2009 Virginia Tech Wrestling Media Guide

Page 1

Chris Diaz

David Marone

Matt Epperly

2008-2009 WRESTLING


One of America’s best college towns, Blacksburg is a perfect setting for Virginia Tech. Located in Southwest Virginia on a plateau between the Blue Ridge and Alleghany Mountains, Blacksburg combines the laid-back lifestyle of a small town with the amenities one would expect to find in a major center of higher education. Together, the town and university have worked hard to create a progressive community that ranks among the nation’s elite living environments. Established in 1798 by John and William Black, the town is surrounded by scenic mountain views that accentuate the area. Today, the nearly 42,000 residents (including students) enjoy a variety of recreation areas in close proximity such as the Blue Ridge Parkway, Appalachian Trail, Claytor Lake and the New River.


VIRGINIA TECH 2008-09 WRESTLING Quick Facts

Location......................................................... Blacksburg, Va. Founded........................................................................ 1872 President..................................................... Dr. Charles Steger Director of Athletics.....................Jim Weaver (Penn State, 1967) Enrollment...................................................................30,000 Conference........................................ Atlantic Coast Conference Nickname.................................................................... Hokies Colors....................................... Chicago maroon & burnt orange 2007-08 Record................................................................ 7-9 2007-08 Conference Record..................................2-3 (T-Fourth) 2007-08 ACC Tournament Finish...................................... Fourth 2007-08 NCAA Finish.................................................... T-67th Head Coach/Years....................................... Kevin Dresser/Third Alma Mater/Year................................................ Iowa/1986 Record at Tech........................................................... 13-21 Overall Record........................................................... 13-21 Associate Head Coach/Years.............................Tony Robie/Third Alma Mater/Year............................................Edinboro/1997 Assistant Coach/Years..................................... Nate Yetzer/Third Alma Mater/Year............................................Edinboro/2005 Wrestling Office Phone........... (540) 231-1135 OR (540) 231-3185 Wrestling Via Email................ kdresser@vt.edu OR trobie@vt.edu Home Facility.......................................Cassell Coliseum (9,847) Starters Returning/Lost.................................................... 8/2 Newcomers........................................................................13 Returning NCAA Qualifiers:........................... Matt Epperly (165)

Table of Contents

2008-09 Roster, Pronunciation Guide............................................2 Media Services and Outlets..........................................................3 Head Coach Kevin Dresser............................................................4 Associate Head Coach Tony Robie.................................................5 Assistant Coach Nate Yetzer . ......................................................6 The 2008-09 Preview..................................................................7 Meet the Hokies.................................................................... 8-15 2007-08 Statistics and Results................................................... 16 2009 ACC Wrestling Championships............................................. 17 Record Book...................................................................... 18-19 Tech All-Americans............................................................. 20-21 Year-by-Year Records................................................................ 22 Tech Sports Hall of Fame........................................................... 22 Against All Opponents.............................................................. 23 NCAA Excitement..................................................................... 24 The Atlantic Coast Conference.................................................... 25 This Is Virginia Tech........................................................... 26-27 Administration & Wrestling Support Staff..................................... 28 Sports Medicine....................................................................... 29 Athletic Performance................................................................ 30 Student Life............................................................................ 31 Student Athlete Academic Support Services & Computer Services..... 32 2008-09 Schedule.................................................................. OBC

2009 Qualification Changes Beginning this year, the NCAA is using a new qualifying system based on an RPI system. Wrestlers in each weight class will be measured on the following: winning percentage, rating percentage index (minimum 15 matches) and coaches’ rankings. Wrestlers that meet or exceed threshold levels for all three measures will be labeled “Gold Standard.” Wrestlers that meet or exceed threshold levels for any two of the three measures will be be labeled “Silver Standard.” Qualifying events (such as the ACC Championship) receive one qualifying slot for each gold or silver wrestler at a particular weight class. Four example, when the rankings are released in late Junaury of 2009, if the ACC has four wrestlers at 125 pounds gain gold or silver status, qualifying wrestlers at 125 pounds will be vying for four qualifying slots at the ACC Championship. If a qualifying event does not have any gold or silver standard wrestlers at a weight class, one qualifier position will be allocated for that qualifying event’s champion at that weight class. There are still 330 spots in the championship field with 33 wrestlers earning spots in each of the 10 weight classes. The ACC Championship will be held on March 7 at Cassell Coliseum in Blacksburg. At-large qualifiers will be announced on March 11, 2009. The NCAA Championship is March 19-21 in St. Louis, Mo. Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, veteran status, national origin, religion, or political affiliation. Anyone having questions concerning discrimination should contact the Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Office at (540) 231-7500.

