Duke wrestling put up a spirited fight on the road against sixth-ranked Virginia Tech at Cassell Coliseum, with standout performances from Spencer von Savoye, Dylan Ross, Aidan Wallace, and Connor Barket. Despite their efforts, Duke fell to the Hokies with a final score of 26-17, closing out their ACC action. This result leaves the Blue Devils at 6-13 overall and 0-6 in the ACC, while Virginia Tech improved to 11-3 and a perfect 6-0 in conference play.
Match Highlights
Spencer von Savoye kicked things off in style for Duke at 125 pounds. He took control early against Ryan Messick, securing a takedown and a nearfall to jump ahead 5-0.
After Messick managed an escape, von Savoye executed a reversal, eventually sealing an 11-2 major decision. This victory marked von Savoye's second consecutive ACC win and his third of the season.
At 141 pounds, junior Raymond Adams faced a tough challenge against the 22nd-ranked Tom Crook. Adams fought hard, narrowing Crook's lead to 5-4 with a well-timed takedown, but ultimately fell in a 7-4 decision.
Dylan Ross delivered a clutch performance in the 149-pound class. After a scoreless first period against Chris Bacchioni, Ross secured a takedown in the second.
Bacchioni's escape in the third tied things up, but Ross was undeterred. He clinched a 4-1 victory with a decisive takedown just 25 seconds into overtime, marking his 15th win of the season and fourth in ACC action.
Virginia Tech's forfeit at 174 pounds handed Duke six valuable points, adding to their tally.
Connor Barket, ranked 20th, closed the night with an impressive 8-0 victory over Parker Ferrell at heavyweight. Barket dominated from the start, opening with a takedown and adding an escape in the second period. He wrapped up the match with a commanding performance, improving his season record to 19-5 and securing his 10th career ACC win.
Looking Ahead
Duke wraps up the regular season with a home match against Cornell on Sunday, February 22. The team will honor seven seniors during this senior day event at Penn Pavilion on Duke's campus, with the match set to begin at 12 p.m.
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