#13 Ohio State travels to Blacksburg, Virginia to take on #4 Virginia Tech on Friday, November 10th at 7:00 p.m. (ET). This top-flight clash is an incredible start to the season and will be full of exciting battles from start to finish. We will update the article below in real time. So be sure to update this page once the dual begins.
125: #4 Eddie Ventresca, Virginia Tech vs. Brendan McCrone, Ohio State
Ventresca comes in on an early low single leg and fights for the takedown – Ventresca takes an early 3-0 lead. Ventresca is on the verge of a turn but fails to land the punches and the position ultimately stalls. With about a minute to go, McCrone almost made the breakaway, but spun to reverse and Ventresca is able to fight his way through the position – he avoids giving up the breakaway, but is sentenced to stall for hanging on for more than 5 seconds held the leg. With about 20 seconds left in the period, McCrone escapes and the score is 3-1 to end the first period.
McCrone goes down at the start of the second period and quickly manages to increase the score to 3-2 with 2 minutes of game time for Ventresca. Ventresca attacks again with the deep leg, but the position is dead for now. Ventresca does a nice slide-by, but McCrone rolls through and catches Ventresca on his back! McCrone gets a takedown and a complete set of back points, making it 9:3 going into the final period!
McCrone works Ventresca hard at the start of the third round and flattens him for a full minute. A stalemate is called 40 seconds before the end of the first race, allowing Ventresca to start again, but the riding time is now just 28 seconds for Ventresca. Ventresca rushed the start a few times and was called for his third caution, making it 10-3 in favor of McCrone. McCrone continues to ride hard and Ventresca is called for another stall – McCrone wins the match with a decisive decision 11-3. After one game we already have a surprise in store!
Double Score – Virginia Tech 0, Ohio State 4
133: #4 Sam Latona, Virginia Tech vs. #16 Nic Bouzakis, Ohio State
There was a lot of hand fighting at the start of this match with neither wrestler making much of an attempt to take him out. 20 seconds before the end of the first leg, Latona gets in with a single leg and manages to get the takedown. Latona takes a 3-0 lead in the second half.
Bouzakis goes down at the start of the second period and quickly manages to make the score 3-1 in favor of Latona. There’s still not much going on – none of the wrestlers mount a committed attack for the rest of the period and the score is 3-1 heading into the third round.
Latona goes down at the start of the third round and manages to extend his lead to 4-1 in about 15 seconds. With just over a minute to play, Bouzakis takes a shot and Latona counters with a low single for a takedown – 7-1 for Latona. Latona cuts off Bouzakis looking for a major decision, but Bouzakis is able to get behind with a takedown of his own, making the final score 7-5 in Latona’s favor.
Double Score – Virginia Tech 3, Ohio State 4
141: Hunter Mason, Virginia Tech vs. #5 Jesse Mendez, Ohio State
Jesse Mendez is very active in the hand fight and works his way to an early double that secures the takedown. Mendez goes catch and release with Mason and scores another takedown after 2 minutes to make the score 6-1. Another slip and another takedown for Mendez – the score is 9-2 just 90 seconds into the match. A man on a mission, Mendez hits Mason again to escape to secure another takedown – now 12-3. Mendez runs over a period and receives a whole set of back points, making the score 16:3, and so the period ends in Mendez’s favor.
Mason goes down early in the second period and Mendez appears to be working hard for the downfall. Mendez is tough on the bar and came close several times in the half, but Mason is able to fight back just enough to avoid being turned over. Just at the end of the game, Mendez changes tactics and receives a tilt for 2 points and the technical deficit of 18:3.
Double Score – Virginia Tech 3, Ohio State 9
149: #4 Caleb Henson, Virginia Tech vs. #9 Dylan D’Emilio, Ohio State
Just 25 seconds into the match, Henson managed a smooth slide-by for a takedown. D’Emilio quickly escapes and it’s 3-1 with Henson in the lead. Henson shoots the ball and D’Emilio counters well with a single of his own and shoots the ball for a takedown. With one minute left, Henson escapes and the score is 4-4. Another slide-by for Henson and he gets the takedown within seconds in the first moment – the crowd gets loud for the Hokies!
