Technique and conditioning are paramount in the sport of wrestling, but at the highest level — where the nation’s best wrestlers square off — there’s one variable that often determines whose hand gets raised after the final buzzer: the will to win.
In a dual that featured seven matches decided by three points or fewer, the determination to fight through the end proved key.
On Friday night, No. 10 Virginia Tech outwilled No. 7 NC State 21-10, taking seven of the 10 matches and stealing a portion of the ACC dual meet title in the process. The trophy is shared between the Hokies, the Wolfpack and North Carolina.
In the highest-ranking and eventual dual-clinching bout for Virginia Tech, No. 5 Eddie Ventresca (125) stung NC State’s No. 3 Vincent Robinson with a lightning quick double-leg takedown to grab a 4-1 lead with 44 seconds left.
The Roxbury, N.J., native imposed his will in the final stages of the bout, suffocating Robinson with an impressive rideout to lock up the win. Ventresca’s effort and determination in the third period made it abundantly clear — he wanted it more.
Ventresca’s signature victory slammed the door on the Wolfpack after it had won three of the previous four matches to cut Tech’s lead to just five, 15-10, with two bouts left.
EDDIE. VENTRESCA. ICE IN HIS VEINS.#Hokies ? pic.twitter.com/fy4FyUYAkS
— Virginia Tech Wrestling (@HokiesWrestling) February 22, 2025
Following an impressive 12-0 start to the night for the Hokies, NC State’s No. 23 Matty Singleton majored No. 20 Lennox Wolak (174) 12-2, scoring the Pack’s first takedowns of the night in the fifth match of the dual.
In the ensuing match, the Wolfpack’s No. 14 Dylan Fishback was awarded a takedown after review in the final 10 seconds of the match to beat No. 20 TJ Stewart (184) 4-1.
No. 16 Andy Smith (197) grinded out a 2-1 victory for the Hokies over No. 31 Christian Knopp to stop the bleeding and close out his Cassell Coliseum career with a gutsy win.
NC State’s No. 4 Isaac Trumble cut Tech’s lead to one score following his 5-3 win over No. 13 Jimmy Mullen (285).
In addition to Smith, Tech’s two other wrestlers in the starting lineup who were honored on senior day clocked impressive victories Friday night.
No. 10 Sam Latona (141) blanked State’s Troy Hohman 7-0. Trying for a major decision in the third period, Latona was stymied by Hohman, who appeared dead set on only giving up three team points. The veteran finished his final year in Blacksburg with a perfect 5-0 showing in Cassell.
Despite the dual already being in hand, No. 13 Connor McGonagle (133) nabbed a huge 4-1 win for Virginia Tech over NC State’s No. 14 Kai Orine in sudden victory. The Lehigh transfer caught Orine on his back during a scramble in the overtime to cap off the night in emphatic fashion.
No. 1 Caleb Henson (149), No. 12 Rafael Hipolito Jr. (157) and Mac Church (165) all picked up solid ranked victories for the Hokies on Friday night, too.
Henson continued his undefeated 2025 campaign with a 5-1 win over the Wolfpack’s No. 22 Koy Buesgens. He owns a 16-0 record this year and has the opportunity to go an entire calendar without a loss if he wins the 149-pound title at the ACC Tournament.
Hipolito fended off State’s No. 15 Ed Scott for the final 1:27 of regulation to pick up a 3-2 victory. Meanwhile, Church snapped a five-bout losing skid with his 2-1 triumph over No. 28 Derek Fields in tiebreaker rounds, courtesy of an impressive rideout.
The Hokies finished the regular season with a 9-2 record and a 5-1 mark in the ACC. Tony Robie & Co. now turn their attention to March 9, when they will travel to Durham, N.C., for the ACC Championships.
Results: No. 10 Virginia Tech 21, No. 7 NC State 10
125: No. 5 Eddie Ventresca (VT) dec. No. 3 Vincent Robinson (NCSU), 4-1
133: No. 13 Connor McGonagle (VT) dec. No. 14 Kai Orine (NCSU), 4-1 (SV)
141: No. 10 Sam Latona (VT) dec. Troy Hohman (NCSU), 7-0
149: No. 1 Caleb Henson (VT) dec. No. 22 Koy Buesgens (NCSU), 5-1
157: No. 12 Rafael Hipolito Jr. (VT) dec. No. 15 Ed Scott (NCSU), 3-2
165: Mac Church (VT) dec. No. 28 Derek Fields (NCSU), 2-1
174: No. 23 Matty Singleton (NCSU) maj dec. No. 20 Lennox Wolak (VT), 12-2
184: No. 14 Dyan Fishback (NCSU) dec. No. 20 Thomas Stewart Jr. (VT), 4-1
197: No. 16 Andy Smith (VT) dec. No. 31 Christian Knopp (NCSU), 2-1
285: No. 4 Isaac Trumble (NCSU) dec. No. 13 Jimmy Mullen (VT), 5-3