No. 5 Virginia Tech beats No. 8 NC State 20-14 to claim ACC dual meet title
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by Virginia Tech Athletics and NC State Athletics
Virginia Tech Press Release
BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech wrestler Zach Epperly won his match at 174 pounds to lift the Hokies to a 20-14 victory over NC State on Saturday night in front of nearly! 3,000 fans at Virginia Tech Carilion Court.
The win sealed the Atlantic Coast Conference’s dual match championship for Tech for the third consecutive year. The No. 5 Hokies moved to 16-1 overall, 5-0 in the ACC, while the No. 8 Wolfpack fell to 12-2, 4-1.
“We’ve dominated the dual meet side of the ACC, and that’s a tribute to everyone involved – coaches and athletes performing – and this was a big night,” Tech coach Kevin Dresser said. “This is two years in a row that we’ve finished the dual meet season with a championship on the line. Obviously, the crowd came out, and it was a great night for us.”
The championship also marked the 23rd ACC team title won by Virginia Tech since the Hokies joined the league for the 2004-05 academic year.
The Hokies survived an early upset when NC State’s Michael Macchiavello beat Zack Zavatsky 9-3 in the very first match of the evening. Zavatsky went in as the No. 4 wrestler nationally at 184 pounds.
However, Tech won five of the next nine matches, starting when Jared Haught dominated the action at 197 pounds. Haught got a takedown and a near fall in the third period to put away Malik McDonald by a score of 8-2. The win marked the 20th of the season for Haught, who is ranked No. 3 nationally at 197.
At heavyweight, the Hokies’ Ty Walz turned it on in the third period to record a 13-4 major decision victory over the Wolfpack’s Michael Boykin. Walz, ranked fifth nationally at heavyweight, recorded an escape and three takedowns in the final period to pull away and move to 18-2 on the season.
The Hokies’ Joey Dance took care of things at 125 pounds, registering a 12-3 major decision over NC State’s Sean Fausz to give the Hokies an 11-3 lead. Dance, ranked third at 125, trailed early, but picked up two near falls toward the end of the second period and two more in the third to cruise to the win. He is now 21-1 on the season.
NC State’s Jamal Morris and Kevin Jack won the next two matches at 133 and 141 pounds, respectively. Jack’s technical fall tied things at 11.
But the Hokies regained the lead when Solomon Chishko won 8-3 over Sam Speno at 149 pounds. Chishko, ranked No. 6 at 149, led 4-3 going into the final period, but an escape and takedown gave him some breathing room. With a riding time point, he notched the 8-3 win to give the Hokies a 14-11 edge.
Sal Mastriani then won an important match at 157 pounds for Tech. He registered two third-period takedowns and received a point for riding time to knock off Thomas Bullard 12-6 and push the Hokies’ lead to 17-11.
NC State’s Chad Pyke won at 165 pounds to cut the Tech lead to 17-14, but the Hokies’ Epperly won a businesslike match over Nick Reenan in the final match of the evening. Epperly, ranked fifth nationally at 174, got an early takedown and a couple of escape points to hold on in the end. His riding time point gave him a 5-3 victory.
“It’s sure nice to have a guy like Zach Epperly at the end,” Dresser said. “It sure is.”
The Hokies have little time to celebrate, as they hit the mat Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in a match against No. 16 South Dakota State. The day marks Senior Day for the Hokies, and Dance, Walz, Mastriani, David Bergida and Mattheos Lozier will be honored.
No. 5 Hokies 20, No. 8 NC State 14
184: No. 11 Michael Macchiavello (NC State) dec. No. 4 Zack Zavatsky (VT), 9-3
197: No. 3 Jared Haught (VT) dec. Malik McDonald (NC State), 8-2
285: No. 5 Ty Walz (VT) MD Michael Boykin (NC State), 13-4
125: No. 3 Joey Dance (VT) MD No. 12 Sean Fausz (NC State), 11-3
133: No. 18 Jamal Morris (NC State) dec. Dennis Gustafson (VT), 5-4
141: No. 2 Kevin Jack (NC State) tech. fall Brendan Ryan (VT), 21-6 (5:57)
149: No. 6 Solomon Chishko (VT) dec. No. 8 Sam Speno (NC State), 8-3
157: No. 15 Sal Mastriani (VT) dec. Thomas Bullard (NC State), 12-6
165: Chad Pyke (NC State) dec. David Bergida (VT), 13-7
174: No. 2 Zach Epperly (VT) dec. Nick Reenan, 5-3
NC State Press Release
BLACKSBURG, VA. - With #8 NC State and #5 Virginia Tech coming into the final regular season dual both a perfect 4-0 in ACC action, it was only fitting for the last conference dual of 2016-17 to come down to the final match of the evening.