The 2008-09 Virginia Tech wrestling media guide is a publication of the Virginia Tech Athletics Communications Office, written to assist the working media and designed to aid all media members in their coverage of Virginia Tech wrestling. The 2008-09 wrestling media guide was written and edited by Associate Director of Athletics Communication Bryan Johnston, along with help from student worker Siobhan McArdle. Design was done by Allison Jarnagin. Action photos and head shots were contributed by Dave Knachel. This book was printed by Southern Printing Company of Blacksburg, Va.

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G


The 2008-2009 Hokies

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

Name Adam Broda D.J. Bruce Scott Chené Chris Diaz Jesse Dong Daniel Dressner Matt Epperly Erik Fowlie Jarrod Garnett Andre Johnson Jared Jones Will Livingston Brock LiVorio Colin MacDermott David Marone Josh McCowan Tim Miller Nick Murray Kevin O’Connor Eddie Obendorfer Matt Rosen Matt Ryan Will Snyder Tommy Spellman Schuyler Swanton Anthony Trongone Brian Wood Pete Yates

Wt. 149 197 141 141 157 197 165 125 125 157 133 133 125 141 HWT 165 197 141 197 141 149 184 184 184 125 174 133 149

Year So. So. Fr. So. Fr. Fr. r-So. Fr. Fr. Jr. So. r-So.(tr) Fr. So. So. Fr. Jr. So. r-Jr. Fr. Jr. r-Fr. Jr. So. Fr. r-Fr. Fr. Fr.

Hometown Lynchburg, Va. Naperville, Ill. Anaheim Hills, Calif. Camden, Del. Westerville, Ohio Burke, Va. Christiansburg, Va. Concord, N.C. Newark, Del. Royal Palm Beach, Fla. Pittsburgh, Pa. Newton, N.J. Irwin, Pa. Norfolk, Va. Broomfield, Colo. Grundy, Va. Bassett, Va. Bound Brook, N.J. Woodbine, Md. Germantown, Md. Chesapeake, Va. Eighty-Four, Pa. Elizabeth, Pa. Newton, N.J. Spring Hill, Fla. Glendora, N.J. Roanoke, Va. Conyers, Ga.

High School/Other Brookville Naperville Virginia...............................................8 Irvine New Jersey..........................................4 Caesar Rodney Pennsylvania........................................4 Westerville North Delaware..............................................2 Lake Braddock Florida.................................................2 Christiansburg Maryland.............................................2 Concord California............................................1 Caravel Academy Colorado..............................................1 Jupiter Christian Penn-Trafford Georgia................................................1 Kittatinny/Ohio State Illinois................................................1 The Kiski School North Carolina......................................1 Granby Ohio....................................................1 Broomfield Grundy Bassett Juniors................................................5 Bound Brook Sophomores....................................... 10 Mount Saint Joseph Demascus Freshmen........................................... 13 Great Bridge Canon-McMillan Elizabeth Forward Scott CHENE.............................shuh-NAY Kittatinny Chris DIAZ..................................DEE-azz F.W. Springstead JARROD Garnett..........................juh-ROD Camden Catholic David MARONE..................... Muh-RO-nee William Byrd SCHUYLER Swanton...................... SKY-ler Salem

Head Coach: Kevin Dresser (3rd season) • University of Iowa, 1986 Associate Head Coach: Tony Robie (3rd season) • Edinboro University, 1997 Assistant Coach: Nate Yetzer (3rd season) • Edinboro University, 2005 Athletic Trainer: Sean Collins

2

Hokies by States

Hokies by Class

Pronunciation Guide

´ Anthony TRONGONE.................. tron-GON

Front row (l-r): Brock LiVorio, Will Livingston, Brian Wood, Schuyler Swanton, Jarrod Garnett, Erik Fowlie; Second row (l-r): Jared Jones, Scott Chené, Colin MacDermott, Eddie Obendorfer, Chris Diaz, Adam Broda, Pete Yates; Third row (l-r): Matt Epperly, Nick Murray, Josh McCowan, Anthony Trongone, Jesse Dong, Andre Johnson, Daniel Dressner, Tommy Spellman; Back row (l-r): David Marone, Kevin O’Connor, Tim Miller, Will Snyder, Matt Ryan, D.J. Bruce


Media Information MATCH CREDENTIALS

Home matches are held at Cassell Coliseum and are free of charge. No credentials are needed for entrance. Media interested in attending the matches are encouraged to call the Virginia Tech Athletics Communications Office for further information.