Henson goes down at the start of the second round, but manages to escape quickly and extends his lead to 8-4. Henson continues to be very active and D’Emilio is beaten for his second stall call of the game – 9-4 Henson. Henson finds himself in trouble as the period draws to a close and a scramble ensues – Henson is on the verge of a takedown, but the referees never award 3 points and the score is 9-4 heading into the third round.
D’Emilio goes down at the start of the third round and Henson rides hard. Henson continues riding and is able to extend his riding time to over a minute. With about 30 seconds to go, D’Emilio escapes while Henson needs a takedown for a major. Henson makes a few attempts, but D’Emilio ends up on Henson’s legs at the end of the match – no takedown and Henson wins the match 10-5.
Double Score – Virginia Tech 6, Ohio State 9
157: #6 Bryce Andonian, Virginia Tech vs. #15 Paddy Gallagher, Ohio State
Get ready for fireworks – Bryce Andonian is on the mat! This is unique considering Andonian and Gallagher were high school teammates at St. Edwards High School in Ohio.
There’s not much going on at the start of this match, there’s a lot of hand-to-hand combat and flair most of the time. Gallagher comes deep with a single leg and is close to finishing. Andonian is able to rotate his hips at just the right moment and is taken out. Meanwhile, Jimmy Mullen screams: “THAT SHOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE!” Andonian did a magical job there and took a 3-0 lead in the second round.
Andonian goes down in the second round and manages to extend his lead to 4-0 within about 5 seconds. Gallagher throws another leg attack but fails. Paddy Gallagher is close to another takedown and Andonian counters again for a takedown at the end of the period – 7-0 going into the third period.
Gallagher manages to escape in about 20 seconds in the third period – it is now 7:1. Andonian hits a one-two punch from the outside and almost gets there, but Gallagher is able to climb out as Andonian backflips. Gallagher gets into a high crotch with about 20 seconds left and manages to get him a takedown. Time runs out and Andonian wins – 7-4.
Double Score – Virginia Tech 9, Ohio State 9
165: #22 Connor Brady, Virginia Tech vs. Isaac Wilcox, Ohio State
Similar to 157, this match starts off slow as both men fight hand-to-hand in the middle of the mat. Just under a minute before the end of the match, Brady scored a nice double strike and made it 3-0. Wilcox manages to escape before the end of the first period and it is 3-1 to Brady in the second period.
Wilcox quickly escapes to start the second and we’re back on our feet. There’s more hand fighting on our feet again, but Wilcox goes deep with a single leg and keeps the leg in the air. Brady dives towards the edge of the mat and they go out of bounds, but Brady gets a penalty – maybe he escapes the mat? We are at 3 before the third round.
Brady decides to go down at the beginning of the final period and quickly manages to secure the 4:3 – the driving time doesn’t matter. Brady appears to be holding position and trying to maintain the 4-3 lead. Wilcox does a great job picking up his movement and getting in on one leg. Wilcox fights through Brady’s whizzer and finishes with just 20 seconds left. Brady escapes but doesn’t have enough time to get the offense going – 6-5 Wilcox is the winner.
Double Score – Virginia Tech 9, Ohio State 12
174: #3 Mekhi Lewis, Virginia Tech vs. #7 Carson Kharchla, Ohio State
Here it is – the big match of the evening! There isn’t much action at the start – Lewis comes close with a header from the front, but Kharchla manages to parry the position. Nice snaps from Lewis and he’s able to throw Kharchla past and get the takedown with about 40 seconds left in the first period. Kharchla escapes and at the end of the first round it is 3-1 for Lewis.
Lewis goes down in the second round and manages to escape in about 5 seconds to extend his lead to 4-1. More snaps and fakes for Mekhi and it’s clear he wins the hand fight. Lewis is close to reaching the leg on some of his fakes, but Kharchla just manages to escape. Now it’s Kharchla’s turn with a single leg – he puts the leg back and almost finishes two or three times, but Mekhi shows incredible defense! Wow – this was Kharchla’s chance and Mekhi showed amazing defense to maintain their 4-1 lead into the third period.
