In another highly anticipated matchup, No. 10 Virginia Tech (8-2 overall, 4-1 ACC) squares off against No. 7 NC State (11-1 overall, 5-0 ACC) in Blacksburg on Friday night to determine which team will own a share of the ACC regular season title. The dual is the Hokies’ third top-10 meeting this season.
This matchup features two of the nation’s elite programs Each has asserted itself as the most dominant teams in the ACC over the last decade. Dating back to the 2015-16 season, the Hokies and the Wolfpack have won the last nine ACC championships between them, with the latter claiming the title every year except for 2017 and 2018 during that span.
As dominant as NC State has been in the ACC tournament as of late– the Wolfpack have won six consecutive titles– this rivalry has become a must-see showdown during the dual season not just in the ACC, but nationally, as well. Over the last 10 regular season meetings, the series is split 5-5, with the home team winning every dual but two during this timeframe.
- 2024: 20-12 NC State (Raleigh, NC)
- 2023: 16-14 Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA)
- 2022: 21-10 NC State (Raleigh, NC)
- 2021: 17-16 Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA)
- 2020: 21-18 NC State (Raleigh, NC)
- 2019: 17-16 NC State (Blacksburg, VA)
- 2018: 19-15 NC State (Raleigh, NC)
- 2017: 20-14 Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA)
- 2016: 19-14 Virginia Tech (NC State Fairgrounds - Holshouser Building, Raleigh, NC)
- 2015: 29-9 Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA)
Coming into Friday's matchup, both teams are riding impressive winning streaks. Virginia Tech has won its last five duals, and NC State’s only loss on the season came against Oklahoma State by a score of 34-3. Because the Cowboys are these two teams’ only shared loss this season, it’s relevant to note that Virginia Tech dropped its dual in Stillwater 34-9, a matchup in which the Hokies were without three starters due to injury.
Each program’s lineups for Friday night will likely feature nine ranked wrestlers:
- 125 lbs: No. 5 Eddie Ventresca (VT) vs No. 3 Vincent Robinson (NCSU)
- 133 lbs: No. 13 Connor McGonagle (VT) vs No. 14 Kai Orine (NCSU)
- 141 lbs: No. 10 Sam Latona (VT) vs Tyler Tracey (NCSU)
- 149 lbs: No. 1 Caleb Henson (VT) vs No. 22 Koy Buesgens (NCSU)
- 157 lbs: No. 12 Rafael Hipolito, Jr. (VT) vs No. 15 Ed Scott (NCSU)
- 165 lbs: Mac Church (VT) vs No. 28 Derek Fields (NCSU)
- 174 lbs: No. 20 Lennox Wolak (VT) vs No. 22 Matty Singleton (NCSU)
- 184 lbs: No. 20 Thomas Stewart, Jr. (VT) vs No. 14 Dylan Fishback (NCSU)
- 197 lbs: No. 16 Andy Smith (VT) vs No. 31 Christian Knop (NCSU)
- 285 lbs: No. 13 Jimmy Mullen (VT) vs No. 4 Isaac Trumble (NCSU)
Although Virginia Tech boasts the higher ranked wrestler in 6 of 10 bouts, the dual will probably be closely contested from start to finish. The Hokies must take care of business in the matches they’re favored in and secure bonus point wins where they can, but will also likely need to steal an upset or two, such as at the bouts 125 and 285 pounds that could prove to be the matchups of the night. Don’t be surprised if the dual comes down to the final match, just as it did in 2021 when Sam Latona secured a takedown as time expired in overtime to win the meet for the Hokies.
The dual features three rematches from last season, two of which were won by NC State. Each of these bouts should be competitive again on Friday night, and their results could have significant impacts on the dual’s final tally:
- 133 lbs: No. 4 Kai Orine Dec. No. 13 Sam Latona, 2-1
- 157 lbs: No. 12 Ed Scott 7-12 Dec. Rafael Hipolito, 12-7
- 184 lbs: No. 24 Thomas Stewart, Jr. Dec. Dylan Fishback, 7-2
The significance of this year’s rendition of the ACC’s best rivalry can’t be understated. Virginia Tech looks to claim a share of its first regular season conference title in several years, while NC State hopes to stay atop the conference in its journey to win a 7th consecutive championship, a feat that hasn’t been done since Maryland’s run from 1966-72. A loss on Friday night, while certainly not dooming the defeated team, would deal a sizable blow as the regular season comes to a close.