COACH/PLAYER INTERVIEWS

PLEASE SCHEDULE ALL INTERVIEWS THROUGH THE VIRGINIA TECH ATHLETICS COMMUNICATIONS OFFICE AT (540) 231-3387. For interviews with head wrestling coach Kevin Dresser or any of the Hokie wrestlers, please contact Bryan Johnston at the Virginia Tech Athletics Communications Office – (540) 231-3387. Coach Dresser is usually available for interviews between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Wrestlers will be available for interviews according to class and practice schedules. At no time will an athlete’s telephone number be released and media are asked not to contact athletes at home, on their cell phones or via E-mail.

POST-MATCH INTERVIEWS

Coach Dresser and wrestlers will be available after matches following a short cool-down period. Please make all requests for interviews with Bryan Johnston at the mat-side scorer’s table.

MATCH RESULTS

Match results will be available immediately following the conclusion of the match and will also be faxed to the opposing team’s sports information office. Media can access the statistics either in the sports information office or via the Internet. Log onto the official Web site for Tech athletics, www. hokiesports.com, for complete results, stats, bios and stories.

SPORTS INFORMATION Bryan Johnston Associate Director of Athletics Communications Bryan Johnston is in his 10th year with the Virginia Tech Athletics Department and his ninth with the Hokie wrestling team. He became a full-time employee at Virginia Tech after serving as an intern in the sports information office during the 1999-2000 school year. As the SID for wrestling, Johnston oversees the scorer’s table at home matches, supervising the official book, live stats, the scoreboard and riding time, as well as the announcer. On the road, he keeps the Web site and team stats updated. Johnston also serves as the SID for the Hokie football and softball teams. A native of Chesapeake, Va., Johnston is a 1999 graduate of the University of South Carolina with a degree in sport administration.

Virginia Tech Athletics Communications Office 460 Jamerson Athletic Center Blacksburg, VA 24061 Johnston’s Office Phone: (540) 231-3387 Johnston’s Home Phone: (540) 392-1994 Johnston’s E-Mail Address: blj@vt.edu Web Site: www.hokiesports.com/wrestling Live Stats: www.hokiesports.com/wrestling/live

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

LIVE STATS AND BROADCASTS

Fans and media can keep up with the Hokies via the Internet with live stats. At all home matches up-to-the-minute team scores, individual scores and match updates are available by clicking on the live stats link on Tech’s athletics homepage at www.hokiesports.com.

Media Outlets

Associated Press Collegiate Times Richmond Times-Dispatch Roanoke Times WDBJ-7 (Roanoke, CBS) WSLS-10 (Roanoke, NBC)

Phone

804-643-6646 540-231-9865 804-649-6445 540-981-3221 540-985-3623 540-981-9126

Fax

804-643-6223 540-231-5057 804-775-8085 540-981-3392 540-343-7269 540-343-2059

DIRECTIONS TO BLACKSBURG

From the north or east, take Interstate 81 south to exit 118B, following US 460 west to Blacksburg. From the south, take Interstate 81 north to exit 118B, following US 460 west to Blacksburg. From West Virginia, take Interstate 77 south (West Virginia Turnpike) to exit 9. Exit and turn left onto 460 east. Follow 460 east to Blacksburg. Once in Blacksburg, use the 460 bypass around the downtown area. Follow 460 to the signal at Southgate Drive (Va. 314). Turn onto campus, and proceed one-half mile on Southgate Drive. Turn left onto Spring Road, just before the football stadium. Passing Lane Stadium, Cassell Coliseum will then be on the right, with a large parking lot on your left, across the street from the venue. Admission is free to all Virginia Tech wrestling matches.

Cassell Coliseum, home of Hokie wrestling, is easily identified among all other buildings on campus.

3


Meet the Coaches

Kevin DRESSER Head Coach 2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

Third Season University of Iowa (1986)

A new era in Virginia Tech wrestling was kicked off on April 14, 2006, when Tech Director of Athletics Jim Weaver announced the hiring of former NCAA Champion Kevin Dresser as the Hokies’ new head wrestling coach. Dresser became the 12th man to lead the Tech program since its inception in 1920 and has made an immediate impact on the program. Now in his third season and with recruiting starting to take off, Dresser and the Hokies are beginning to see positive results from a young squad and program. In each of his first two seasons, he’s had a wrestler win an ACC title and named Most Outstanding Wrestler at the ACC Championsips. In 2007, it was Jon Bonilla-Bowman who won the ACC title at 157 pounds and last year Matt Epperly came out of nowhere to win the 165-pound class and advance to the NCAA Championships.

