Rising Hokies turn back Cavaliers

Virginia Tech's days as a wrestling underdog may be over.

The No. 13 Hokies pulled away to defeat ACC rival Virginia 21-12 yesterday in the Rumble on the River.

With wins last week over higher-ranked Michigan and Central Michigan, Virginia Tech appeared for the first time in the InterMat Top 25.

"Now we kind of have a target on our backs," said Tech's Peter Yates, who wrestles in the 149-pound class. "And sometimes it's a little harder to wrestle with that pressure."

Though he's a freshman, Yates knows about being a target. In high school, he was a three-time Georgia state champion. The other year, he was a runner-up and he finished high school with 161 wins and one loss -- he's used to pressure. But his brief reprieve after entering college at a non-traditional wrestling school may be over.

"It was a little nice change to come into college and have that pressure totally off," he said. "All you have to do is wrestle as hard as you can, win or lose."

Instead, the Cavaliers had the luxury of nothing to lose. They won three of the first four matches, including the opener in which Mike Sewell defeated defending ACC champion Matt Epperly 7-2.

"Right out of the chute," Tech coach Kevin Dresser said, "everything we thought was going to happen, throw it right out the window after the first match."

At 184, Virginia Tech's Tommy Spellman returned the favor with a win over Virginia's standout fifth-year senior Rocco Caponi, a two-time conference champion.

Jarrod Garnett (125), one of three true freshman starters, gave Tech its first lead with a win over local favorite Wyatt Anderson, a walk-on from James River High School.

With Dresser in front of the bench reminding him that the team needed the extra points for a pin, Garnett ended the match with a pin in the second period.

The Cavaliers tied the team standings with a win from redshirt freshman Matt Bonson at 133. Virginia Tech's Chris Diaz pulled out a 3-2 decision over Derek Valenti to give the Hokies a 15-12 advantage with two true freshman teammates remaining.

"Last year, we were the favored team, we were the nationally ranked team, and we came out and wrestled very poorly and got beat," Cavaliers coach Steve Garland said. "This year, they're the nationally ranked team. I was really proud of the way our guys came out and wrestled with heart."

No. 13 Virginia Tech (1-0 ACC, 16-1) 21
Virginia (0-2, 9-9) 12

165: Mike Sewell (V) d. Matt Epperly 7-2

174: No. 9 Chris Henrich (V) d. Anthony Trongone 6-1

184: Tommy Spellman (VT) d. No. 16 Rocco Caponi 8-1

197: No. 20 Brent Jones (V) d. D.J. Bruce 2-1

285: David Marone (VT) d. Calvin Cardillo 13-6

125: No. 13 Jarrod Garnett (VT) fall Wyatt Anderson 4:07

133: Matt Bonson (V) d. Will Livingston 8-4

141: No. 20 Chris Diaz (VT) d. Derek Valenti 3-2

149: No. 20 Pete Yates (VT) d. Pete Ferrara 9-3

157: Jesse Dong (VT) d. Jedd Moore 3-0