SALEM, Va. - The Virginia Tech wrestling team picked up three wins at the Hokie Duals Sunday at the Salem Civic Center to move to 4-0 on the year. In the first match, the eighth-ranked Hokies tied with Kent State, but won on criteria in the third tiebreaker to take the 19-18 win. From there, the train got moving as Tech rolled past Chattanooga 27-10 and then blanked VMI 47-0 to end the day.
Third-ranked Devin Carter continued his hot start to the season at 141 pounds. First, he pinned eighth-ranked Tyler Small of Kent State in picking up points that would prove to be big at the end. In his second match, he earned a quick technical fall and then pinned VMI’s Joe Jarrells in just 39 seconds. Also going undefeated on the day were 20th-ranked Joey Dance at 125 pounds, fifth-ranked Zach Neibert at 149 pounds and freshman Ty Walz at heavyweight.
Walz came up big for the Hokies in the first match of the day. With Tech trailing Kent State 18-15, he got an early lead on Mimmo Lytle and picked up the 8-4 win to tie it up. The first criteria in a tiebreaker is matches won and both teams won five matches. The second criteria is six-point decisions, in which each team had one pin. The third criteria is match points in non-pin matches and Tech finished +7 to pick up the bonus point to win 19-18.
The Hokies (4-0) will be back in action next weekend, hosting ninth-ranked Edinboro at 10 a.m. inside Cassell Coliseum. It will be the first top-10 wrestling matchup in Cassell Coliseum history. The match will take place before the Hokies’ home football game at 12:30 p.m., so parking will be an issue. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and park and pay in the Price’s Fork Road lot or park at one of the local schools and either walk or take the bus.
The rest of the squad is participating in the Hokie Open inside the Salem Civic Center. Results from that tournament will be available late Sunday night.
#8 Virginia Tech 19, Kent State 18
125:#20 Joey Dance (VT) dec. Alfredo Gray, 5-4
133: Mackenzie McGuire (KS) dec. #17 Erik Spjut, 7-4
141: #3 Devin Carter (VT) fall #8 Tyler Small, 4:52
149: #5 Zach Neibert (VT) dec. Michael Depalma, 8-4
157: #12 Ian Miller (KS) fall Sal Mastriani, 3:44
165: #16 Chris Moon (VT) dec. Mike Vollant, 6-0
174: Caleb Marsh (KS) dec. #17 Austin Gabel, 6-4
184: Sam Wheeler (KS) dec. Nick Vetterlein, 7-6
197: Cole Baxter (KS) dec. Chris Penny, 7-5
285: Ty Walz (VT) dec. Mimmo Lytle, 8-4
Tech wins by rule 3.15.3 - 3rd criteria
#8 Virginia Tech 27, Chattanooga 10
125: #20 Joey Dance (VT) dec. Zach Bridson, 9-3
133: #18 Nick Soto (C) dec. #17 Erik Spjut, 4-0
141: #3 Devin Carter (VT) tech fall Austin Sams, 23-8 (5:56)
149: #5 Zach Neibert (VT) dec. Michael Hooker, 4-2
157: Alex Hudson (C) dec. Sal Mastriani, 9-3
165: #7 Corey Mock (C) maj. dec. #16 Chris Moon, 8-0
174: #17 Austin Gabel (VT) dec. Levi Clemons, 10-4
184: Nick Vetterlein (VT) maj. dec. Clay Dent, 12-2
197: Chris Penny (VT) inj. def. Jared Johnson, (3:56)
285: Ty Walz (VT) dec. Kevin Malone, 6-3
#8 Virginia Tech 47, VMI 0
125: #20 Joey Dance (VT) tech fall Dalton Henderson, 15-0 (5:16)
133: #17 Erik Spjut (VT) tech fall Mike Flora, 16-0 (3:12)
141: #3 Devin Carter (VT) fall Joe Jarrells, 0:39
149: #5 Zach Neibert (VT) tech fall Shabaka Johns, 16-1 (7:00)
157: Sal Mastriani (VT) maj. dec. Ted Gottwald, 13-3
165: #16 Chris Moon (VT) maj. dec. Mark Darr (VMI), 14-3
174: #17 Austin Gabel (VT) tech fall Derek Thurman, 18-2 (3:29)
184: Nick Vetterlein (VT) tech fall Hardy Hendren, 24-9 (7:00)
197: Chris Penny (VT) fall Andrew Embree, 2:53
285: Ty Walz (VT) dec. Juan Adams, 10-9
For updates on Virginia Tech wrestling, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_Wrestling).