Virginia To Close Regular Season At No. 9 Virginia Tech
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia wrestling team (8-5, 1-3 ACC) hits the road to close out the dual season at No. 9 Virginia Tech (9-3, 3-1 ACC) in the Smithfield Commonwealth Clash. The dual is set to begin at 7 p.m. at Cassell Coliseum on Friday (Feb. 17).
HOW TO FOLLOW THE ACTION
The dual will be streamed on ACCNX which is available through WatchESPN.com and the ESPN app. Fans can also get updates by following the program’s official Twitter account (@UVAWrestling).
QUICK SHOTS
• The Cavaliers close out the regular season on Friday with the contest at No. 9 Virginia Tech.
• Virginia is coming off back-to-back dual wins after posting a 25-13 win over American and a 45-3 win over Duke in the last two outings.
• The 45 points scored against Duke is the most by Virginia in that series and ties the most scored by UVA against an ACC opponent with 45 points scored in a 2010 win over NC State.
• Virginia has four wrestlers ranked in the midseason coaches rankings and RPI: 149 Jarod Verkleeren (27/28), 165 Justin McCoy (17/14), 184 Neil Antrassian (17/20) and 97 Michael Battista (23/15).
• Those same four wrestlers are also ranked individually in the latest InterMat rankings.
• Brian Courtney, who suffered an injury against American, was also ranked in the coaches rankings at No. 32.
• Hadyn Danals (184) ranks second nationally in tech falls, posting six in a total time of 25:05 this year.
VIRGINIA PROBABLES (InterMat Ranking)
125: Patrick McCormick
133: Marlon Yarbrough II
141: Dylan Cedeno
149: No. 27 Jarod Verkleeren
157: Jake Keating
165: No. 16 Justin McCoy
174: Vic Marcelli
184: No. 16 Neil Antrassian
197: No. 25 Michael Battista
HWT: Ethan Weatherspoon
VIRGINIA TECH PROBABLES (InterMat Ranking)
125: Eddie Ventresca
133: No. 7 Sam Latona
141: No. 11 Tom Crook OR Collin Gerardi
149: No. 8 Caleb Henson
157: No. 5 Bryce Andonian
165: No. 27 Connor Brady
174: No. 3 Mekhi Lewis
184: No. 7 Hunter Bolen
197: No. 22 Andy Smith
285: No. 20 Hunter Catka
THE COMMONWEALTH CLASH
• The rivalry between Virginia Athletics and Virginia Tech Athletics has a long and storied history dating back more than 125 years within the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Cavaliers and Hokies first faced off on the gridiron in Charlottesville in 1895. First coined the Commonwealth Clash during the 2014-2015 season, the rivalry has expanded and intensified across the 22 sports the two institutions face off in head-to-head competition.
• The dual is worth a point in the Clash and the Cavaliers lead this year’s Clash 5.0-2.0.
• UVA captured the Clash in 2015, 2016 and 2019, while Virginia Tech has won the Clash in 2017, 2018 and 2022. The 2020 and 2021 clashes were canceled due to the pandemic.