Virginia Tech Looks to Finish Season Undefeated vs. Pitt

Josh Coover

February 12, 2021

BLACKSBURG, Va. – After last Friday night’s tight win against NC State in Blacksburg, No. 4 Virginia Tech (8-0, 4-0 ACC) looks to hold the sole possession of the ACC regular season title with a win against No. 16 Pitt (3-3, 1-3 ACC) on Friday night in Cassell Coliseum.

The Hokies moved up four spots in this week’s NWCA Coaches Poll rankings from No. 8 after defeating then-No. 3 NC State. This marks the teams highest ranking of the season after straddling an eighth-place ranking since the preseason polls were released. Tech’s No. 4 ranking is the highest it has received since Jan. 21, 2020, when the Hokies were ranked No. 3.

The Hokies will meet the Panthers for the 18th time on the mat with Pitt leading the series against Tech all time, 12-5. Last time VT beat Pitt was Jan. 25, 2019 in Blacksburg. The two squads met last season with Pitt getting the better of Tech, winning last year’s match 18-13 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

A Virginia Tech win would secure an undefeated regular season at a record of 9-0. It would be the seventh time in program history that the Hokies finished competition without a loss — the first time since the 1956-57 season.

If Tech wins, it would mark the longest undefeated season in school history since the 1954-55 team won eight straight, and head coach Tony Robie would be the fourth coach in program history to coach an undefeated season. Frank Teske, George Herring and S.B. Sutton are the others.

Four Tech starters could potentially finish the ACC conference schedule without a loss. No. 2 Hunter Bolen, No. 5 Sam Latona, No. 1 Mekhi Lewis and No. 7 Korbin Myers will put their undefeated records on the line. Lewis and Bolen could become the only two wrestlers from VT to earn a victory over every team at 5-0. Lewis (9-0) has never lost an ACC match in his career.

The most anticipated matchup of the night will be No. 10 Jake Wentzel and Lewis’ match Friday night. Lewis will see his second top-10 matchup of the season. Pitt’s redshirt sophomore is 3-0 against ranked opponents this season, including a 4-3 decision over then-No. 8 Kennedy Monday of North Carolina.

Lewis has won 27 consecutive matches and is undefeated all-time vs. ACC opponents.

Friday night’s match will be able to be viewed nationally on the ACC Network at 6 p.m. from Blacksburg.