No. 8 Hokies Get Big Win In 2022 Match at the Moss Arts Center

By Ryan Duvall

Staff Writer

January 15, 2022

BLACKSBURG — When Dakota Howard stepped on the mat, No. 8 Virginia Tech trailed George Mason, 15-9. When he walked off after dominating his match, he tied the score, bringing the fans in the Moss Arts Center to their feet.

In a short span of two periods Howard accumulated 22 points, through a series of takedowns, near falls, and absolute dominance against Jeremy Seymour, which gave him a win by decision, 22-7.

The match turned out to be a game-changer, as the energy brought by Howard led to the Hokies closing out the dual — winning their last four matches — as the victors, 31-15, in the program’s return to the venue after a year-long hiatus due to the pandemic.

Virginia Tech (5-3) was fueled by No. 13 heavyweight Nathan Traxler, No. 21 125-pounder Sam Latona, and No. 7 Bryce Andonian of the 149-pound weight class.

Andonian, who had missed much of the last month, showed no signs of rust with a ranked win over No. 23 Alex Madrigal.

However, injuries loomed over VT’s day. 184-pounder Simeone Holmes forfeited his match against George Mason’s Kyle Davis due to an injury to what appeared to be his lower body..

For a number of Hokie wrestlers it was their first time wrestling at Moss. Latona, Traxler, Brandon Wittenberg, and Clayton Ulrey all took home victories in their Moss debut, while Andonian, Howard, and Collin Gerardi all remain undefeated, having won in the 2020 duel.

Overall, the team looked great, starting out slow, but heating up as the dual went on with big matches from some big wrestlers. No. 3 Mekhi Lewis (133 pounds), who is 13-0 on the year, didn’t participate in Saturday’s duel.

However, VT will need Lewis this upcoming Friday, when it heads to Raleigh, N.C. to take on NC State. The Wolfpack, ranked No. 5 in the nation, sits at 6-1 and will be a tough matchup to start ACC play for the Hokies.

Results:

125 – No. 21 Sam Latona (VT) maj dec Benjamin Monn (GMU), 12-3

133 – Brandon Wittenberg (VT) dec Michael Rapuano (GMU), 8-3

141 – Collin Gerardi (VT) dec Kaden Cassidy (GMU), 5-2

149 – No. 7 Bryce Andonian (VT) fall No. 23 Alex Madrigal, 2:49

157 – Avery Bassett (GMU) dec Jake Hart (VT), 3-1

165 – Clayton Ulrey (VT) maj dec Tyler Kocak (GMU), 13-3

174 – Logan Messer (GMU) fall Austin Dempsey (VT), 2:11

184 – Kyle Davis (GMU) inj for Simeone Holmes (VT)

197 – No. 33 Dakota Howard (VT) tech fall Jeremy Seymour (GMU), 22-7

285 – No. 13 Nathan Traxler (VT) fall Austin Stith (GMU), 0:33