The Wolfpack (12-2, 4-1 ACC) jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead, but the Hokies responded with three straight wins to make it 11-3. The Pack answered with a decision at 133 pounds and a technical fall at 141 to even things up 11-11 with four bouts remaining.
The Hokies (16-1, 5-0) once again scored back-to-back wins and retook the lead at 17-11. The Pack got the decision at 165 pounds to pull within three team points, but VT held on to claim the final bout at 174 pounds and the out-right ACC dual championship with a 20-14 win Saturday night in Blacksburg.
The dual started at 184 pounds with the first of two top-1o matchups. NC State’s #10 Michael Macchiavello pulled off the upset and downed #5 Zack Zavatsky for only his second loss of the season. Entering the third down 2-1, Macchiavello got a reversal and then a four-point nearfall before adding a late takedown in the 9-3 win. Macchiavello finishes a perfect 4-0 in ACC duals at 184 pounds, and improves to 5-4 versus ranked foes downing his highest ranked opponent of the season.
Virginia Tech got a decision at 197 pounds followed by back-to-back major decisions at 285 and 125 pounds to take an 11-3 lead.
#16 Jamal Morris got a 5-4 decision over #30 Dennis Gustafson at 133 pounds. Morris got a late first period takedown and tacked on a two-point nearfall to take a 4-1 lead after the opening period. Morris has now claimed back-to-back wins over ranked foes.
#2 Kevin Jack tied the dual up at 11-11 with his 21-6 technical fall win at 141 pounds. Jack scored five takedowns in the first period, and with a two-point nearfall was up 12-3. Jack improves to 26-1 on the season, having now won 24 in a row. He finishes a perfect 5-0 in ACC action, outscoring his conference foes 76-17.
The Hokies answered with decisions at 149 and 157 to reopen the lead to 17-11.
In a must-win bout, redshirt junior Chad Pyke got the started nod and came away with a 13-7 decision at 165 pounds. With the win, NC State was down three heading into the last match, but VT’s #5 Zach Epperly narrowly defeated #33 Nick Reenan, 5-3, to claim the dual win for the Hokies.
Up Next: With the regular season now complete, NC State will await tomorrow’s announcement if the Pack will be hosting a Big Ten school in the annual NWCA National Duals. Pairings are expected to be announced between 9:30 - 10 p.m.
BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech wrestler Zach Epperly won his match at 174 pounds to lift the Hokies to a 20-14 victory over NC State on Saturday night in front of nearly! 3,000 fans at Virginia Tech Carilion Court.
The win sealed the Atlantic Coast Conference’s dual match championship for Tech for the third consecutive year. The No. 5 Hokies moved to 16-1 overall, 5-0 in the ACC, while the No. 8 Wolfpack fell to 12-2, 4-1.
“We’ve dominated the dual meet side of the ACC, and that’s a tribute to everyone involved – coaches and athletes performing – and this was a big night,” Tech coach Kevin Dresser said. “This is two years in a row that we’ve finished the dual meet season with a championship on the line. Obviously, the crowd came out, and it was a great night for us.”
The championship also marked the 23rd ACC team title won by Virginia Tech since the Hokies joined the league for the 2004-05 academic year.
The Hokies survived an early upset when NC State’s Michael Macchiavello beat Zack Zavatsky 9-3 in the very first match of the evening. Zavatsky went in as the No. 4 wrestler nationally at 184 pounds.
However, Tech won five of the next nine matches, starting when Jared Haught dominated the action at 197 pounds. Haught got a takedown and a near fall in the third period to put away Malik McDonald by a score of 8-2. The win marked the 20th of the season for Haught, who is ranked No. 3 nationally at 197.
At heavyweight, the Hokies’ Ty Walz turned it on in the third period to record a 13-4 major decision victory over the Wolfpack’s Michael Boykin. Walz, ranked fifth nationally at heavyweight, recorded an escape and three takedowns in the final period to pull away and move to 18-2 on the season.
The Hokies’ Joey Dance took care of things at 125 pounds, registering a 12-3 major decision over NC State’s Sean Fausz to give the Hokies an 11-3 lead. Dance, ranked third at 125, trailed early, but picked up two near falls toward the end of the second period and two more in the third to cruise to the win. He is now 21-1 on the season.
NC State’s Jamal Morris and Kevin Jack won the next two matches at 133 and 141 pounds, respectively. Jack’s technical fall tied things at 11.
But the Hokies regained the lead when Solomon Chishko won 8-3 over Sam Speno at 149 pounds. Chishko, ranked No. 6 at 149, led 4-3 going into the final period, but an escape and takedown gave him some breathing room. With a riding time point, he notched the 8-3 win to give the Hokies a 14-11 edge.
