Conference dual action within the ACC this Friday as the #5 Virginia Tech Hokies, take on the #25 North Carolina Tar Heels. As always, wins will be vital to future seeding within the qualifier. Eight of the matches stick out in particular.
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| #4 Eddie Ventresca Vs #21 Spencer Moore 125 |
After a disappointing '23-'24, Eddie Ventresca has been the poster child for making a comeback, as he's thus far having an outstanding '24-'25. The 2023 All American is currently 10-2 on the season, having made the CKLV finals, which many feel is the toughest in-season tournament in NCAA Division I. He has a tough match this Friday against Spencer Moore. A much tougher match than what ranking suggest. The last the two met, Ventresca won a hard fought 9-7 decision. Moore himself recently made the Southern Scuffle finals.
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| #12 Connor McGonagle Vs #13 Ethan Oakley 133 |
Interesting dynamic here, as we have two transfers about to do battle here at 133 lbs. Connor McGonagle a former Lehigh Mountain Hawk against Ethan Oakley, a former Appalachian State Mountaineer. Now McGonagle a Hokie & Oakley, a Tar Heel, we'll see the two go to war in what should be a very good match. Oakley recently took a 3rd place showing at the Southern Scuffle.
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| #12 Sam Latona Vs U.R. Jayden Scott 141 |
Anxious to see how this one turns out. Sam Latona's career resembles that of a roller coaster. It has its ups, and it has its downs. He's won some big matches this season & he's lost some too. 6th at CKLV, he goes into this match the favorite, but not a shoe-in. Jayden Scott on the other hand, seems to finally be coming into his own. He's had the talent and the ability for quite some time, but it wasn't until recently that he displayed it, making the finals of the Southern Scuffle, with some notable upsets.
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| #1 Caleb Henson Vs #6 Lachlan McNeil 149 |
NCAA DI champion Caleb Henson wrestles at times like he might not ever see defeat again. While given tough matches, he seems to always find a way to get his hand raised in the end. Having won a CKLV title, he'll have one of his tougher challenges this Friday against Lachlan McNeil. McNeil a two time All American would love to place himself within the discussion of plausible threats to both the NCAA as well as the ACC title. If he could knock off Henson or even give him a tough match, that would be a conversation starter for sure.
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| #13 Rafael Hipolito Vs #26 Sonny Santiago 157 |
Been a great start to the varsity career for redshirt freshman Rafael Hipolito. He pulled off some very impressive wins before having to medical forfeit to 8th place at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. A win over Sonny Santiago, would add another important W to the 12 victories he has already garnered this season. From a Carolina blue and white perspective, Santiago was an NCAA DI qualifier last year & hopes to make another trip back. Could use a big win, and Hipolito would be a big win.
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| #4 Lennox Wolak Vs #20 Josh Ogunsanya 174 |
Collegiate wrestling can be an extremely fascinating world if you pay close attention and allow it to be. Lennox Wolak & Josh Ogunsanya have never met officially, but I'd wager to bet the two are very familiar with one another. They were after all teammates for three seasons at Columbia. That's not the only reason this match will be interesting. It'll also be interesting because both of these wrestlers are looking to rediscover themselves after some disappointment. Ogunsanya looked to be building himself up to All American status, when he suffered an unfortunate injury. It set him back quite a bit, as he just recently started wrestling again. Wolak, an All American last season, recently had a very disappointing Southern Scuffle, suffering three upsets in a row. Both of these guys are looking to shake things off and head back in the right direction. Only one of them will do it.
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| #25 T.J. Stewart Vs #16 Gavin Kane 184 |
I repeat, college wrestling can be a very interesting world if you pay close attention. It's no secret to anyone, that All American T.J. Stewart is struggling something mad this season. For whatever reason, '24-'25 has so far not been his season. With that said, Gavin Kane, while not struggling as much, isn't quite to the level he wants to be either. An All American in 2023, Kane is currently a top 20 wrestler, looking to once again be a top 8 wrestler. These guys have met twice, both matches ending in overtime. Stewart owns a 7-4 victory & Kane owns an 11-8 victory. This rubber match could set the tone for the second half of the season for either one of these guys.
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| #8 Andy Smith Vs U.R. Cade Lautt 197 |
The last time Andy Smith & Cade Lautt met on the mat, it was a 10-3 decision for the Hokie over the Tar Heel. I'm sure that Smith wants to widen the gap and go for the major, giving Virginia Tech some bonus points in this dual. Lautt, will want to make the match closer, give himself an opportunity to pull off a big upset.
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