#4 VIRGINIA TECH TOPS CLARION 39-3

            (Blacksburg, Va.): Clarion’s Alex Thomas won his bout at 197-pounds for the Golden Eagles but
#4 ranked Virginia Tech was just too tough as the Hokies defeated the Golden Eagles 39-3 on Sunday night in NCAA Division I Wrestling.
 

            Held at VT’s Cassell Coliseum, the Hokies raised their record to 13-3 this season while the Golden Eagles dropped to 3-2.
 

            Thomas posted his win at 197-pounds over Chris Penny by a 12-8 score. Penny scored the first takedown, but after escaping Thomas scored a takedown of his own and led 3-2 after the first. Thomas scored a two-point near fall to start the second period, Penney reversed, Thomas escaped, Penny notched a takedown and Thomas escaped with one second remaining to lead 7-6 after two. Thomas used an escape and a takedown to build a 10-6 lead before Penny reversed to narrow his lead to 10-8. Thomas escaped and used his riding time to win 12-8.
 

            Two other exciting matches had Bekzod Abdurakhmonov and #14 Peter Yates at 165 and Scott Joseph at Matt Epperly at 174.
 

            Yates had a takedown and a penalty point to lead 3-1 after two periods. With about a minute left Abdurakhmonov scored a double leg takedown to tie the bout 3-3 and the Clarion junior tried to ride the period out to send the match to overtime. But with about 30-seconds left Bekzod tried to hit a cradle and slipped off with Yates getting a reversal and a 6-3 win.
 

            Joseph was down 1-0 late in the second when the official awarded a takedown to Joseph, but reversed his call and time ran out before Joseph could secure a takedown. Joseph escaped to start the third to tie the match at 1-1, but Epperly scored a takedown with 40-seconds left to secure the win. Joseph escaped with 8 seconds left but lost the bout 3-2.
 

            All of VT’s seven ranked wrestlers won their bouts including two falls and three technical falls.
 

            Clarion will host West Virginia on Saturday, January 22nd at Tippin Gym with match time set for 7pm… Sunday the Eagles will host Eastern Michigan at 2pm.
 

            CLARION NOTES: Clarion wrestled three matches on this road trip… The Golden Eagles defeated Davidson 36-15 Saturday morning, then lost to North Carolina 32-10, before dropping Sunday night’s match at #4 Virginia Tech… 133-pounder Joe Waltko and #8 rated James Fleming at 157 did not wrestle on the trip due to injuries - Their ability to wrestle this weekend will be determined later this week… The Hokies recently were second at the NWCA National Duals – quite an accomplishment … The trophy for second was presented tonight at ceremonies at halftime of the match.
 

125- #12 Jarrod Garnett (VT) t. fall Trey Hicks (CL) 16-1; 4:34
133- #8 Devin Carter (VT) wbf Devin Cook (CL) 1:04
141- #12 Chris Diaz (VT) t. fall Colby Pisani (CL) 18-2; 5:42
149- #8 Brian Stephens (VT) t. fall Anthony White(CL) 19-3; 4:10
157- #5 Jesse Dong (VT) wbf Kyle Braddock (CL) 0:29
165- #14 Pete Yates (VT) dec. Bekzod Abdurakhmonov (CL) 6-3
174- Matt Epperly (VT) dec. Scott Joseph (CL) 3-2
184- John Dickson (VT) dec. Steven Cressley (CL) 8-3
197- Alex Thomas (CL) dec. Chris Penny (VT) 12-8
285- David Marone (VT) dec. Quintas McCorkle (CL) 7-3
 

Clarion: 3-2
Virginia Tech: 13-3