In a match that will define the ACC race, No. 7 Virginia Tech and No. 8 NC State renew their rivalry. The Hokies and Wolfpack have combined to win the last 13 conference titles, and the two teams have finished both first and second in eight of those 13 tournaments.
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Here’s a preview of all 10 matches that will take place in Reynolds Coliseum on Friday.
125 pounds: No. 3 Eddie Ventresca vs. No. 5 Vincent Robinson or Brad Yokum
The 125-pound bout between Eddie Ventresca and Vincent Robinson could decide the dual. Ventresca hasn’t lost since the new year and has won nine straight matches, while Robinson is 10-2 after defending his national title. Robinson’s last loss came against Stanford’s Nico Provo, 4-1 in sudden victory on Jan. 16.
Ventresca got the better of Robinson with a 4-1 decision at the National Duals in November. He’s 3-0 against the Wolfpack sophomore in his career as well, also beating him in last year’s dual and at the ACC Championships by identical 4-1 scores, with the latter coming in sudden victory.
A win for Robinson would set up the Wolfpack for success and put him on track toward winning his first ACC title.
133 pounds: No. 7 Aaron Seidel vs. No. 33 Zach Redding or Troy Hohman
Virginia Tech true freshman Aaron Seidel is a perfect 12-0 this season and has been dominant, entering Friday off a major decision win against No. 8 Tyler Knox. His entry into the lineup has infused new energy into the Hokies, and he’s on a path to chase an NCAA title himself. Zach Redding or Troy Hohman will have a tough task holding Seidel to just a decision, let alone beating the freshman.
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Redding is 6-6 on the year after transferring from Iowa State last season. His best wins have come against No. 25 Julian Farber of Northern Iowa and No. 19 Ethan Oakley of North Carolina. While his experience could aid him, Seidel is on too much of a hot streak and will be heavily favored against the veteran Wolfpack wrestler.
141 pounds: No. 17 Tom Crook vs. No. 13 Ryan Jack
Virginia Tech’s Tom Crook and NC State’s Ryan Jack both enter Friday off losses: Crook dropped a 6-5 decision to Stanford’s Jack Consiglio and Jack lost 2-1 to North Carolina’s Luke Simcox. Both athletes could compete for a podium spot on their best day, and the result of this match could have significant conference and national seeding implications.
Jack picked up an 8-4 decision win over Crook at the National Duals in his best performance of the season. He was one of only three NC State athletes to win during the last dual with the Hokies. The wrestler who rebounds best from last week’s matches will give his team the upper hand.
149 pounds: No. 9 Collin Gaj vs. No. 5 Koy Buesgens
The 149-pound battle between Collin Gaj and Koy Buesgens is an important one ahead of the national tournament. Gaj is one of two freshmen ranked in the top 10 of the ACC and has won his last eight matches, including a victory over No. 11 Aden Valencia. Buesgens is 17-1 this season with three top-10 wins.
Buesgens earned a tight 4-1 decision at the National Duals and is favored again, though a previous one-takedown match means anything can happen. This match is NC State’s chance to keep itself in the dual and create momentum heading into the second half.
157 pounds: No. 16 Ethen Miller vs. Luca Felix or Brogan Tucker
Maryland transfer Ethen Miller started his season with the Hokies in late December and has quickly and quietly picked up eight wins, including one over No. 17 Dylan Evans of Pittsburgh.
NC State’s Luca Felix, meanwhile, lost at 157 pounds to Laird Root of North Carolina last weekend. His teammate Brogan Tucker lost by tech fall to Stanford’s No. 10 Daniel Cardenas earlier this month. Virginia Tech will be favored against either NC State option.
This match is an opportunity for Miller to earn bonus points for Virginia Tech and put the Hokies in an advantageous position heading into 165 and 174, where Tech has a slight edge at the former and could face challenges at the latter.
