BUIES CREEK, N.C. - The seventh-ranked Virginia Tech wrestling squad cruised to a 42-4 win over Campbell Saturday afternoon in Gore Arena to move to 14-2 overall.
Jarrod Garnett got things off to a quick start with a first-period pin of Eric Montoya at 125 pounds. The win was the senior’s 116th career victory, moving him into a tie for fourth place all-time at Tech in career wins. Erik Spjut followed up Garnett’s pin with a pin of his own, sticking Tanner Bidelspach at the 2:50 mark to quickly make it 12-0. Campbell got on the board at 141 pounds with Michael Dahlstrom earning an 8-0 major decision over back-up Michael Gowen.
At 149 pounds, fifth-ranked Nick Brascetta picked up a first-period pin of his own, this one at the 2:25 mark, to make it 18-4. Seventh-ranked Jesse Dong had to overcome the defensive strategy of Nick Rex - which earned him three stall warnings - but got a takedown in the third period to win 5-1 at 157 pounds. Fifth-ranked Pete Yates took care of business at 165 pounds, picking up a 13-1 major decision over Paul Duggan. Austin Gabel fell behind 5-0 early on after getting taken down and turned, but rallied to tie it up and send it to sudden victory, where he got the takedown to beat Taylor McGiffen 9-7 at 174 pounds.
Nick Vetterlein jumped out to a 13-3 lead on Garrison Matthews at 184 pounds before finally pinning him at the 4:08 mark to stretch Tech’s lead to 30 points. Derrick Borlie jumped out to a big lead on John Merickel at 197 pounds and flirted with the technical fall, but had to settle for a dominating 19-6 win to make it 38-4. Heavyweight David Marone rolled to an 11-3 major decision over Joe Nolan at heavyweight to wrap things up and give Tech the win.
"This was a good tune up before the National Duals," said head coach Kevin Dresser. "I give gold-star focus at 125, 197 and heavyweight. Those are weights where we have had some focus issues with but they were really zeroed in today. This was a great prep for our Friday trip to Oregon."
Tech will now head to Corvallis, Ore., for next Sunday’s Regional of the NWCA National Duals. Tech will be paired with No. 9 Oregon State, No. 19 Michigan and No. 24 Oregon State. The pairings will be announced next week, but they are supposed to go strictly by the polls, so if that holds it will be the Hokies and Sooners in a rematch of Tech’s 22-19 win and the Beavers and Wolverines with the two winners meeting to go to the finals of the Duals in Minneapolis the following weekend.
#7 Virginia Tech (14-2) 42; Campbell (5-7) 4
125: #7 Jarrod Garnett (VT) fall Eric Montoya, 2:26
133: #19 Erik Spjut (VT) fall Tanner Bidelspach, 2:50
141: Michael Dahlstrom (C) maj. dec. Michael Gowen, 8-0
149: #5 Nick Brascetta (VT) fall Brent Jorge, 2:25
157: #7 Jesse Dong (VT) dec. Nick Rex, 5-1
165: #5 Pete Yates (VT) maj. dec. Paul Duggan, 13-1
174: Austin Gabel (VT) dec. Taylor McGiffen, 9-7 (SV)
184: Nick Vetterlein (VT) fall Garrison Matthews, 4:08
197: Derrick Borlie (VT) maj. dec. John Merickel, 19-6
285: David Marone (VT) maj. dec. Joe Nolan, 11-3
Additionally, several Tech wrestlers competed at the Edinboro Open Saturday. Chris Penny, wrestling unattached, led the way with a title while several Hokies also placed.