THE DRESSER FILE PERSONAL

Full Name: Kevin John Dresser Birthdate: November 9, 1962 Birthplace: Fort Dodge, Iowa

EDUCATION

High School: Humboldt H.S. (1981) College: University of Iowa (B.S. general studies, 1986)

COACHING EXPERIENCE

2006-present: Head Coach, Virginia Tech 1996-06: Head Coach, Christiansburg (Va.) High School 1988-96: Head Coach, Grundy (Va.) High School 1986-88: Graduate Assistant, University of Iowa Virginia Tech Record: 13-21 (3rd season)

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• NCAA Champion at 142 pounds in 1986 • Two-time NCAA All-American • Placed fourth at 142 pounds in 1985 • Two-time Big Ten Champion • 1986 Mike Howard Award at Iowa • Won 13 Virginia state wrestling titles at Grundy and Christiansburg high schools

4

Dresser is a familiar name in the New River Valley as he was the head coach at Christiansburg High School for 10 seasons, winning the Group AA state title five times and claiming second place three times. Prior to his stint in Christiansburg, he led Grundy High School to eight titles in as many years. “Obviously, we’ve got a challenge in front of us,” Dresser said. “When I came to Grundy and Christiansburg, we had challenges, and I think we met those challenges there. This is what gets me up in the mornings.” A native of Humboldt, Iowa, Dresser was a two-time high school state champion at Humboldt High School. He graduated from the University of Iowa, where he won a national title in 1986 at 142 pounds. Dresser was a two-time All-American (placing fourth in 1985 at 142 pounds), as well as a two-time Big Ten champion. For his performance in 1986, he received the Mike Howard Award, given to the most valuable wrestler for the Hawkeyes. Dresser earned his B.S. in general studies from Iowa in 1986. He and his wife, Penny, have three children: Emma (10), Anna (8) and Jack (6). Penny Dresser is a native of Blacksburg, and the family resides in Riner.


Meet the Coaches

Tony ROBIE Associate Head Coach Third Season Edinboro University (1997)

Tony Robie is in his third year at Virginia Tech, serving as the associate head coach of the Hokies’ wrestling program. Robie coaches the middle and upper weights, as well as working with team travel, equipment and recruiting. Robie came to Blacksburg after serving as the head coach at Binghamton University in New York. A two-time collegiate All-American and 1997 NCAA runner-up, Robie took over a program that had been discontinued after the 2003-04 school year because of budget constraints. Before taking over at Binghamton, he resided in Ann Arbor, Mich., for four seasons as an assistant coach for the University of Michigan. In seven years as a Division I assistant coach prior to coming to Blacksburg, Robie helped coach 23 All-Americans, nine Academic AllAmericans and one national champion. As the Wolverines’ top assistant coach, Robie recruited three top-10 classes, including the No. 2 ranked class in 2004. His one-on-one work with Michigan student-athlete Ryan Bertin culminated with Bertin’s 2003 NCAA championship – the school’s

first national champion in 18 years. In all, Michigan’s team earned national top-10 status all four years that Robie was a coach there. His dedication and influence off the mat resulted in the wrestling team winning the 2003 community service award at the school. A world-class wrestler in his own right, Robie racked up a 126-23 record on the collegiate mat. A two-time captain for former Olympic gold medalist Bruce Baumgartner at Edinboro University, Robie was a three-time Eastern Wrestling League Champion and a three-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) champion. As a senior, Robie led the Fighting Scots to a sixth-place national finish – the highest in school history. He ranks fourth on the school’s all-time wins list and went on to earn a bronze medal at the 1998 U.S. Open Freestyle Championships. This past year, he was inducted into the Edinboro Sports Hall of Fame. A native of Erie, Pa., Robie was a Dean’s List student at Edinboro and received the school’s Academic Achievement Award before graduating with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 1997. Robie brings strong ties to the eastern wrestling hotbed as he also served as an assistant coach at West Virginia (1998-99) and Edinboro (1999-00). Robie and his wife Jennifer reside in Christiansburg with their three children: Nate (8), Luke (5) and Jake (2).

