Here within the ACC we have an excellent dual between the Virginia Tech Hokies & the Stanford Cardinal this Friday. There is a chance we could see Nico Provo in action against Eddie Ventresca, as redshirts are allowed so many competitions in a year, but I wouldn't bet on it. We have yet to see Provo in '24-'25, and I doubt we see him for the first time this late into the season.
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| #19 Connor McGonagle Vs #6 Tyler Knox 133 |
We have what looks to be a good match here at 133 lbs between Connor McGonagle & Tyler Knox. McGonagle hasn't seen a lot of mat time this season, with only 7 matches, but within those 7 matches he owns a 6-1 record. Tyler Knox has looked exceptionally tough this season, placing 5th at CKLV & winning a Midlands title. A 19-2 record, he owns a win over returning NCAA DI finalist Drake Ayala of Iowa.
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| #10 Sam Latona Vs #21 Jason Miranda 141 |
Both seniors, Sam Latona & Jason Miranda both have something to prove within their last season of collegiate wrestling. Latona is a two time All American who had a disappointing '23'-'24 & is making up for it in '24-'25. Looking to reclaim his All American status, the Hokie placed 6th at the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational earlier this season. While a win over Jason Miranda wouldn't affect his ranking or his potential ACC seed, it would give the Hokie another victory against a solid opponent.
Miranda has been desperately close to NCAA DI qualification the past three years. We take the top 33, and I'll be damned if he hasn't been somewhere between 34th & 36th each time. This year he's had enough quality victories to earn himself a ranking within the top 25. 4th earlier this year in the Midlands, an upset over Latona would mark the biggest win of his career to date.
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| #1 Caleb Henson Vs #9 Jaden Abas 149 |
An up and down season, there have been times this year when Jaden Abas has looked as good as he has ever looked. A bronze medal showing at CKLV & winning gold at the Midlands championships, I think we see Abas finally reclaim the All American status that he earned all the way back in 2021. However, this Friday he faces Caleb Henson, the returning NCAA DI champ. Even if Abas is at his best, and is able to give Henson 100% of himself, things still don't look promising for the Cardinal. The two have met twice thus far, with Henson winning an 11-1 major decision & securing a 6:53 fall.
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| #10 Rafael Hipolito Vs #28 Grigor Cholakyan 157 |
While we have two seniors battling it out at 141 lbs, here at 157 lbs we have two talented freshmen ready to butt heads. Rafael Hipolito is having himself an outstanding first season of varsity wrestling, 14-2 & an 8th place finish at CKLV. Grigor Cholakyan is also having a pretty respectable first year of varsity wrestling, with 13 wins on the season. One match shy of a medal at CKLV, he took 7th at the Midlands.
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| #30 Mac Church Vs #14 Hunter Garvin 165 |
On paper, you chalk this one up for team California, but I've learned by watching Hunter Garvin compete the past couple of years, you never know what to expect out of him, good or bad. The Iowan clearly enjoying better weather than I am right now, at times looks like he could beat anyone. At other times, he's very susceptible to loss. 6th at CKLV & 3rd at the Midlands, if told to make a decision and make it now, I'm still laying my money down on Garvin. However, I realize that Mac Church can be tough when he sets his mind to being tough, and I wouldn't completely rule out the upset.
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| #26 Lennox Wolak Vs #4 Lorenzo Norman 174 |
Whenever a wrestler is not performing up to the level that you know good and well that he is capable of, you can't help but ask questions and wonder why. Lennox Wolak was an All-American last season, and if he were wrestling at the quality I know he is capable of, I'd call this maybe the match of the night. He's not wrestling at that height however, and I think Lorenzo Norman, who has been, is likely to take full advantage of it. Norman has looked exceptional this season, earning silver at CKLV & gold at the Midlands. A full 100% Wolak would be on par with Norman, but with the way things have been going so far this year, I wouldn't be surprised to see a major.
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| #23 T.J. Stewart Vs U.R. Tye Monteiro 184 |
I don't mean to pick on Virginia Tech, but when the elephant takes up this much space in the room, it must be mentioned. Last year, Eddie Ventresca was not wrestling at all like himself, and this year both Lennox Wolak & T.J. Stewart are far cries from the level of talent & ability that I know they are both capable of. Whatever is going on with them, mental, physical and/or emotional, you wish you could snap your fingers and watch them suddenly transform back into their former selves. Wolak is unfortunately done after this year, but thankfully Stewart still has more time on the clock. While I'd love to see him back to his old-self a.s.a.p. there is at least the hope that he'll be back next year.
I still say Stewart wins this match-up with Tye Monteiro. I think Monteiro is better than the current U.R. status that he is at, so Stewart still needs to take this match seriously. I wouldn't dare overlook Monteiro, but I think Stewart adds a W to his resume.
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| #8 Andy Smith Vs #22 Nick Stemmet 197 |
While there are going to be a lot of good matches in this dual, 197 lbs could very well be the match of the night. Andy Smith is a borderline All American candidate, and has been for quite some time. He shared the 5th/6th place spot at CKLV earlier this season & has been no stranger to knocking off wrestlers ranked above him. Nick Stemmet is no stranger to upsets himself. 4th at the Midlands, while he has an 8-2 loss to Smith, he also owns an 11-5 decision over him. Stemmet has looked AA material himself at times, and what a statement it'd be for the Cardinal senior if he were to knock off Smith in this dual.
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| #14 Jimmy Mullen Vs #31 Peter Ming HWT |
There's a chance that we could see Hunter Catka in action instead of Jimmy Mullen, but I think this Friday, we'll see Mullen. I'd give him the edge against Peter Ming, but do think this will be a decent match between the two HWTs. Mullen was 4th earlier this season at CKLV, whereas Ming took 6th at the Midlands.
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