The Wrestling Bucks return to the Covelli Center on Sunday November 17th to face the 13th ranked Hokies. The Hokies defeated No. 9 Missouri 29-10 after winning 7/10 matches on Sunday November 2nd. This was Virginia Tech’s first ever win over the Tigers. The Hokies then defeated No. 21 Northwestern 21-18 on Sunday November 9th at the Mat on the Mound. The Wrestling Bucks won 9/10 matches against Stanford in their first dual of the year winning 29-6. On Friday November 15th, the Wrestling Bucks tamed the Pittsburgh Tigers, winning 6/10 matches and winning 23-12.
Probable Matchups:
125 Pounds: No. 21 Malik Heiselman (5-3 So.) vs. Joey Prata (2-0, r-Jr)
- In his last match, Prata defeated an unranked opponent by a 2-0 decision. In his first match, Prata also defeated his unranked opponent by a 2-0 decision. Heinselman beat an unranked opponent by a 12-7 decision in his last match. I would give Heinselman the edge in this match, he has shown the ability to both score and be tough on top this season. I think Heinselman wins by a decision making the team score 3-0 OSU.
133 Pounds: No. 18 Quinn Kinner (5-3, r-Fr) vs. No. 17 Collin Gerardi (1-1, r-Fr)
- In his last match, Gerardi lost to the No. 3 ranked 133 pounder by a 13-4 major decision. Gerardi won his first match by forfeit. In his last match, Kinner lost to the No. 4 133 pounder 4-2 decision. Kinner looked tough in his last match so I would give him the slight edge in this match. I think Kinner wins by a decision. This would make the team score 6-0 OSU.
141 Pounds: No. 1 Luke Pletcher (7-0, Sr) vs. No. 19 Mitch Moore (2-0, So)
- In his last match, Moore pinned his unranked opponent in 2:13, his second pin of the season. Pletcher defeated the No. 17 141 pounder by a 14-3 major decision in his last match. Mitch Moore has looked impressive this season but Pletcher’s defense is on a different level than anything Moore has faced thus far. Pletcher also appeared to take Coach Ryan’s advice Friday and got to his offense. I would give the edge to Pletcher in this match, winning by decision. This would make the team score 9-0 OSU.
149 Pounds: No. 6 Sammy Sasso (7-0, r-Fr) vs. No. 21 Brent Moore (0-2, r-Fr) or Jake Hart (5-0, r-Fr)
- In his last match, Moore lost to an unranked opponent by a 12-2 major decision. In his first match, Moore lost to the No. 2 ranked 149 pounder by a 6-0 decision. Hart won the Southeast Open on Sunday November 3rd with 2 decisions, 2 falls, and a major decision. The highest ranked wrestler Hart faced in this tournament was the No. 137 149 pounder in the country. In his last match, Sasso pinned an unranked opponent. Regardless of who wrestles for the Hokies I would give the edge to Sasso. I think Sasso wins by tech, making the team score 14-0 OSU.
157 Pounds: Elijah Cleary (2-3, r-Jr) vs. No. 13 B.C. LaPrade (1-1, r-Jr)
- In his last match, LaPrade lost to the No. 3 157 pounder in the country by a 12-3 major decision. In his first match, LaPrade defeated the No. 10 157 pounder by a 3-1 decision in sudden victory. In his last match, Cleary lost to the No. 10 157 pounder by a 6-1 decision. I would give the edge to LaPrade in this match, winning by major decision. This would make the team score 14-4 OSU.
165 Pounds: No. 21 Ethan Smith (5-3, r-So) vs. No.4 David McFadden (2-0, r-Sr)
- In his last match, McFadden defeated an unranked opponent by a 18-6 major decision. In his first match, McFadden defeated his unranked opponent by a 15-4 major decision. Smith lost to the No. 15 165 pounder by a 3-2 decision in his last match. I would give the edge to McFadden in this match, winning by major decision. This would make the team score 14-8 OSU.
174 Pounds: Rocky Jordan (7-2, r-Fr) vs. Cody Hughes (0-2, r-Sr)
- In his last match, Hughes lost to an unranked opponent by a 6-1 decision. In his first match, Hughes lost to the No. 8 174 pounder by a 12-1 major decision. Ohio State’s lineup previews have not been very reliable at 174 at this point in the season. Due to this, I am not sure who will wrestle against the Hokies. Jordan did not wrestle against Pittsburgh but Romero defeated his opponent by a 6-2 decision. Whether it is Romero or Jordan, I give the edge to OSU in this match. Hughes has struggled, starting the season 0-2. I think OSU wins by major decision in this match, making the team score 18-8 OSU.
184 Pounds: Gavin Hoffman (5-3, r-Fr) or Zach Steiner (1-0, r-So) vs. No. 9 Hunter Bolen (2-0, r-So)
- In his last match, Bolen defeated an unranked opponent by a 14-4 major decision. In his first match, Bolen defeated the No. 14 ranked 184 pounder by a 10-9 decision. Hoffman lost to the No. 9 184 pounder by an 11-6 decision in his last match. It is also unknown who will wrestle at 184 this Sunday. If Hoffman wrestles, I think Bolen wins by major decision. If Steiner wrestles, I think Bolen wins by decision in a close match. Ultimately I think OSU goes with the more experienced Hoffman. This would make the team score 18-12 OSU.
197 Pounds: No. 1 Kollin Moore (7-0, r-Sr) vs. Stan Smeltzer (3-3, r-So)
- In his last match, Smeltzer lost to an unranked opponent by a 5-3 decision. In his first dual match, Smeltzer lost to the No. 20 ranked 197 pounder by an 8-1 decision. In his last match, Moore beat the No. 23 ranked 197 pounder by a 12-3 major decision. I give the edge to Moore in this match. My heart wants to say tech but my gut is going with major. Moore winning by a major decision would make the team score 22-12 OSU.
HWT: No. 11 Chase Singleterry (1-0, r-So) vs. John Borst (2-0, r-So)
- In his last match, Borst defeated an unranked opponent by a 9-0 decision. In his first match, Borst defeated an unranked opponent by a 11-3 major decision. Singleterry upset the No. 9 HWT by an 8-3 decision in his last match. I give the edge to Singleterry in this match, winning by major decision. This would make the final team score 26-12 OSU.
The Wrestling Bucks should comfortably win this dual on Sunday but a pattern has begun to show, OSU is missing their All-Americans at 165 and 184. OSU has a stud true freshman at 165 in Kharchla but the question remains if Coach Ryan will redshirt him this season. What is the plan with Hayes? Could he wrestle at 157 this season? In my opinion, Decatur at 125, Hayes at 157, and Kharchla at 165 could make this lineup much more competitive against teams like Penn State and Iowa. Only time will tell, but at the end of the day I trust Coach Ryan.
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*Photo credit given to @WrestlingBucks
Written By Brandon Dodson
Follow me on Twitter @RcruitingBucks
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