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

THE ROBIE FILE PERSONAL

Full Name: Anthony Robert Robie Birthdate: May 5, 1974 Birthplace: Erie, Pa.

EDUCATION

High School: Erie Strong Vincent H.S. (1992) College: Edinboro University (B.S. criminal justice, 1997)

COACHING EXPERIENCE

2006-present: Associate Head Coach, Virginia Tech 2005-06: Head Coach, Binghamton (N.Y.) University 2000-04: Assistant Coach, University of Michigan 1999-00: Assistant Coach, Edinboro University 1998-99: Assistant Coach, West Virginia University

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• Two-time captain at Edinboro University • A three-time Eastern Wrestling League champion • A three-time Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) champion • Ranks fourth on the school’s all-time wins list • Earned a bronze medal at the 1998 U.S. Open Freestyle Championships

5


Meet the Coaches

Nate YETZER Assistant Coach 2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

Third Season Edinboro University (2005)

Nate Yetzer is in his third year with the Hokies’ wrestling program and his first as a full-time assistant coach. Yetzer followed Tech associate head coach Tony Robie to Blacksburg from New York, where he was an assistant coach at Binghamton. He served as the Hokies’ volunteer assistant coach the past two seasons. Yetzer works with the lower and middle weights while also handling a lot of on-mat training. Yetzer is a 2005 graduate of Edinboro University, where he served as captain for the nationally ranked Fighting Scots. A three-time NCAA qualifier and two-time team MVP, Yetzer was an All-American as a junior, placing eighth at 174 pounds after winning three matches at the national championship. As a senior, he went 36-7 at 165 pounds, including a 14-1 dual match

THE YETZER FILE PERSONAL

Full Name: Nathan Phillip Yetzer Birthdate: November 23, 1981 Birthplace: Mansfield, Ohio

EDUCATION

High School: Mansfield Madison Comprehensive H.S. (2000) College: Edinboro (B.A. business administration, 2005)

COLLEGIATE COACHING EXPERIENCE

2008-present: Assistant Coach, Virginia Tech 2006-2008: Volunteer Assistant Coach, Virginia Tech 2005-06: Assistant Coach, Binghamton (N.Y.) University

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

• NCAA All-American • Three-time NCAA qualifier • Two-time PSAC and EWL champion • PSAC Outstanding Wrestler (2005)

6

record. Yetzer also successfully defended his titles at the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and Eastern Wrestling League (EWL) championships. That year, he was named the PSAC Outstanding Wrestler. Yetzer was honored with the program’s 4-D Award (Dedication, Desire, Determination, Discipline) and also was a recipient of an athletic and memorial scholarship at Edinboro. For his collegiate career, Yetzer was 103-33 overall. In high school, Yetzer was an Ohio state champion and senior national runner-up for Madison High. He holds school records for career wins, takedowns, technical falls and wins in a season. Yetzer received his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Edinboro in May, 2005. He has worked four years at the Bruce Baumgartner World-Class Wrestling Camps in Edinboro and has also served as a coach for the Ohio Junior National Team. Yetzer and his wife, Leah, were married on Aug. 30, 2008 in Blacksburg and reside in Christiansburg.


The 2008-2009 Preview For several years, the Tech wrestling program has seemed to be chock full of young pups on the mat, learning on the fly. The 2008-09 version of the Hokies doesn’t look to be any different, as all 10 starters heading into the season will be sophomores or freshmen. Tech’s 28-man preseason roster features 13 freshmen, 10 sophomores, six juniors and no seniors. The difference this year is the level of wrestlers who will be on the mat. After two solid recruiting classes, coupled with several guys getting their feet wet last year and several others taking a redshirt, this year could show much different results. “Starting all freshmen and sophomores is good for a long-term perspective, but from a short-term perspective we’ll probably lose some matches due to a lack of experience,” head coach Kevin Dresser said. “But if we continue to improve all season and stay healthy I think we could be in a good place by the time the ACC Championships roll around to Blacksburg in March.” Here’s a look at each weight class and who figures to help out this season:

125

A pair of true freshmen – Jarrod Garnett and Brock LiVorio – head into the season as the top contenders here. Both guys are tough wrestlers who should give the Hokies a solid start at the lower weights. Another true freshman, Schuyler Swanton, will back them up.

