February 22, 2013
Hokies fall to No. 4 Minnesota at National Duals
Garnett, Yates pick up wins for Tech
F
Florida State 86
Virginia Tech75

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. (hokiesports.com) - The seventh-ranked Virginia Tech wrestling team dropped a 28-8 decision to fourth-ranked Minnesota Friday night in the quarterfinals of the NWCA National Duals inside Williams Arena. Tech won just two matches in dropping to 16-3 on the season, breaking its 13-match win streak.

Things started off on a good note as seventh-ranked Jarrod Garnett picked up a 10-7 win over No. 13 David Thorn at 125 pounds. Garnett used four takedowns and avoided trouble by wiggling out of a nearfall combination late to pick up the win. Erik Spjut dropped a 14-4 major decision to seventh-ranked Chris Dardanes at 133 pounds before eighth-ranked Nick Dardanes beat Tech’s Zach Neibert 9-2 at 141 pounds.

Minnesota then got two big wins to turn the tide as 11th-ranked Dylan Ness took down No. 6 Nick Brascetta twice and reversed him in the third period to win 7-6 at 149 pounds. The big upset came at 157 pounds when unranked Danny Zilverberg blanked Tech’s seventh-ranked Jesse Dong 5-0, taking him down in the first period and turning him in the third stanza.

Pete Yates, ranked fourth at 165 pounds, turned No. 14 Cody Yohn at will, picking up an 18-2 technical fall in the third period. Top-ranked Logan Storley took down Tech’s Austin Gabel 8-2 at 174 pounds before fifth-ranked Kevin Steinhaus pinned Tech’s Nick Vetterlein at the 5:33 mark. Bobby Lavelle put up a good fight at 197 pounds against No. 10 Scott Schiller, tying the match in the third period with an escape, takedown and three nearfall points, but Schiller escaped with the 9-7 win. Second-ranked Tony Nelson picked up a 4-0 win over Tech’s David Marone at heavyweight to wrap things up.

"Great teams expose weaknesses," Tech head coach Kevin Dresser said. "We got exposed. It's time to get tougher."

Tech (16-3) will have two weeks off before returning to action March 9 at the ACC Championships at the Comcast Center in College Park, Md.

#4 Minnesota (14-2) 28, #7 Virginia Tech (16-3) 8

125: #7 Jarrod Garnett (VT) dec. #13 David Thorn, 10-7
133: #7 Chris Dardanes (M) maj. dec. Erik Spjut (VT), 14-4
141: #8 Nick Dardanes (M) dec. #14 Zach Neibert, 9-2
149: #11 Dylan Ness (M) dec. #6 Nick Brascetta, 7-6
157: Danny Zilverberg (M) dec. #7 Jesse Dong, 5-0
165: #4 Pete Yates (VT) tech fall #14 Cody Yohn, 18-2 (6:12)
174: #1 Logan Storley (M) dec. Austin Gabel, 8-2
184: #5 Kevin Steinhaus (M) fall Nick Vetterlein, 5:33
197: #10 Scott Schiller (M) dec. Bobby Lavelle, 9-7
285: #2 Tony Nelson (M) dec. David Marone, 4-0

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

HokieSports Shop