Virginia Tech snaps skid against UNC, beats Tar Heels 23-9

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. -- Fresh off a 42-3 win in Durham Friday night, Virginia Tech wrestling made it two in a row with a 23-9 win over North Carolina Saturday afternoon, stopping a two-match losing streak against the Tar Heels.

The No. 8 Hokies (7-0, 3-0 ACC) led the No. 14 Tar Heels (2-2, 1-2 ACC) 11-6 after five matches, but then blew the dual open, winning the last four of five, including a top-10 upset win for Dakota Howard at 174 pounds. Tech passed its first ranked test of the season after going 5-3 against ranked opponents a season ago.

MATCH HIGHLIGHTS

Just like in the dual last week vs. Virginia, No. 10 Sam Latona and No. 8 Korbin Myers kicked off the dual with back-to-back bonus-point wins at 125 and 133 pounds, respectively. Latona got an 18-7 major decision over Will Guida, while Myers took down No. 11 Jaime Hernandez 11-2. Myers now has major decisions over the 11th and 12th ranked 133-pound wrestlers.

With Tech holding on to a slim 8-6 lead, Connor Brady added three points with a 6-1 decision over Josh McClure to give the Hokies breathing room heading into the intermission. Leading 3-1 in the third, Brady was able to secure a takedown and hang on for the riding time point to improve to 4-3 on the season.

No. 1 Mekhi Lewis kept his collegiate winning streak alive Saturday against No. 8 Kennedy Monday, coming away with a 4-3 decision that went down to the wire. Lewis, up 3-1, gave up a late takedown but was able to escape and hold off Monday to come away with three more team points. Lewis has now won 26 straight matches.

Dakota Howard could not have picked a better time for his first win of the season. Matched up with the No. 9 174-pounder in the country in Devin Kane, Howard pulled off the biggest win of his career with an 8-6 decision. The redshirt sophomore was able to score a takedown off a scramble late in the third period and hang on for the top-10 upset.

After taking a forfeit win Friday night, No. 2 Hunter Bolen returned to action Saturday and defeated No. 15 Clay Lautt in a 9-5 decision. The redshirt junior added his first ranked win of the season to his resume which includes a 6-0 season record. Bolen has now outscored his opponents 24-0, registering two bonus-point wins.

Results:
125: #10 Sam Latona (VT) MD Will Guida (UNC), 18-7
133: #8 Korbin Myers (VT) MD #11 Jaime Hernandez (UNC), 11-2
141: #10 Zach Sherman (UNC) dec. Sam Hillegas (VT), 12-6 (SV-1)
149: #1 Austin O'Connor (UNC) dec. #12 Bryce Andonian (VT), 11-4
157: Connor Brady (VT) dec. Josh McClure (UNC), 6-1
165: #1 Mekhi Lewis (VT) dec. #8 Kennedy Monday (UNC), 4-3
174: Dakota Howard (VT) dec. #9 Devin Kane (UNC), 8-7
184: #2 Hunter Bolen (VT) dec. #15 Clay Lautt (UNC), 8-3
197: Max Shaw (UNC) dec. Andy Smith (VT), 9-5
285: #15 John Borst (VT) dec. Andrew Gunning (UNC), 3-1

Extra Matches:
141: Collin Gerardi (VT) MD Joseph Heilmann (UNC), 9-0
157: Clayton Ulrey (VT) MD William MacDonald (UNC), 15-4
174: Gavin Kane (UNC) dec. Sam Fisher (VT), 8-2
197: Stan Smeltzer (VT) dec. Mark Chaid (UNC), 8-2
285: Hunter Catka (VT) dec. Brandon Whitman (UNC), 4-3

UP NEXT:
After back-to-back ACC wins in North Carolina, Virginia Tech returns home for a dual with No. 3 NC State at 8 p.m. on the ACC Network. The Hokies and Wolfpack are the only undefeated teams left in the ACC.