No. 4 Virginia Tech Beats No. 16 Pitt, Completes Undefeated Season

Jack Brizendine

February 14, 2021

BLACKSBURG, Va. — Cassell Coliseum fell silent when former NCAA National Champion Mekhi Lewis collapsed to the mat in pain late in the second period of his match.

After trying to fight through the pain, Lewis couldn’t continue and had to forfeit his match at 165 pounds at the end of the second period.

Although Virginia Tech led 18-9 following the match, it felt as if the air had been sucked out of the building.

Then Dakota Howard took the mat against Pittsburgh’s Jared McGill at 174 and avenged Lewis’ loss in a powerful way.

After holding a 5-3 lead to finish the first period, Howard exploded in the second, scoring sixteen points in the period to earn a 21-6 technical fall victory.

The win re-energized the team and helped No. 4 Virginia Tech to a 27-12 win over No. 16 Pittsburgh on Friday night. The Hokies imposed their will on the Panthers, winning seven of ten matches on the night.

With the victory, Virginia Tech wins the ACC Dual Meet Championship and finishes the season undefeated.

After his heroic performance against N.C State, No. 10 Sam Latona completed an undefeated regular season with a 12-3 major decision victory over Colton Camacho.

Latona began the match with two takedowns in the first period in addition to 56 seconds of riding time. He continued to dominate in the second period, scoring on another takedown and two escapes.

Latona grabbed another takedown in the final period and earned an additional point for riding time, icing the win.

No. 2 Hunter Bolen impressed against Gregg Harvey, racking up five takedowns in a major decision victory, 12-1. Bolen finished the season undefeated in ACC competition.

No. 10 Bryce Andonian and Connor Brady also earned major decision victories for the Hokies while Hunter Catka and Joey Prata both won by decision.

Collin Gerardi and Andy Smith both suffered losses in addition to Lewis.

Virginia Tech returns to the mat on February 28th in Raleigh for the ACC Championship.

Results:

285: Catka (VT) dec. Cooley (PITT), 4-0

125: No. 5 Latona (VT) MD Camacho (PITT), 12-3

133: Prata (VT) dec. Newell (PITT), 3-1

141: No. 17 Matthews (PITT) dec. Gerardi (VT), 8-4

149: No. 10 Andonian (VT) MD Burnett (PITT), 10-1

157: Brady (VT) MD Badgett (PITT), 12-1

165: No. 10 Wentzel (PITT) def. No. 1 Lewis (VT) via injury default

174: Howard (VT) TF McGill (PITT), 21-6 (5:05)

184: No. 2 Bolen (VT) MD Harvey (PITT), 12-4

197: No. 7 Bonaccorsi (PITT) dec. Smith (VT), 8-1