133

Sophomore Jared Jones will handle the duties here until December, when transfer Will Livingston becomes eligible. Jones went 5-7 last year as a spot starter and represented Tech at the ACC Championships at 149 pounds. Livingston is a redshirt sophomore from New Jersey who looks to be the clear frontrunner at this weight once the second semester rolls around. LiVorio could also move up to this weight to help out the Hokies. Erik Fowlie and Brian Wood will provide depth here.

141

Chris Diaz, a sophomore from Delaware, will again be the starter at this weight class. He went 14-17 overall last year and picked up some big wins for the Hokies. Junior Matt Rosen is coming off hernia surgery and won’t see the mat until November, but is a proven wrestler who could step in at 141 or 149 pounds. Walk-ons Scott Chené, Eddie Obendorfer and Colin MacDermott may see some back-up duty here.

149

One of the top recruits for the Hokies last year – Pete Yates out of Georgia – will handle the job at 149 pounds. Yates was one of the top recruits in the nation as a high school senior at his weight class and could make an immediate impact on the league. Nick Murray, who posted an 8-14 record last year as a part-time starter is more than capable to step in here and Adam Broda can also see some action at this weight class.

157

A year after struggling to find someone to wrestle in this spot, Dresser is excited about freshman Jesse Dong stepping in as the starter. Dong has been one of the bright spots in the preseason and Dresser predicts he will be a crowd pleaser for his skills and effort on the match. Andre Johnson, a two-year starter, will serve as his back-up, but coaches are hoping to redshirt him this season.

165

Defending ACC champion Matt Epperly returns at 165 pounds and is the clear starter. While he didn’t have an outstanding season, he had a phenomenal conference tournament to take the title, MVP honors and a berth in the NCAA Championships. Walk-on Josh McCowan, a Grundy product, will back Epperly up.

174

The Hokies lost their starter from last year at this weight to transfer, but Dresser is excited about redshirt freshman Anthony Trongone. He is one of the hardest workers the Hokies have and is expected to be a pleasant surprise this year, but is still a freshman who hasn’t competed yet. Tommy Spellman, last year’s starter at 184 pounds, is trying to make weight here. He will serve as the back up at both 174 and 184 pounds as he is scheduled to take a redshirt this year. But if needed, he is an excellent wrestler who has been through a season of college wrestling.

184

Matt Ryan, who redshirted last year, looks to be the guy at 184 pounds. He and Spellman went back and forth last preseason with Spellman finally winning the job and Ryan sitting out the year. A bit of an anomaly for the coaching staff, they say consistency will be the key to his success. Redshirt junior Kevin O’Connor will try to move down to this weight after wrestling at 197 pounds the past two years and will serve as the top reserve. Will Snyder, who is in his third year with the program, would also be on the depth chart here, as would Spellman.

197

D.J. Bruce took over the starting job late last year after O’Connor was injured. He was scheduled to take a redshirt year, but was thrust into the lineup and ended up going 5-4 and taking third place at the ACC Championships. The coaches love his work ethic and are excited to see what his second season of college wrestling brings. Tim Miller will move down from heavyweight to back him up and is a capable fill-in, if needed.

HWT

David Marone will be the lone true heavyweight on the roster this season. After coming in as a 197-pounder last year as a freshman, he was forced into the heavyweight role early due to unforeseeable incidents. He was woefully undersized last year, competing at 212 pounds in a 285-pound limit class. Nonetheless, he still went 18-11 and took second place at the conference tournament. This year, he is consistently weighing in around 230 pounds and the coaches think he can handle the weight this year. Marone exemplifies everything the coaching staff preaches and could make some noise at this weight class with his athleticism and quickness.

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

“This year in the ACC is going to be exciting for us,” Dresser said. “First off, to have the ACC Tournament in Blacksburg is going to be great for this team, our fans and our program. But second, we feel like we finally have a dog in the fight this year. We can be competitive. The first two years, because of the coaching changes and what we inherited as a staff, we feel like we didn’t have a fighting chance. “This year, we’re young and we’re the underdog. But if we get a few things to go our way and we stay healthy, we can surprise some people. Our goal is to win the ACC and we’re not going to be happy walking out of Cassell Coliseum on March 7 with anything less than an ACC title.” The 2009 NCAA Championships will be held March 19-21 in St. Louis. The big change this year will be the new qualification system (see page 1), where historical data is out the window and bids will be awarded based on results this year. “It’s huge for the ACC and huge for Virginia Tech wrestling,” Dresser said. “We would have had five qualifiers last year under this year’s system. We feel like we have the ability to take a lot of guys to the NCAAs and that’s our goal and why you come out for college wrestling.”

