RALEIGH, N.C. — Despite winning four of the first five matches of the night, No. 12 Virginia Tech couldn’t get past No. 7 NC State on Friday night in a 20-12 loss.
The Hokies (9-4, 4-1 ACC) dropped the final five bouts against the Wolfpack (16-2, 5-0), blowing an initial 12-3 lead at the halfway point in the dual.
Tech kicked off the night with a bang at 149, as No. 2 Caleb Henson earned his third career win over NC State’s No. 3 Jackson Arrington, 4-1. The win was his 24th of the season as he finished 4-0 in conference play, outscoring his opponents 40-12 in those matches.
He snared Arrington’s leg at lightning speed at the end of the first period to score on a takedown. Henson fended off Arrington for the remainder of the bout, nearly scoring another takedown in the second period.
Rafael Hipolito (157) faced NC State’s No. 12 Ed Scott in the ensuing match, going toe-to-toe with the former ACC champion. After giving up two takedowns in the first 4:30, the true freshman took down Scott to cut the deficit to three points before eventually falling 12-7.
The first upset of the night came at 165 as No. 22 Connor Brady grinded out a win over NC State’s No. 12 Derek Fields, 4-2. Following an excellently executed sit out to start the third period, he scored on a takedown with 25 seconds to wrestle to lock up the victory and give the lead back to Virginia Tech.
No. 2 Mekhi Lewis (174) finished his regular season undefeated, beating NC State’s No. 30 Alex Faison 9-2 for his 13th win of the year. He finishes the regular season without having allowed a single offensive point, outscoring opponents 120-28.
No. 24 TJ Stewart (184) kept the party going for Tech, upsetting NC State’s No. 7 Dylan Fishback, 7-2. The redshirt freshman scored on a takedown to end the first period, then added another in the final 30 seconds of the third to put his second top-10 upset win in as many weeks on ice.
Unfortunately for Tech, Stewart’s victory was the Hokies’ last in the dual.
No. 26 Andy Smith (197) was manhandled by NC State’s No. 2 Trent Hidlay a match later, losing by tech fall 18-3. Hidlay exploded for three takedowns in the first period to lead 9-2. Smith gave up two more takedowns and was unable to get an escape in the waning seconds to avoid the tech fall.
Tech nearly snagged another upset at heavyweight as Jimmy Mullen (285) scrambled with NC State’s No. 15 Owen Trephan in the final minute of their bout. Trephan was able to finish on a takedown in the final moments of the match, winning 4-1 and cutting the Wolfpack’s deficit to one, 12-11.
NC State picked up its only upset win of the night at 125, with No. 3 Cooper Flynn falling to No. 14 Jakob Camacho, 5-1. A takedown at the buzzer to end the first gave Camacho a 3-1 lead and he never looked back. Flynn couldn’t nab a takedown to tie the match in the third.
No. 13 Sam Latona (133) suffered a similar fate against NC State’s No. 4 Kai Orine in a 2-1 loss. Orine nearly rode out Latona in the third period to tie their all-time series at two wins apiece.
No. 15 Tom Crook (141) fell to NC State’s No. 4 Ryan Jack to close out the dual, 7-3. Jack scored on takedowns in the first and third to put the finishing touches on the victory for the Wolfpack.
Tony Robie and Virginia Tech now turn their attention towards the ACC Tournament, which will take place in Chapel Hill on March 10.
Results:125: No. 14 Jakob Camacho (NCST) dec. No. 3 Cooper Flynn (VT), 5-1
133: No. 4 Kai Orine (NCST) dec. No. 13 Sam Latona (VT), 2-1
141: No. 4 Ryan Jack (NCST) dec. No. 15 Tom Crook (VT), 7-3
149: No. 2 Caleb Henson (VT) dec No. 3 Jackson Arrington (NCST), 4-1
157: No. 12 Ed Scott (NCST) dec. Rafael Hipolito, Jr. (VT), 12-7
165: No. 22 Connor Brady (VT) dec. No. 12 Derek Fields (NCST), 4-2
174: No. 2 Mekhi Lewis (VT) dec. No. 30 Alex Faison (NCST), 9-2
184: No. 24 TJ Stewart (VT) dec. No. 7 Dylan Fishback (NCST), 7-2
197: No. 2 Trent Hidlay (NCST) tech fall No. 26 Andy Smith (VT), 18-3 (7:00)
285: No. 15 Owen Trephan (NCST) dec. Jimmy Mullen (VT), 4-1