Matchups To Watch For At The 2025 Virginia Duals
Matchups To Watch For At The 2025 Virginia Duals
The NCAA D1 matchups you should watch for at the 44th Virginia Duals wrestling event from Hampton, Virginia.
The venerable wrestling institution known as the Virginia Duals is back for the 44th year, bringing high school and college wrestling at all levels together for one big weekend of rasslin in the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia.
Three NCAA Division I teams will be in attendance competing in a tri-meet. Iowa State, Rider and Bucknell will be there representing the Big 12, the MAC and the EIWA, respectively. Here are some of the matchups we're most anticipating.
149lbs: #10 Anthony Echemendia or Paniro Johnson, Iowa State vs #18 Sammy Alvarez, Rider
Iowa State is blessed with an abundance of light-middleweights, with either Anthony Echemendia or Paniro Johnson able to produce fireworks at 149.
Rider has seen sparks fly at this weight as well, courtesy of Sammy Alvarez. Expect an eclectic match no matter which Cyclone Alvarez faces.
165lbs: #15 MJ Gaitan, Iowa State vs #25 Noah Mulvaney, Bucknell
MJ Gaitan reached the round of 12 last season but has seen limited action since the 2024 CKLV back in early December. Mulvaney impressed as a true freshman national qualifier in 2024 but only wrestled in one match this season before coming back from an injury to win the Bobby Kauffman Open last weekend.
Hopefully both wrestlers are healthy and ready to go!
Watch Mulvaney win the Kauffman:
184lbs: #16 Evan Bockman, Iowa State vs #17 Issac Dean, Rider
Evan Bockman was a three-time national qualifier for Utah Valley before transferring to Iowa State to use his final year of eligibility. He medically forfeited to Isaac Dean at the 2024 CKLV, where Dean was having a breakout performance. Hopefully this matchup can finally be settled on the mat in Hampton.
Watch Dean defeat Bennett Berge in the 2024 CKLV:
133lbs: #5 Evan Frost, Iowa State vs #31 Kurt Phipps, Bucknell
All-American redshirt sophomore and Louisiana native Evan Frost has been one of the Cyclones most consistent starters over the last two seasons, however, we've only seen him on the mat once since the CKLV. He'll be tested by Bucknell's Kurt Phipps, who finished in the round of 12 at last year's NCAAs and recently placed at Midlands at the end of last December.
141lbs: #15 Dylan Chappell, Bucknell vs #21 Jacob Frost, Iowa State
Evan's twin brother Jacob Frost will be the underdog if he wrestles his expected Bison opponent, as Dylan Chappell forms part of the one-two lower weight punch in Bucknell's lineup. Chappell has qualified for the last two NCAA Championships and recently placed third at Midlands.
197lbs: #17 Christian Carroll, Iowa State vs #29 Dillon Bechtold, Bucknell
True freshman Dillon Bechtold was a surprise fifth-place finisher at Midlands. He'll look to keep momentum on his side against Christian Carroll, a redshirt freshman and blue-chip recruit. Carroll will be the favorite but he's also shown to be vulnerable, having dropped his last match to unranked Tayshuan Glover of North Dakota State.
157lbs: #6 Cody Chittum, Iowa State vs Anyone
One of the highest-ranked wrestlers on any roster of the three participating teams, Cody Chittum is appointment viewing anytime he takes the mat. He'll be favored against whoever toes the line across from him on either Rider or Bucknell's team.
Watch Chittum wrestle in Coach Dresser's old high school gym:
174lbs: #24 Myles Takats, Bucknell vs Anyone
Like Chittum at 157, Myles Takats will be the favorite in both matches at the VA Duals. The true sophomore qualified for last year's NCAAs and recently placed third at Midlands.