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CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - The eighth-ranked Virginia Tech wrestling team dropped a 19-16 decision to 15th-ranked Virginia Sunday afternoon at John Paul Jones Arena in Charlottesville as the Cavs broke an eight-match losing streak to the Hokies. Each team won five matches, but a pin for the Cavs at 157 pounds proved to be the difference in the three-point decision.

Joey Dance got the Hokies off to a good start, using two takedowns in the second period to earn a 5-3 win over Nick Herrmann at 125 pounds. Tech head coach Kevin Dresser elected to pull the redshirt off true freshman Dennis Gustafson at 133 pounds, but the move didn’t pay off as Gustafson dropped a 12-6 decision to Joe Martinez. At 141 pounds, third-ranked Devin Carter wrestled the full seven minutes for the first time this year, but still got a bonus point for the team with a 16-6 major decision over 12th-ranked Joe Spisak.

Virginia went on a roll after that, winning four straight to seize control of the match. Thirteenth-ranked Gus Sako took down ninth-ranked Zach Neibert 5-2 at 149 pounds before Blaise Butler pinned Sal Mastriani in the second period at 157 pounds to give the Cavs their first lead of the match. Fourth-ranked Nick Sulzer had his way with Chris Moon, picking up an easy 20-8 major decision at 165 pounds before No. 16 Stephen Doty downed Tech’s Austin Gabel 4-1 at 174 pounds.

Tech won the last three matches to close the gap, but the damage was already done as the Cavs held on for the win. Nick Vetterlein picked up perhaps the biggest win of his career, rallying to beat ninth-ranked Jon Fausey 4-3 at 184 pounds and the Chris Penny picked up a 5-3 win over Zach Nye at 197 pounds. In the final match, 14th-ranked Ty Walz moved to 8-0 with a 9-7 win over Ethan Hayes at heavyweight.

“Virginia wanted it more than us today,” Dresser said. “It is very disappointing.”

Tech will be back in action Tuesday evening, taking on Old Dominion University at 7:30 p.m. inside the Constant Center.

#15 Virginia (6-1, 1-0 ACC) 19, #8 Virginia Tech (7-1, 0-1 ACC) 16
125: #20 Joey Dance (VT) dec. Nick Herrmann, 5-3
133: Joe Martinez (VA) dec. Dennis Gustafson, 12-6
141: #3 Devin Carter (VT) maj. dec. #12 Joe Spisak, 16-6
149: #13 Gus Sako (VA) dec. #9 Zach Neibert, 5-2
157: Blaise Butler (VA) fall Sal Mastriani, 4:11
165: #4 Nick Sulzer (VA) maj. dec. #19 Chris Moon, 20-8
174: #16 Stephen Doty (VA) dec. Austin Gabel, 4-1
184: Nick Vetterlein (VT) dec. #9 Jon Fausey, 4-3
197: Chris Penny (VT) dec. Zach Nye, 5-3
285: #14 Ty Walz (VT) dec. Ethan Hayes, 9-7

Additionally, the following wrestlers competed in the King Open, hosted by King University in Tennessee.

125: Tyler Awtry (1-2)
First Round: lost to Alexander Battaglia (Limestone), 10-7 *
Consolations: def. Chad Lampe (Lindsey Wilson), 5-4 *
Consolations: lost to Robert Cunningham (Ferrum), 8-5

133: Erik Spjut (3-1; SECOND PLACE)
First Round: def. Collin Crume (King), 3-0 *
Quarterfinals: def. Henry Manjano (Limestone), Fall 1:55 *
Semifinals: def. Nicholas Lankford (Newberry), TF 19-3 *
Finals: lost to Kevin Norstrem (VT), 4-1

141: Jerry Ronnau (6-2; FIFTH PLACE)
First Round: def. Ryan Hull (G-W), 13-8
Second Round: lost to William Young (Newberry), MD 12-0 *
Consolations: def. Ryan Clingenpeel (Ferrum), Fall 4:08 *
Consolations: def. Terrance Dugay (Limestone), 10-5 *
Consolations: def. Jamie Carr (Ferrum), 7-3 *
Consolations: def. Jake DeAngelo (NCSU), 7-5
Consolations: lost to Sam Melikian (NCSU), MD 13-5
Fifth-Place Match: won by medical forfeit over William Young (Newberry)

174: Brooks Morrison (1-2)
First Round: lost to Jesse Masters (King), 5-3 *
Consolations: def. Patrick Good (Liberty), 7-0 *
Consolations: lost to Blaike Henry (King), 8-5

197: Bobby Lavelle (3-2; FOURTH PLACE)
First Round: def. Andy Bennett (G-W), MD 21-9
Quarterfinals: def. Silvaatasi Mathias (VMI), 11-7
Semifinals: lost to David Reck (VT), 5-2
Consolations: def. Tyler Beck (Findlay), 3-2 *
Third-Place Match: lost to Jared Haught (VT), 5-0

285: Brandon Taylor (4-2; FOURTH PLACE)
First Round: def. Christopher Sayers (Limestone), Fall 1:25 *
Quarterfinals: lost to Garrett Fosdyck (King), 3-1 *
Consolations: def. Cody Davis (King), Fall 0:53 *
Consolations: def. Matthew Colter (Newberry), 4-2 *
Consolations: def. Josh Mackey (King), 9-2 *
Third-Place Match: lost to Garrett Fosdyck (King), 3-0 *

133: Kevin Norstrem (unattached; 4-0; CHAMPION)
First Round: def, Jacob Paull (Liberty), MD 17-4 *
Quarterfinals: def. Brandon Thompson (Newberry), MD 12-2 *
Semifinals: def. D’Marcus Spencer (King), 3-1 (OT) *
Finals: def. Erik Spjut (VT), 4-1

149: Cameron Bowen (unattached; 2-2)
First Round: def. Sean Corcoran (Limestone), 6:00 *
Second Round: lost to Collin Lewis (Liberty), 3-0 *
Consolations: def. Josh Reedy (King), Fall 2:41
Consolations: lost by injury default to Mattheos Lozier (NRV Mat Club), 7:05

165: David Bergida (unattached; 4-1; THIRD PLACE)
First Round: def. Austin Kirtlan (Liberty), Fall 2:00 *
Quarterfinals: def. Ryan Buchanan (Limestone), 7-4 *
Semifinals: lost to Peter Santos (NCSU), 5-3
Consolations: def. Mitchell Judkins (Lindsey Wilson), 7-2 *
Third-Place Match: def. Bradley Metz (Findlay), 3-2 *

197: Jared Haught (unattached; 4-1; THIRD PLACE)
First Round: def. Kelly Baker (Belmont Abbey), Fall 4:00 *
Quarterfinals: def. Henry Mauk (NRV Mat Club), 5-2 *
Semifinals: lost to Braden Carter (Newberry), 3-2 *
Consolations: def. Justin Tribble (Limestone), 5-0 *
Third-Place Match: def. Bobby Lavelle (VT), 5-0

197: David Reck (unattached; 5-0; CHAMPION)
First Round: def. Jackie Miller (King), Fall 1:08 *
Second Round: def. Justin Tribble (Limestone), 3-2 *
Quarterfinals: def. Ryland O’Brien (Appalachian State), Fall 4:21
Semifinals: def. Bobby Lavelle (VT), 5-2
Finals: def. Braden Carter (Newberry), 5-2 *

285: Dan Garwood (unattached; 1-0)
First Round: def. PJ Shuler (Appalachian State), 3-1
Forfeited out

* - vs. non-NCAA Division I competitor; result doesn’t count toward NCAA qualification status

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