Sal Mastriani then won an important match at 157 pounds for Tech. He registered two third-period takedowns and received a point for riding time to knock off Thomas Bullard 12-6 and push the Hokies’ lead to 17-11.
NC State’s Chad Pyke won at 165 pounds to cut the Tech lead to 17-14, but the Hokies’ Epperly won a businesslike match over Nick Reenan in the final match of the evening. Epperly, ranked fifth nationally at 174, got an early takedown and a couple of escape points to hold on in the end. His riding time point gave him a 5-3 victory.
“It’s sure nice to have a guy like Zach Epperly at the end,” Dresser said. “It sure is.”
The Hokies have little time to celebrate, as they hit the mat Sunday at 12:30 p.m. in a match against No. 16 South Dakota State. The day marks Senior Day for the Hokies, and Dance, Walz, Mastriani, David Bergida and Mattheos Lozier will be honored.
No. 5 Hokies 20, No. 8 NC State 14
184: No. 11 Michael Macchiavello (NC State) dec. No. 4 Zack Zavatsky (VT), 9-3
197: No. 3 Jared Haught (VT) dec. Malik McDonald (NC State), 8-2
285: No. 5 Ty Walz (VT) MD Michael Boykin (NC State), 13-4
125: No. 3 Joey Dance (VT) MD No. 12 Sean Fausz (NC State), 11-3
133: No. 18 Jamal Morris (NC State) dec. Dennis Gustafson (VT), 5-4
141: No. 2 Kevin Jack (NC State) tech. fall Brendan Ryan (VT), 21-6 (5:57)
149: No. 6 Solomon Chishko (VT) dec. No. 8 Sam Speno (NC State), 8-3
157: No. 15 Sal Mastriani (VT) dec. Thomas Bullard (NC State), 12-6
165: Chad Pyke (NC State) dec. David Bergida (VT), 13-7
174: No. 2 Zach Epperly (VT) dec. Nick Reenan, 5-3
NC State Press Release
BLACKSBURG, VA. - With #8 NC State and #5 Virginia Tech coming into the final regular season dual both a perfect 4-0 in ACC action, it was only fitting for the last conference dual of 2016-17 to come down to the final match of the evening.
The Wolfpack (12-2, 4-1 ACC) jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead, but the Hokies responded with three straight wins to make it 11-3. The Pack answered with a decision at 133 pounds and a technical fall at 141 to even things up 11-11 with four bouts remaining.
The Hokies (16-1, 5-0) once again scored back-to-back wins and retook the lead at 17-11. The Pack got the decision at 165 pounds to pull within three team points, but VT held on to claim the final bout at 174 pounds and the out-right ACC dual championship with a 20-14 win Saturday night in Blacksburg.
The dual started at 184 pounds with the first of two top-1o matchups. NC State’s #10 Michael Macchiavello pulled off the upset and downed #5 Zack Zavatsky for only his second loss of the season. Entering the third down 2-1, Macchiavello got a reversal and then a four-point nearfall before adding a late takedown in the 9-3 win. Macchiavello finishes a perfect 4-0 in ACC duals at 184 pounds, and improves to 5-4 versus ranked foes downing his highest ranked opponent of the season.
Virginia Tech got a decision at 197 pounds followed by back-to-back major decisions at 285 and 125 pounds to take an 11-3 lead.
#16 Jamal Morris got a 5-4 decision over #30 Dennis Gustafson at 133 pounds. Morris got a late first period takedown and tacked on a two-point nearfall to take a 4-1 lead after the opening period. Morris has now claimed back-to-back wins over ranked foes.
#2 Kevin Jack tied the dual up at 11-11 with his 21-6 technical fall win at 141 pounds. Jack scored five takedowns in the first period, and with a two-point nearfall was up 12-3. Jack improves to 26-1 on the season, having now won 24 in a row. He finishes a perfect 5-0 in ACC action, outscoring his conference foes 76-17.
The Hokies answered with decisions at 149 and 157 to reopen the lead to 17-11.
In a must-win bout, redshirt junior Chad Pyke got the started nod and came away with a 13-7 decision at 165 pounds. With the win, NC State was down three heading into the last match, but VT’s #5 Zach Epperly narrowly defeated #33 Nick Reenan, 5-3, to claim the dual win for the Hokies.
Up Next: With the regular season now complete, NC State will await tomorrow’s announcement if the Pack will be hosting a Big Ten school in the annual NWCA National Duals. Pairings are expected to be announced between 9:30 - 10 p.m.
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