PROJECTED DEPTH CHART* 125 133 141 149 157 165 174 184 197 HWT

Jarrod Garnett Jared Jones OR Chris Diaz Pete Yates Jesse Dong Matt Epperly Anthony Trongone Matt Ryan D.J. Bruce David Marone

Brock LiVorio Will Livingston Matt Rosen Nick Murray Andre Johnson Josh McCowan Tommy Spellman Kevin O’Connor Tim Miller

Schuyler Swanton Scott Chené Adam Broda

Will Snyder

* - depth chart before preseason wrestle-offs

7


Meet the Hokies

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

Adam Broda

D.J. Bruce

149 • Sophomore Lynchburg, Va. Brookville H.S.

197 • Sophomore Lombard, Ill. Naperville North H.S.

2007-08: Saw limited action at 149 pounds … Went 1-2 on the season … Lone victory was a 13-0 major decision over Middlesex’s John Nye at the East Stroudsburg Open … Competed in the NC State Open as an unattached wrestler … Did not see any action in dual meets. High School: Lettered four times for Coach Don Shuler at Brookville High … A two-time all-state performer who went 132-17 in high school … Won the region title twice and his district four times … Was captain of his squad his final two seasons … Also ran cross country, lettering four times … A member of the National Honor Society and the 4.0 Club. Personal: Adam Ryan Broda was born October 23, 1985, in Lynchburg, VA … The son of Paul and Margaret Broda … Has two brothers, Kyle and Johnny … Majoring in general engineering.

Year 2007-08

Broda’s Career Stats

Overall 1-2

D.J. Bruce

2007-08: Was scheduled to redshirt but was forced into action late in the season due to injuries at the upper weights … Finished 5-4 on the season at 197 pounds with two major decisions … Went 2-0 in ACC matches and 3-3 in dual meets … Went 1-1 at the East Stroudsburg Open as an unattached wrestler at 184 pounds … Earned the No. 4 seed at the ACC Championships and picked up two wins there to place third. High School: Lettered four times for Coach Tom Champion at Naperville North High … Was the Illinois state runner-up his senior year … Took fourth place as a junior and was a state qualifier as a sophomore … Placed second at the 2006 Fargo nationals, third in 2005, fourth in 2004 and seventh in 2007 … A two-time FILA Cadet Champion. Personal: Daniel James Bruce was born January 1, 1989 … The son of Pam Bruce … Majoring in management.

Dual Leag. M.Dec. T.Fall Falls Time Pts. 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 - 0

Year 2007-08

Bruce’s Career Stats

Overall 5-4

Dual Leag. M.Dec. T.Fall Falls Time Pts. 3-3 2-0 2 0 0 - 10

Scott Chené 141 • Freshman Anaheim Hills, Calif. Irvine H.S. High School: Lettered four times for Coach John Phillips at Irvine High … Team MVP three times … Finished his career with a school-record 167 wins … Finished fourth in the state … Team captain all four years … Won the Five Counties Invitational. Personal: Scott Joseph Chené was born August 29, 1989 in Santa Ana, CA … The son of Kevin and CeCe Chené … Has two brothers, Curtis and Kyle … Enrolled in university studies.

Chris Diaz 141 • Sophomore Camden, Del. Caesar Rodney H.S. 2007-08: The starter at 141 pounds for the Hokies as a true freshman … Went 14-17 in his first campaign … Picked up one major decision, one technical fall and two pins … Went 8-8 in dual matches and 3-2 in ACC competition … Biggest win came in the upset over Virginia when he pinned Kellon Balum with one second remaining in the match to help lift Tech to a 18-16 win.

8


Meet the Hokies High School: Lettered three times for Coach Dicky Howell at Caesar Rodney High … Two-time state champion … Senior national champion … A three-time All-American … Placed seventh at the Junior Nationals and second at the Super 32 Tournament … A three-time academic allstate selection. Personal: Christopher Juan Diaz was born August 17, 1989 in Dover, DE … The son of Lori and Juan Diaz … Has one brother, Josh … Enrolled in university studies.

