We have a good dual this Friday between the #17 Scarlet Knights & the #7 Hokies. Lots of good matches to look forward to, each with its own unique storyline making this dual as interesting from an individual perspective as it is from a team perspective.
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| #9 Dean Peterson Vs #13 Eddie Ventresca 125 |
Define irony. It's amazing how much things can change in a year. Last year at this time, Eddie Ventresca was in a serious slump, struggling like crazy. Peterson on the other hand was doing quite well. Now here we are approximately 12 months later & the two have switched. Ventresca has been wrestling really well lately, 5-0, with a win over Cooper Flynn. Peterson is the one struggling, with a 1-2 record, including a loss to an unranked wrestler from Long Island University. When the two met last season, Peterson walked away with a 2-0 win. What happens this Friday? We will see.
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| #6 Dylan Shawver Vs #10 Connor McGonagle 133 |
Both of these wrestlers have looked pretty good thus far in '24-'25. Shawver is currently undefeated, but he hasn't faced the caliber of competition that McGonagle, who has one loss has. McGonagle also pulled off a very nice win over Kade Moore of Missouri recently as well. Some feel that Virginia Tech is one of those teams that could potentially take home a top four trophy this year. If so, they're going to need guys like McGonagle, getting wins over guys like Shawver. From the Scarlet point of view, Rutgers has a team full of wrestlers with the talent, ability, & potential to do far better than their current ranking suggest. Opportunity knocking, who opens the door?
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| #22 Joey Olivieri Vs #18 Sam Latona 141 |
I've thus far enjoyed the Sam Latona redemption story & it's been rewarding seeing him wrestle well after a disappointing end to '23-'24. With that said, he has himself a very tough challenge on Friday night. Joey Olivieri hasn't quite cemented himself as AA material, but a win over Latona would at the very least, put the idea into the head of those paying attention. Both of these guys want to keep climbing the ladder. While an upset for Olivieri, it'd still be a good win for Latona.
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| U.R. Andrew Clark Vs #1 Caleb Henson 149 |
2023 NCAA DI qualifier Andrew Clark has yet to find himself in the rankings after an injury plagued '23-'24 season. The question in this dual I believe is whether he can keep the match to a decision Vs the returning NCAA DI champ. V.T. will be expecting bonus points in this match, and they may very well get it.
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| #13 Jackson Turley Vs #4 Lennox Wolak 174 |
We have two seniors here, both looking for their second All American honor by season's end. Turley was 8th in the nation back in 2021 & Wolak was 6th last year. A win here for Turley would be vital for the Scarlet Knight. Ever since earning All American status four seasons ago, he has yet to place himself back within that status. He's been lingering around close to it, within the suburbs, but has yet to step back into Top 8 City. He defeats Wolak on Friday, he's back. Despite what the rankings say, a win for Wolak here as far as I'm concerned is still a win over a fellow All American.
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| #20 Brian Soldano Vs #5 T.J. Stewart 184 |
Here's another opportunity for a Scarlet Knight to demonstrate that he's much better than the current ranking he is at. T.J. Stewart is coming off of an upset loss to Colton Hawks of Missouri & it'll be interesting to see where his mind is at as a result of it this Friday. This could give Brian Soldano an opportunity to hand Stewart his second loss via upset. With that said, the loss to Hawks might very well fire up the Hokie. I think Soldano is good enough to keep this match to a decision, but Stewart might very well be out for blood. Again a top #7 team ranking does suggest that if firing at all cylinders the Hokies could contend for a top 4 trophy. From that perspective, a #5 would want to major a #20.
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| #12 John Poznanski Vs #13 Andy Smith 197 |
There's going to be a lot of good matches this dual, but this could very well end up the best match of the night. Both John Poznanski & Andy Smith finished a match shy of All American honors last March. After finishing 4th in the DI nation back in 2021, it seemed that Poznanski was destined for better results than what we've seen the last couple of years. A redshirt gives him both this year & next, and it's very plausible that he could end his career as a three time All American. In order to do so though, it's going to take wins, like the one he'll be going for Friday night against Smith. Smith wants to stand on the award stand in March every bit as much as Poznanski. Same principle applies. It'll take wins like the one he's going for against Poznanski Friday night.
The last time these two met, it was a 4-2 decision for Poznanski.
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