Cornell claimed its 11th straight EIWA titleRALEIGH, N.C. -- Led by individual titles by Joey Dance, Solomon Chishko, Zach Epperly, Zack Zavatsky, Jared Haught and Ty Walz, nationally fifth-ranked Virginia Tech captured the 2017 Atlantic Coast Conference Wrestling Championship Saturday night at Reynolds Coliseum on the campus of NC State University in Raleigh, North Carolina before a crowd of 3,081 fans.
The title for the Hokies was their third overall as they became only the second team in the last eight years to win the ACC's regular season and tournament wrestling championships in the same year. Tech's 2013 team was the last team to accomplish that feat since 2008.
Virginia Tech finished with 93 points, followed by NC State (64), Pitt (54), Virginia (52.5), North Carolina (44) and Duke (24.5). The 29-point margin of victory was the highest by an ACC team since NC State captured the 2007 title by a 36-point margin.
"It feels good, obviously, said Tech interim head coach Tony Robie. "The goal every year for us is to win championships and win ACC championships. I think to win the dual meet title and then win the tournament title - says a lot about our guys and our team and our program. It says a lot about our coaching staff and the direction that we're going. I think our guys have come together in the last few weeks, and they're ready to go. They know what this time of year is about. They're seasoned and they're prepared. It's just a matter of competing and going and taking what we feel like we've earned. It was a good day."
"We had the hashtag going that it's all about us (#AllAboutUs)," said Dance. "I think we showed everyone that it really is all about us. Whatever happened with [Kevin] Dresser and all that stuff, we didn't let that affect us. We were ready to go here at the ACCs and we'll be ready to go at nationals. We stayed poised and focused the whole time, and the team looked good today."
NC State's Kevin Jack, who captured the individual title at 141 pounds with an impressive 10-4 win over Virginia's George DiCamillo, was a unanimous choice by all six ACC coaches as the Most Valuable Wrestler of the Championship. Jack, the nation's second-ranked wrestler, improved to 29-1 for the season.
"It is always fun to win such a great individual title as this weight class in this conference," said Kevin Jack. "It was extra special to compete in front of this great crowd and to win the title in Reynolds with my dad down here. The first step is over, now it's time to turn my attention to the NCAAs."
"Kevin's wrestling style is so exciting to watch, he can score with the best of them," said NC State head coach Pat Popolizio. "We had such a great crowd in here to watch a great tournament. The title certainly boosts his confidence as he prepares for the NCAA Championships in a couple of weeks."
The six individual titles for the Hokies were the most for a single team in the ACC Championship since the NCAA went to its present weight classifications in 1999.
Pitt captured three individual titles for the first time since the Panthers have been a member of the ACC. Junior Dom Forys won at 133 pounds, followed by redshirt freshman Taleb Rahmani at 157 and finally, sophomore Te'Shan Campbell at 165.
Dance, a senior from Christiansburg, Virginia, started the evening off on the right foot for Virginia Tech by winning his third straight ACC title at 125 pounds with a dramatic 3-1 sudden victory win in overtime over NC State's Sean Fausz.
Chishko, a redshirt sophomore from Jeanette, Pennsylvania, then won at 149, defeating North Carolina's Troy Heilmann. The Hokies then won the final four weight classes of the evening. Junior Zach Epperly (Christiansburg, Virginia) won at 174, downing North Carolina's Ethan Ramos (4-3). Then sophomore Zack Zavatsky captured the 184 title, defeating NC State's Michael Macchiavello, 3-2.
Junior Jared Haught (Parkersburg, West Virginia) then won at 197, defeating UNC's Daniel Chaid (6-3). Senior Ty Walz (Cleveland, Ohio) finished the evening off, taking an 8-3 decision from Duke's Jacob Kasper at heavyweight.
"This is a big statement, " "You've seen it on Twitter, the hashtags (#ItsAllAboutUs), it's all about us. That's our main focus. We're focused on all 10 of us and the guys that are behind the scenes - it's all about us and the coaches we have right now. And now we look forward to going to St. Louis in a couple of weeks."
Team Scores
1. Virginia Tech, 93.0
2. NC State, 64.0
3. Pitt, 54.0
4. Virginia, 52.5
5. North Carolina, 44.0
6. Duke, 24.5
Most Valuable Wrestler: Kevin Jack, NC State
Individual Results: Championship Finals
125: Joey Dance (VT) d. Sean Fausz (NCS), 3-1, SV-1
133: Dom Forys (UP) d. Jamal Morris, 5-0
141: Kevin Jack (NCS) d. George DiCamillo (UVA), 10-4
149: Solomon Chishko (VT) d. Troy Heilmann (UNC), 12-7
157: Taleb Rahmani (UP) major decision Sal Mastriani (VT), 13-5
165: Te'Shan Campbell (UP) d. Brian Hamann (NCS), 7-0
174: Zach Epperly (VT) d. Ethan Ramos (UNC), 4-3
184: Zack Zavatsky (VT) d. Michael Macchiavello (NCS), 3-2
197: Jared Haught (VT) d. Daniel Chaid (UNC), 6-3
285: Ty Walz (VT) d. Jacob Kasper (DU), 8-3
Earning automatic NCAA bids:
125: Joey Dance, Virginia Tech; Sean Fausz, NC State; Jack Mueller, Virginia.
133: Dom Forys, Pitt; Jamal Morris, NC State.
141: Kevin Jack, NC State; George DiCamillo, Virginia; Joey Ward, North Carolina.
149: Solomon Chishko, Virginia Tech; Troy Heilmann, North Carolina; Sam Krivus, Virginia.
157: Sal Mastriani, Virginia Tech; Teleb Rahmani, Pitt; Andrew Atkinson, Virginia; Jake Faust, Duke.
165: Te'Shan Campbell, Pitt; Brian Hamann, NC State.
174: Zach Epperly, Virginia Tech; Ethan Ramos, North Carolina; Connor Bass, Duke
184: Michael Macchiavello, NC State; Zack Zavatsky, Virginia Tech
197: Jared Haught, Virginia Tech; Danny Chaid, North Carolina
285: Ty Walz, Virginia Tech; Jacob Kasper, Duke; Ryan Solomon, Pitt; Cory Daniel, North Carolina; Mike Kosoy, NC State.
2017 ALL-ACC Wrestling Team
Joey Dance, Virginia Tech (125)
Sean Fausz, NC State (125)
Dom Forys, Pitt (133)
Jamal Morris, NC State (133)
Kevin Jack, NC State (141)
George DiCamillo, Virginia (141)
Solomon Chishko, Virginia Tech (149)
Troy Heilmann, North Carolina (149)
Sal Mastriani, Virginia Tech (157)
Taleb Rahmani, Pitt (157)
Te'Shan Campbell, Pitt (165)
Brian Hamann, NC State (165)
Ethan Ramos, North Carolina (174)
Zach Epperly, Virginia Tech (174)
Zack Zavatsky, Virginia Tech (184)
Michael Macchiavello, NC State (184)
Jared Haught, Virginia Tech (197)
Danny Chaid, North Carolina (197)
Ty Walz, Virginia Tech (285)
Jacob Kasper, Duke (285)
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