Hokies Dominate Blue Devils 42-3

Jack Brizendine

January 30, 2021

DURHAM, N.C. — No. 8 Virginia Tech began its two-day trip to North Carolina with a suffocating 42-3 win over Duke on Friday night. The Hokies imposed their will on the Blue Devils, winning nine-of-10 matches.

Hokie wrestlers Joey Prata, No. 12 Bryce Andonian, and No. 1 Mekhi Lewis highlighted the day with three thrilling victories.

Prata earned an exciting 3-2 victory over Duke’s Logan Agin in the second match of the night. After a scoreless first period, Prata collected a point for an escape early in the second. He carried that one point lead into the third period.

Another escape in the final period extended Prata’s advantage to two points with thirty seconds left in the match. Agin answered with a takedown, tying the match at two, but a near buzzer beater escape eked out the win for Prata.

Andonian wrestled in the only ranked matchup of the day against Duke’s No. 19 Josh Finesilver.

Andonian began the match with a takedown, giving him an early two-point lead. That takedown helped Andonian force Finesilver on his back, pinning him only a minute into the contest.

Lewis earned the fastest win on the day, pinning Duke’s Eric Carter in only thirty-four seconds - The quickest pin for any Hokie this season.

The only other pin for Virginia Tech came from Stan Smeltzer, who defeated Duke’s Kaden Russell in 1:06.

Hokie wrestler Brandon Wittenberg picked up his first collegiate victory, earning a decision win over Drake Doolittle, 5-3. Other winners for Virginia Tech include Hunter Catka, Collin Gerardi, Connor Brady, and Hunter Bolen.

The only loss for the Hokies came from Sam Fisher, who lost by decision to Duke’s Conor Becker, 10-7.

Virginia Tech returns to the mat on Saturday to take on the No. 14 North Carolina (2-1) at 3 p.m. The match will be televised on ACC Network Extra.

Results:

285: Catka (VT) TF Niesenbaum (DUKE), 18-1 (5:45)

125: Prata (VT) dec. Agin (DUKE), 3-2

133: Wittenberg (VT) dec. Doolittle (DUKE), 5-3

141: Gerardi (VT) MD Rowland (DUKE), 10-2

149: No 12. Andonian (VT) WBF No. 19 Finesilver (DUKE), 1:02

157: Brady (VT) dec. LaRue (DUKE), 9-3

165: No. 1 Lewis (VT) WBF Carter (DUKE), 0:34

174: Becker (DUKE) dec. Fisher (VT), 10-7

184: No. 2 Bolen (VT) wins by forfeit

197: Smeltzer (VT) WBF Russell (DUKE), 1:06