Virginia Tech defeated NC State in a rivalry thriller on Friday night, 21-10. The Hokies came out on top of this back-and-forth dual that included 7 matches decided by a takedown or less. Check out the article below for highlights and a full recap of this incredible dual.

Virginia Tech 21, NC State 10

141: #10 Sam Latona, Virgina Tech dec. Troy Hohman, NC State - 7-0

149: #1 Caleb Henson, Virginia Tech dec. #22 Koy Buesgens, NC State - 5-1

157: #12 Rafael Hipolito, Virginia Tech dec. #14 Ed Scott, NC State - 3-2

165: #27 Mac Church, Virginia Tech dec. #21 Derek Fields, NC State - 2-1 (TB-1)

174: #20 Matthew Singleton, NC State maj. dec. #29 Lennox Wolak, Virginia Tech - 12-2

184: #13 Dylan Fishback, NC State dec. #20 TJ Stewart, Virginia Tech - 4-1

197: #14 Andy Smith, Virginia Tech dec. #26 Christian Knop, NC State - 2-1

285: #4 Isaac Trumble, NC State dec. #13 Jim Mullen, Virginia Tech - 5-3

125: #5 Eddie Ventresca, Virginia Tech dec. #3 Vincent Robinson, NC State - 4-1 

133: #10 Connor McGonagle, Virginia Tech dec. #16 Kai Orine, NC State - 5-2 (SV-1)

A Fast Start & Toss-Up Matches Propel Hokies To Victory

Wrestling started at 141 pounds with Virginia Tech winning the first four matches of the dual to get out to a quick 12-0 victory. Hokie All-Americans Sam Latona and Caleb Henson got things going with controlling decisions before first-year starters Rafael Hipolito and Mac Church won key 1-point victories. 

Hipolito’s late takedown defense to hold off Ed Scott:

STINGY DEFENSE 😤#Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/mTLYSRg14q

— Virginia Tech Wrestling (@HokiesWrestling) February 22, 2025

Despite the quick start, NC State responded back with crucial victories of their own. Matthew Singleton won a dominant 12-2 major decision over All-American Lennox Wolak and Dylan Fishback defeated All-American TJ Stewart. The win for Fishback avenged two previous losses he suffered to Stewart from last season. 

Singleton’s takedown to nearfall to put him up big over Wolak:

Singleton got after it in period one 🫣#GoPack || #PackMentality pic.twitter.com/vYiIRr1iv4

— NC State Wrestling 🤼‍♂️ (@PackWrestle) February 22, 2025

While those wins brought the Wolfpack back, the Hokies kept winning close matches, and in the end, that proved to be the difference in the dual. #5 Eddie Ventresca ultimately clinched the win for the Hokies with a late, third-period takedown to defeat #3 Vincent Robinson. In total, Virginia Tech won three matches by 1 point, and two more by just one takedown proving how close this dual was from start to finish.

Ventresca’s winning takedown over Vincent Robinson:

EDDIE. VENTRESCA. ICE IN HIS VEINS.#Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/fy4FyUYAkS

— Virginia Tech Wrestling (@HokiesWrestling) February 22, 2025