125: Matt Peters (1-2)
First Round: lost to Anthony Zanetta (Pitt), Fall 6:12
Consolations: def. Anthony Rivera (Edinboro), TF 15-0 (2:40)
Consolations: lost to Kevin Devoy (Drexel), MD 11-3
157: Sal Mastriani (Unattached; 5-1; THIRD PLACE)
First Round: def. Darlush Saghafi (No School), Fall, 2:06 *
Second Round: def. Xavier Ross (Edinboro), MD 12-2
Third Round: def. Cole Sheptock (Pitt), 14-7
Semifinals: lost to Brian Realbuto (FLWC), Fall 2:48 *
Consolations: def. Chad Struve (VT), 5-1
Third Place Match: def. Alex Peilliciotti (Bucknell), 8-5
157: Chad Strube (Unattached; 5-2; FIFTH PLACE)
First Round: def. Tyler Button (Edinboro), 9-7
Second Round: def. Willie Fox (No School), 7-2 *
Third Round: lost to Donnie Tasset (Pitt), 4-1
Consolations: def. Matt Pasqualini (Michigan State), Fall :45
Consolations: def. Tyler Button (Edinboro), MD 9-0
Consolations: lost to Sal Mastriani (VT), 5-1
Fifth Place Match: def. Eric Nutter (Pitt), 10-7
165: David Bergida (1-2)
First Round: lost to Bobby Nash (Michigan State), 8-1
Consolations: def. Kyle Braddock (Clarion), Fall 2:56
Consolations: lost to Francis Mizia (Mercyhurst), 9-6
Chris Moon (Unattached; 4-1; THIRD PLACE)
First Round: def. Andrew Reche (Navy), MD 10-1
Second Round: def. Dylan Palacio (No School) 9-4 *
Third Round: lost to Ian Miller (Kent State), 10-5
Consolations: def. Justin Lozano (Buffalo) 9-4
Third Place Match: def. Zachary Towers (Edinboro), 8-5
165: Brooks Morrison (0-2)
First Round: lost to Taylor Simaz (FLWC), 7-2 *
Consolations: lost to Bobby Nash (Michigan State), 7-0
184: John Dickson (Unattached; 3-1; SECOND PLACE)
First Round: def. Jared Merritt (Lake Erie), 4-0
Second Round: def. Brandon Griffin (Lehigh), 7-5
Semifinals: def. Victor Avery (Edinboro), 7-6
Finals: lost to Lorenzo Thomas (No School), 8-6 *
197: Darren Hankins (0-2)
First Round: lost to Luke Jones (Michigan State), 7-0
Consolations: lost to Jordan Shulman (Pitt), 6-5
Bobby Lavelle (4-2; FIFTH PLACE)
First Round: def. Michael Mirra (Bloomsburg), 4-2
Second Round: lost to Anthony Lock (Buffalo), 7-4
Consolations: def. Jordan Kitta (Pitt-Johnstown), MD 12-4
Consolations: def. Todd Gardosi (No School), 4-1 *
Consolations: lost to Luke Jones (Michigan State), MD 8-0
Fifth Place: def. Michael Mirra (Bloomsburg), 3-2
285: Dan Garwood (4-2; FIFTH PLACE)
First Round: lost to Justin Heisermen (Buffalo), 3-2
Consolations: def. Raymon Stone (Cleveland State), 6-3
Consolations: def. Dan Komberg (Pitt), TF 19-2
Consolations: def. Dawson Peck (No School), 6-0 *
Consolations: lost to Justin Heisermen (Buffalo), 5-1
Fifth Place Match: def. Wayne Purnell (WVU), 4-1
285: Chris Penny (Unattached; 4-0; CHAMPION)
First Round: def. Jedd Mason (Buffalo), 8-4
Second Round: def. Dom Komberg (Pitt), 10-0
Semifinals: def. Wayne Purnell (WVU), 5-1
Finals: def. Ty Walz (VT), 3-1
285: Ty Walz (Unattached; 4-1; SECOND PLACE)
First Round: def. Charles Boddy (Bucknell), 5-0
Second Round: def. Amon Willis (Cleveland State), MD 18-5
Third Round: def. Chris Nash (Michigan State), 10-3
Semifinals: def. Justin Heisermen (Buffalo), 3-2
Finals: lost to Chris Penny (VT), 3-1
* non NCAA competitor; doesn’t count toward record
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