Hokies Defeat Cavaliers in Commonwealth Clash, 19-15

Jack Brizendine

January 24, 2021

BLACKSBURG, Va. - No. 8 Virginia Tech (5-0) defeated Virginia (1-1) 19-15 in the Commonwealth Clash on Friday, marking the program’s ninth consecutive win over the Cavaliers.

The most interesting matches of the day came from Hokie wrestlers Sam Latona, Korbin Meyers, and Connor Brady.

Latona, ranked tenth in the country at 125, kicked off the match with a tech fall over Sam Book, 18-3.

Latona grabbed the early lead in the match with two takedowns and an escape and exploded in the third period, racking thirteen points to secure the tech fall.

No. 8 Meyers won his match at 133, earning an impressive major decision victory over No. 12 Louie Hayes, 12-1.

Meyers dominated Hayers early on, scoring six unanswered points in addition to securing over three minutes in riding time.

An escape on top of two more takedowns gave Meyers an insurmountable eleven-point lead late in the third period. He was awarded another point from riding time to cement the major decision.

Although 157-pound Brady eventually fell to No. 15 ranked Virginia wrestler Justin McCoy, the redshirt freshman put up an impressive fight, losing 3-2.

McCoy scored early on a takedown, but a Brady escape cut the deficit to one heading into the second period. An escape from McCoy stretched the lead to two leading into the final period.

After scoring quickly in the third on an escape, Brady reduced McCoy’s lead back to one and went in on a shot. He got a couple more shots in, but wasn’t able to finish on any of them, and McCoy held on for the win.

No. 1 Mekhi Lewis’ dominance was on full display in his match, as he earned a massive decision victory over No. 15 Jake Keating, 8-2.

Lewis jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first period and racked up over two minutes of riding time. He added a point in the second period for an escape and received another point at the end of the match for riding time.

Other winners for the Hokies included No. 12 Bryce Andonian and No. 2 Hunter Bolen. Virginia Tech wrestlers Sam Hillegas, Dakota Howard, Andy Smith, and Hunter Catka all fell by decision on Friday.

The Hokies will look to maintain their undefeated record as they travel to Durham next Friday to take on the Duke Blue Devils (0-2).

Results:

125: No. 10 Latona (VT) TF Book (UVA), 18-3

133: No. 8 Myers (VT) MD No. 12 Hayes (UVA), 12-1

141: Courtney (UVA) dec. Hillegas (VT), 8-3

149: No 12. Andonian (VT) MD Spencer (UVA), 8-0

157: No. 15 McCoy (UVA) dec. Brady (VT), 3-2

165: No. 1 Lewis (VT) dec. No. 15 Keating (UVA), 8-2

174: Marcelli (UVA) dec. Howard (VT), 6-4

184: No. 2 Bolen (VT) dec. Battista (UVA), 10-4

197: No. 3 Aiello (UVA) dec. Smith (VT), 10-3

HWT (285): No. 20 Miller (UVA) dec. Catka (VT), 4-0