No. 8 virginia Tech shocks No. 3 NC State 17-16

Jack Brizendine

February 6, 2021

BLACKSBURG, VA — A massive takedown at the buzzer by Sam Latona incited a roar that sent shockwaves through Cassell Coliseum, preserving No. 8 Virginia Tech’s undefeated season in a historic 17-16 upset victory over No. 3 N.C. State.

No. 8 Latona and faced No. 4 Jakob Camacho in the final match at 125, and Latona trailed by two entering the second period after a Camacho takedown. Two escapes from Camacho in the second period countered a takedown by Latona, keeping Camacho’s lead at two, 4-2, heading into the final period.

An escape from Latona was the first score of the third period, cutting Camacho’s lead to one point, 4-3, with 1:16 left in the match.

Then, with the match on the line, Latona shot on Camacho, grabbed his right leg and forced him down to the mat, scoring the match-winning takedown with two seconds left. Latona earned an additional two-point near fall at the buzzer, securing the 7-4 victory.

Latona’s upset victory tied the match at sixteen, but the Hokies’ advantage on the third criteria (49-48 total match points) gave Virginia Tech the 17-16 win.

Though Latona’s last second victory at 125 pushed the Hokies past the Wolfpack, the win couldn’t have happened without two crucial performances from No. 2 Hunter Bolen and No. 17 John Borst.

Bolen participated in one of the more thrilling matches of the night against N.C. State’s No. 4 Trent Hidlay at 184 pounds.

The first period featured no points for either wrestler, but an escape from Bolen five seconds into the second period broke the ice, giving him a one-point lead. Bolen nearly scored on two takedowns in the period, but momentum took both wrestlers out of bounds each time.

Hidlay scored his first point of the match from an escape with 51 seconds left, tying the match up at one. A takedown attempt from Hidlay with five seconds left didn’t work, giving Bolen the win, 2-1, thanks to his minute of riding time.

Bolen’s win broke a 10-10 tie, giving Virginia Tech a three-point lead in team points.

While Borst didn’t win his heavyweight match, he delivered in another way.

With 59 seconds left in the first period, Borst collapsed on the mat in pain, holding his right elbow. He stayed down for a moment while team officials examined him, but got back up a few minutes later and finished the match.

Borst lost by decision to N.C. State’s No. 19 Deonte Wilson, 3-1. The loss only gave the Wolfpack three points, whereas if Borst had forfeited due to injury in the first period, N.C. State would’ve been given six team points. Borst’s valiant effort proved to be a crucial decision maker in the later stages of the match.

Wilson’s decision over Borst gave the Wolfpack a three-point lead heading into the final match of the night at 125, a top-eight duel between Latona and Camacho, in which the Hokies prevailed.

The victory ends the Wolfpack’s streak of 22 straight dual match wins, previously the longest in the nation.

Other winners for Virginia Tech included No. 8 Korbin Myers, No. 11 Bryce Andonian, and No. 1 Mekhi Lewis. Sam Hillegas, Connor Brady, Dakota Howard, and Stan Smeltzer all suffered losses on the night.

The Hokies return to the mat on Friday as they host the Pittsburgh Panthers at 6 p.m. on the ACC Network.

Results:

133: No. 8 Myers (VT) MD No. 13 Trombley (NCSU), 13-5

141: No. 10 Wilson (NCSU) dec. Hillegas (VT), 5-1

149: No. 11 Andonian (VT) dec. Scott (NCSU), 9-5

157: No. 2 Hidlay (NCSU) dec. Brady (VT), 9-4

165: No. 1 Lewis (VT) dec. No. 15 Bullard (NCSU), 5-0

174: No. 7 Bullard (NCSU) MD Howard (VT), 10-2

184: No. 2 Bolen (VT) dec. No. 4 Hidlay (NCSU), 2-1

197: No. 16 Trumble (NCSU) dec. Smeltzer (VT), 6-5

285: No. 19 Wilson (NCSU) dec. No. 17 Borst (VT), 3-1

125: No. 8 Latona (VT) dec. No. 4 Camacho (NCSU), 7-4