285: Cody Klempay (1-7)

NC State (3-0, 0-0 ACC)
125: Joe DeAngelo (2-1)
133: Sam Speno (13-5)
141: Tyler Hunt (14-6)
149: Thomas Gantt (10-3)
157: Matt Nereim (10-9)
165: #18 Nijel Jones (21-6)
174: Patrick Davis (12-11)
184: Keegan Cerwinski (0-1)
197: Bill Cook (1-2)
285: Mike Kosoy (13-12)

Additionally, the following Tech wrestlers will compete at the Purple Raider Open, hosted by Mt. Union, on Sunday in Alliance, Ohio. Results can be followed thru TrackWrestling.

125: Matt Peters
141: Michael Gowen (Unattached)
149: Chad Strube (Unattached)
157: David Bergida
157: Sal Mastriani (Unattached)
165: Chris Moon (Unattached)
165: Brooks Morrison (Unattached)
174: John Dickson (Unattached)
184: Sam Law
197: Darren Hankins
197: Bobby Lavelle
285: Dan Garwood
285: Chris Penny (Unattached)
285: Ty Walz (Unattached)

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

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