165 pounds: No. 12 Ryan Burton or Mac Church vs. No. 13 Will Denny
In a battle of two great freshmen, Virginia Tech’s Ryan Burton and NC State’s Will Denny meet in an important bout at 165 pounds. Burton earned his first career ACC win with a decision over EJ Parco of Stanford last week, and Denny has won 10 straight matches. Both have impressive records, with Denny boasting a 12-2 résumé and Burton competing in 24 matches to a 19-5 record. Their consistency and reps at this stage will make them dangerous come March and beyond.
Burton beat Denny 15-7 in November, but both wrestlers have improved substantially since their first meeting in Tulsa. Virginia Tech also has the option of rolling out Mac Church, a sophomore NCAA qualifier who won the Appalachian Open, in place of Burton. While Burton’s record against Denny suggests he’ll get the nod again, Tech’s depth here reflects the talent head coach Tony Robie is building in Blacksburg.
174 pounds: No. 31 Sergio Desiante vs. No. 6 Matty Singleton
NC State’s Matty Singleton enters the 174-pound match as a favorite with a 12-1 record and five straight wins. His lone loss came against Ohio State’s Carson Kharchla, 8-4, at the National Duals. He’ll meet Sergio Desiante on Friday. Desiante started the year slow but has won 10 of his last 12 matches. The pair met at the National Duals, where Singleton earned a 7-1 decision. Last season, Singleton earned three wins over former Hokie All-American Lennox Wolak — a streak against Virginia Tech he’ll need to continue if he wants to help NC State stay in this contest.
184 pounds: No. 32 Jaden Bullock vs. Don Cates
A match that could go either way, the 184-pound bout features Michigan transfer Jaden Bullock of Virginia Tech against sixth-year wrestler Don Cates of NC State. Neither athlete has finished on the podium in their career, and both could be battling for NCAA qualifying spots come March. Cates needs the win more, entering with a 6-7 record. Bullock is 12-10 after winning the Appalachian Open and has previously reached the Round of 16.
Cates kept the bout close last time, dropping a 4-1 decision to Bullock. If he reverses that result, he could push Bullock out of the rankings. But national implications will be secondary on Friday — it’s all about the rivalry.
197 pounds: No. 16 Sonny Sasso vs. No. 25 Patrick Brophy or Cason Howle
Virginia Tech’s Sonny Sasso enters Reynolds Coliseum having lost his two ACC dual matches this season to Pittsburgh’s No. 8 Mac Stout and No. 14 Angelo Posada. He’ll be favored in this bout, though, against NC State’s No. 25 Patrick Brophy, who also lost to Posada but enters Friday off a win over Robert Platt.
Brophy began his season in late December and has amassed a 5-2 record as a member of the Wolfpack after spending his first three years at The Citadel and qualifying for the national tournament last year. He’s tough and made headlines last season when he beat Oklahoma State’s Luke Surber, but Sasso is gritty, too. The Hokie brings a 15-5 record into this bout, including a win over All-American Joey Novak and a 12-6 victory over Brophy in their last meeting. If NC State can flip this match, the Wolfpack put themselves in a strong position heading into heavyweight. If Sasso proves too much, Brophy must avoid giving up bonus points.
285 pounds: No. 16 Jimmy Mullen vs. No. 2 Isaac Trumble
Isaac Trumble is a title threat. Ranked No. 2 in the country, he enters Friday’s dual with a perfect 9-0 record, including a win over Ohio State’s No. 3 Nick Feldman. The All-American will face Jimmy Mullen, who has won 11 of his 12 matches since the National Duals. The match is an opportunity for Mullen to make a statement in the heavyweight division, but Trumble has been dominant with four falls and two tech falls and is unlikely to waver.
During the meeting in Tulsa, Mullen beat NC State reserve Everest Ouellette by tech fall. Trumble and Mullen met in last season’s dual as well, with Trumble winning 5-3. Trumble was also the hero for the Wolfpack against Virginia earlier this month, pinning Brenan Morgan to lift the Pack over the Cavaliers. If the dual comes down to heavyweight, NC State will rely on its anchor for another clutch performance.
