Virginia Tech Outgrinds NC State in Top-10 Wrestling Clash, Clinches 21-12 Road Win
In a gritty, high-stakes ACC showdown between two top-10 programs, No. 7 Virginia Tech went into hostile territory and walked out with a statement win, downing No.
8 NC State 21-12 on Friday night. The Hokies clinched the dual with one bout still to go, notching their second victory this season over the Wolfpack after a win at the National Duels in November.
Let’s break down how the Hokies got it done, bout by bout.
125: No. 3 Eddie Ventresca (VT) 3, No. 5 Vincent Robinson (NCST) 2
This one was a chess match between two of the nation’s best at 125 pounds. Ventresca, facing the reigning national champ, kept things tight and tactical. Neither wrestler gave much ground in regulation, with both scoring escapes in the second and third periods.
Overtime didn’t bring much more action, but it was Ventresca’s riding time that made the difference. He edged Robinson by the slimmest of margins, improving to 4-0 all-time against him. That’s a huge tone-setter to open a dual.
133: No. 7 Aaron Seidel (VT) 16, No. 33 Zach Redding (NCST) 0
Seidel wasted no time turning up the heat. He blitzed Redding out of the gate, building an 11-0 lead in the first period alone. The Hokie freshman kept the pressure on in the second, finishing the tech fall in just 3:39.
It was a dominant performance and gave Virginia Tech an early 8-0 team lead.
141: No. 13 Ryan Jack (NCST) 7, No. 22 Tom Crook (VT) 2
NC State needed a spark, and Jack delivered. Crook was game early, but Jack’s takedown late in the second period gave him control. Crook stayed within striking distance with escapes, but Jack closed strong with another takedown and ride-out to notch the 7-2 win.
That cut the Hokies’ lead to 8-3, and gave the Reynolds Coliseum crowd something to cheer about.
149: No. 9 Collin Gaj (VT) 6, No. 5 Koy Buesgens (NCST) 0
This was a coming-of-age moment for Gaj. The Virginia Tech freshman took on a top-five opponent in Buesgens and didn’t blink. After a scoreless first period, Gaj went to work from the top in the second, racking up four near-fall points and over two minutes of riding time.
He added an escape in the third and shut out Buesgens for a signature 6-0 win. That’s the kind of performance that turns heads-and it pushed Tech’s lead to 11-3.
157: No. 16 Ethen Miller (VT) 12, Luca Felix (NCST) 1
Miller kept the Hokies rolling with a dominant showing at 157. He opened with a takedown and added four near-fall points in the second period. In the third, he picked up another takedown and an escape, cruising to a 12-1 major decision.
The bonus point was big, stretching Virginia Tech’s lead to 15-3 as the dual hit the halfway mark.
165: No. 13 Will Denny (NCST) 8, No. 12 Ryan Burton (VT) 5
NC State needed to stop the bleeding, and Denny delivered in a tightly contested bout. After a scoreless first period, Burton struck first with an escape, but Denny answered with a takedown. The two traded scores in the third, but Denny sealed it with a takedown in the final 20 seconds.
That win gave the Wolfpack a pulse, trimming the Hokies’ lead to 15-6.
174: No. 4 Matthew Singleton (NCST) 5, No. 31 Sergio Desiante (VT) 4
Desiante came out swinging, taking a 3-0 lead with a first-period takedown, but Singleton stayed composed. He chipped away with escapes in the second and third periods, and his ride time ended up being the difference-maker.
It was a close call, but NC State was back in it, down just 15-9 with three bouts left.
184: No. 32 Jaden Bullock (VT) 2, Donald Cates (NCST) 0
Bullock brought the momentum back to the Hokies with a no-frills, grind-it-out win. After a scoreless first period, he rode out Cates for the entire second to lock up over a minute of riding time. He added an escape in the third and held on for the 2-0 decision.
That put Virginia Tech up 18-9 with two bouts to go-and within reach of clinching the dual.
197: No. 16 Sonny Sasso (VT) 11, No. 25 Patrick Brophy (NCST) 10
This one was the dagger. Sasso and Brophy went back and forth early, but Brophy surged ahead in the second with two takedowns to take a 10-6 lead. Sasso, though, saved his best for last.
He scored an escape and takedown in the third to tie it up, then rode out Brophy for the final 90 seconds to notch the riding time point. That comeback sealed the dual for the Hokies at 21-9.
285: No. 2 Isaac Trumble (NCST) 7, No. 16 Jimmy Mullen (VT) 0
With the match already decided, Trumble closed things out for NC State in dominant fashion. Mullen came out aggressive, but Trumble took control in the second period with an escape and takedown. He added another takedown in the third to wrap up a 7-0 decision.
Still, it wasn’t enough to change the outcome. Final score: Virginia Tech 21, NC State 12.
What’s Next
Virginia Tech improves to 8-2 overall and stays unbeaten in ACC action at 3-0. They’ll hit the road again next Friday to take on in-state rival Virginia.
With two wins over NC State now in their back pocket, the Hokies are making it clear: they’re a serious contender in the ACC-and beyond.