No. 8 virginia Tech vs. No. 3 NC State Wrestling Preview

Josh Coover

February 5, 2021

BLACKSBURG, Va. – No. 8 Virginia Tech enters Friday night’s match against N.C State on a seven-match winning record. The Hokies are 7-0 overall, 3-0 in the ACC.

A familiar opponent awaits Tech as the Wolfpack (5-0, 3-0 ACC) venture to Cassell Coliseum ranked third in the nation.

The two undefeated teams will both play in their first top 10 matchup this season in what is arguably the biggest match of the year for both schools.

Virginia Tech Athletics announced that Friday night’s match in Cassell Coliseum will take place without any fans in attendance. There were a few fans allowed in previous matches, but Friday’s match will only allow family members and certain personnel to watch from the stands.

This will be the 64th meeting between the Hokies and the Wolfpack. N.C State leads the series with a record of 35-27-1.

Last time VT achieved victory over State was in Cassell Coliseum on Feb. 11, 2017. Tech has lost the last three matches by four points or less.

The Hokies are 1-0 against ranked teams this season after defeating No. 14 North Carolina 23-9 in Chapel Hill, N.C last Saturday.

Both teams have combined 15 ranked wrestlers coming into Friday’s match. This could potentially set up a night full of ranked match ups in the 125, 133, 165, 184 and 285 pound weight divisions.

The biggest matchup of the night could come between No. 2 Hunter Bolen and No. 4 Trent Hidlay. During the 2020 season, Bolen defeated Hidlay in both meetings, including in the 2020 ACC Championship match by a 2-1 decision.

With both Bolen and Hidlay being top five wrestlers in the nation, this could be a preview for the 2021 ACC Championship match.

No. 8 Sam Latona could potentially have a ranked match up against No. 4 Jakob Camacho. Latona is 6-0 this season and is also ranked in the top 10 for the first time in his collegiate wrestling career. He is also 1-0 against ranked opponents this season after defeating No. 12 Killian Cardinale of West Virginia earlier in the season.

No. 8 Korbin Myers could also have a potential ranked match up against No. 13 Jarrett Trombley at 133. So far this season, Myers has wins over No. 11 Jaime Hernandez of North Carolina and No. 12 Louie Hayes of Virginia.

Myers also secured bonus points in both of those ranked match ups due to not surrendering a takedown.

No. 1 Mekhi Lewis defeated No. 8 Kennedy Monday last Saturday and will partake in his second ranked match in a row against No. 15 Thomas Bullard.

Lewis is on a 26-match winning streak which dates back to Dec. 1, 2018 and also includes the 2019 National Championship. The redshirt sophomore has never lost in ACC conference play during his collegiate wrestling career.

Lewis has been the outright No. 1 wrestler in the nation in his 185-pound weight class since returning from his Olympic redshirt.

No. 17 John Borst may see his first ranked match up for the first time this season as he could wrestle No. 19 Deonte Wilson. Borst is 4-0 this season.

Dakota Howard, who has made some noise this year for Tech, was named ACC Wrestler of the Week by the conference on Tuesday. Howard defeated No. 9 Gavin Kane of North Carolina last Saturday by a score of 8-7.

The last Tech wrestler to receive the ACC Wrestler of the Week honors was Sam Latona earlier in the season after going 3-0 in Morgantown, W.V.

Howard also received national recognition for the first time in his career by entering in the ranking at No. 32 for the 174-pound weight division in TrackWrestling’s rankings.

Friday night’s match will be seen nationally at 8 p.m. in Cassell Coliseum on the ACC Network.