Kharchla goes down and quickly manages to escape to make it 4-2. The two alternating attacks are about to get going, but neither player scores. Kharchla comes in again with a single leg, but Mekhi jumps through at just the right moment to catch the leg and bring the position to a stalemate with about 10 seconds left in the match. Lewis defends the last seconds and wins 4:2. Great match from both wrestlers – Kharchla will do well at 174 this year.
Double Score – Virginia Tech 12, Ohio State 12
184: #15 Sam Fisher, Virginia Tech vs. Ryder Rogotzke, Ohio State
The match begins and Rogotzke immediately digs up an underhook that pushes Fisher out of bounds – Fisher calls for a stall. Both men have a good handfight – Rogotzke achieves a double at exactly the right time and goes for a takedown. Rogotzke finished the quarter first and led 3-0 at the end of the first half.
Rogotzke goes down in the second round and quickly manages to extend his lead to 4-0. Rogotzke manages another double leg and goes for the takedown – now it’s 7:0. Rogotzke rides out the rest of the section and needs over a minute of riding time in the third section.
Fisher opts for neutral at the start of the third period and gets a quick takedown, but Rogotzke runs through the position and catches Fisher on his back – Rogotzke gets in a headlock and pins Fisher!
Double Score – Virginia Tech 12, Ohio State 18
197: #17 Andy Smith, Virginia Tech vs. Luke Geog, Ohio State
Geog gets in early and finishes his single leg to take a 3-0 lead. Smith quickly escapes, but Geog fires another single leg and gets another takedown – 6-1 in favor of Geog. Smith manages to escape again, then fires off a nice single leg, quickly finishes and gets the takedown. Geog escapes and the half ends with Geog leading 7-5.
Smith goes down in the second leg and manages to escape quickly, but Geog comes right in with another single leg to make it three – 10-6, now with Geog in the lead. Smith manages to escape and begins to apply pressure – Smith steadily leads Geog out of bounds and Geog is called for stalling. We go into the third round, Geog leads 10-7.
Smith immediately lets go of Geog in the third round – Smith needs two takedowns here to win the match. Geog may be lagging a bit, but he does a good job of firing his attacks at the right times to avoid being asked to stop. Now Smith comes forward with some urgency and gets Geog out of bounds with just 3 seconds left to get the stall call. However, it’s too little too late, as the early offense from Smith and Geog was too much to overcome – Geog wins 11-8 and secures the deuce for the Buckeyes!
Double Score – Virginia Tech 12, Ohio State 21
285: #20 Hunter Catka, Virginia Tech vs. #25 Nick Feldman, Ohio State
There are some tough hand fights to start this match and both big men seem a bit hesitant to fend off serious attacks early on. Catka shoots the first real shot of the match and penetrates deep with one leg. Catka is about to finish, but Feldman jumps through and is able to grab a leg and turn the position into a scramble. Feldman is close to the takedown, but Catka fights well through the position and at the end of the first round the score is 0-0.
Feldman goes down in the second round and gets back up about 20 seconds into the period, but Catka gets a MAJOR mat return – the crowd loves it! Catka goes for a hard ride, making it difficult for Feldman to even get up. With about 30 seconds left, Feldman gets back up, only to get another big mat return for Feldman. Catka is able to ride the entire time and the score remains 0-0 with Catka having 2 minutes of riding time.
Catka goes down at the start of the third attack and escapes in just 3 seconds. Catka fires off a single leg but gets caught on the gut as Feldman works hard to take him out. Catka is able to break the deadlock and is leading 1-0 with just 30 seconds left. Time continues to run out, but Feldman resumes his movements and hand fighting. Feldman continues to fire off attacks and hits a lightning fast single leg with just 5 seconds left! What a crucial takedown from Feldman and he gets the 3-2 win!