No. 8 Hokies Split Opening Round of ‘Journeymen Collegiate Wrestling Duals’

By Ryan Duvall

Staff Writer

December 20, 2021

Updated 2:17 a.m.: Virginia Tech will take on No. 11 Cornell, who beat No. 22 Northern Iowa (29-7) but was defeated after leading up until the final two matchups of its matchup with No. 2 Penn State (21-16).

Following a two week break, No. 8 Virginia Tech returned to the mat after defeating then-No. 17 Northern Iowa and then-No. 3 Missouri. On Monday, the Hokies avoided the harsh winds of Blacksburg, and traveled south to Northwest Florida State, host of the Journeymen Collegiate Wrestling Duals.

The holiday tournament is hosting a plethora of powerhouse programs across the country, including the likes of No. 1 Iowa, No. 2 Penn State, No. 5 NC State, No. 10 Missouri, No. 11 Cornell, No. 17 Lehigh, and No. 22 Northern Iowa.

The Hokies had the challenge of taking on both Hofstra and No. 6 Arizona State on the first day of the Journeymen event.

In Virginia Tech’s first match against Hofstra, it was off to a quick start, making easy work of the Pride, 35-3. Early wins from No. 16 Sam Latona (125), No. 4 Korbin Myers (133), and Collin Gerardi (141) set the tone, as the Hokies only dropped one match on their way to a blowout win.

No. 6 Bryce Andonian (146) wasn’t available for the Hokies after not weighing-in, according to the Rokfin broadcast. Freshman Kylan Montgomery filled in for Andonian after winning his first career match a month ago against Gardner-Webb. But lightning didn’t strike twice for Montgomery, who fell to Michael Leandrou, 3-1.

The taller task would come in the next dual, when the Hokies took on a fellow top ten opponent, Arizona State.

The match didn’t mirror the Hokies early success in their first dual, as Latona, Myers, and Gerardi were all defeated and Tech trailed, 9-0. It was all Arizona State until the 2019 national champion, No. 4 Mekhi Lewis (174) stepped up to the mat.

Lewis appeared to be a man on a mission, leading his match 10-2 after the first period. And he didn't let up, getting two takedowns and an escape to lead 15-3 by the end of the second period. When the dust settled, Lewis had put up 19 points to get VT on the board with its first win of the dual.

No. 9 Hunter Bolen (184) and No. 14 Nathan Traxler (heavyweight) would also take care of business, as Bolen, Traxler and Lewis scored all of Virginia Tech’s 13 team points. Ultimately though, it wasn’t enough, and the Hokies fell to the Sun Devils 23-13.

After splitting the day 1-1, Virginia Tech will get a chance at Cornell, who split its matchups against Northern Iowa and Penn State.

The Hokies now sit at 4-2 with a chance to build their resume through the final Journemen match and the Southern Scuffle in Chattanooga (Jan 1-2) before getting into the thick of their season when ACC play rolls around at the end of January.

Results against Hofstra (Virginia Tech win, 35-3)

125: No. 16 Sam Latona (VT) major dec. Jacob Moon (Hof.), 11-2.

133: No. 4 Korbin Myers (VT) major dec. Ty Cymmerman (Hof.), 18-2.

141: Collin Gerardi (VT) dec. Justin Hoyle (Hof.), 4-1.

149: Michael Leandrou (Hof.) dec. Kylan Montgomery (VT), 3-1.

157: No. 22 Connor Brady (VT) dec. Joe McGinty (Hof.), 6-3.

165: Clayton Ulrey (VT) WBF Mario Biancamano (Hof.), 0:42.

174: No. 4 Mekhi Lewis (VT) TF Ericson Velesquez (Hof.)

184: No. 9 Hunter Bolen (VT) dec. No. 25 Charles Small (Hof.), 6-3.

197: Dakota Howard (VT) dec. No. 26 Trey Rodgers (Hof.), 5-3.

285 (HWT): No. 14 Nathan Traxler (VT) dec. No. 20 Zachary Knighton-Ward (Hof.), 7-1.

Results against No. 6 Arizona State (Virginia Tech loss, 23-13)

125: No. 3 Brandon Courtney (ASU) dec. No. 16 Sam Latona (VT), 8-4.

133: No. 14 Michael McGee (ASU) dec. No. 4 Korbin Myers (VT), 8-7.

141: No. 15 Jesse Vasquez (ASU) dec. Colin Gerardi (VT), 9-7.

149: No. 5 Kyle Parco (ASU) major dec. Kylan Montgomery (VT), 14-1.

157: No. 3 Jacori Teemer (ASU) dec. No. 22 Connor Brady (VT), 3-1 (SV).

165: No. 6 Anthony Valencia (ASU) dec. Clayton Ulrey (VT), 11-9.

174: No. 4 Mekhi Lewis (VT) TF Ryan Rochford (ASU), 19-5.

184: No. 9 Hunter Bolen (VT) TF Josh Nummer, 20-2.

197: No. 8 Kordell Norfleet (ASU) major dec. Dakota Howard (VT), 14-3.

285 (HWT): No. 14 Nathan Traxler dec. Chad Porter (ASU), 7-1.