Year 2007-08

Diaz’s Career Stats

Overall 14-17

Dual Leag. M.Dec. T.Fall Falls Time Pts. 8-8 3-2 1 1 2 5:32 32

Chris Diaz

Jesse Dong 157 • Freshman Westerville, Ohio Westerville North H.S. High School: Lettered four times for Coach David Grant at Westerville North High … Ranked the No. 20 130-pounder in the final InterMat rankings … An Ohio state champion … Took fifth at Junior Nationals … Also took second in the state and sixth. Personal: Jesse I. Dong was born May 3, 1990 in Westerville, OH … The son of Candice and Jimmy … Has one brother, Ryan … Majoring in business.

Daniel Dressner 197 • Freshman Burke, Va. Lake Braddock H.S.

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

High School: Lettered four times for Coach Scott Matheney at Lake Braddock High … Placed fifth in the state at 215 pounds … Also played football for four seasons, earning all-district honors. Personal: Daniel Philip Dressner was born May 21, 1990 in Burke, VA … The son of Ken and Tina Dressner … Majoring in general engineering.

Matt Epperly 165 • r-Sophomore Christiansburg, Va. Christiansburg H.S. 2007-08: The 2008 ACC Champion at 165 pounds after storming through the tournament … Just weeks after having his appendix removed, beat Nos. 2, 3 and 1 seeds for the title … Upset top-seeded Keegan Mueller of UNC 8-2 in sudden victory to claim the title … Was named Most Outstanding Wrestler of the tournament … Advanced to the NCAA Championships, where he went 0-2 … Went 23-12 on the season with seven major decisions, one technical fall and a team-high seven pins … Fastest pin came in just 23 seconds … Went 7-6 in dual meets and 1-2 in ACC matches … Won the East Stroudsburg Open, going 6-0. 2006-07: Was the starter at 157 pounds early in the season before suffering a season-ending back injury … Was granted a medical hardship waiver from the NCAA … Went 3-1 before sustaining the injury … Had two major decisions and a fall at 46 seconds. High School: Lettered four times for Coach Kevin Dresser … A fourtime Virginia Group AA state champion … Placed sixth at 160 pounds at the Junior Nationals, earning All-America honors … Placed fifth at the 2005 Walsh Jesuit-ASICS Ironman Wrestling Tournament, one of the top tournaments in the country … Was ranked the No. 55 overall national prospect and the No. 7 160-pounder in the country by InterMat.

9


Meet the Hokies

2 0 0 8 • 0 9

Personal: Matthew Scott Epperly was born June 25, 1987, in Christiansburg, VA … The son of Jeff and Elise Epperly … Has two brothers, Brady and Zack … Majoring in history.

Jarrod Garnett

Epperly’s Career Stats

125 • Freshman Newark, Del. Caravel Academy

Year 2006-07 2006-07 Totals

Overall Dual Leag. M.Dec. T.Fall Falls Time Pts. 3-1 3-1 0-0 2 0 1 :46 14 23-12 7-6 1-2 7 1 7 :23 26 26-13 10-7 1-2 9 1 8 :23 40

Matt Epperly

W R E S T L I N G

High School: Lettered four times for Coach Joe Archangelo at Caravel Academy … Ranked the No. 20 130-pounder in the final InterMat rankings … A Junior National champion who was also a Fargo All-American … Defeated the National No. 1 ranked wrestler in 2007 … A four-time conference champion who won two state titles … Also took second place twice … Finished his career with a 124-14 record … Captain of his team for two seasons … Wrestled for Raw 241 club team for three years … Second-team academic all-state. Personal: Jarrod Vincent Garnett was born June 27, 1990, in Newark, DE … The son of Carl and Michelle Garnett … Has one sister, Jasmyn … … Enrolled in university studies.

Andre Johnson 157 • Junior West Palm Beach, Fla. Jupiter Christian H.S.

Erik Fowlie 125 • Freshman Concord, N.C. Concord H.S. High School: Lettered four times for coaches Erik Hopkins, Michael Carty and Jason Hessberg at Concord High … A four-time all-conference wrestler who qualified for the state tournament three times … Placed at the state meet once … Was also named all-county twice and was MVP of his squad two times … Also played ice hockey for 11 years, playing for the Charlotte Jr. Checkers for six years. Personal: Erik Benjamin Fowlie was born September 28, 1990, in Coolum Beach, Australia … The son of Catherine and David Fowlie … Father wrestled at Clemson … Has two siblings, Kristen and Neil … Majoring in marketing management.

10

2007-08: Bounced around at three different weight classes throughout the season, seeing action at 149, 157 and 174 pounds … Went 2-18 on the year … Went 0-13 in dual matches and 0-5 in the ACC … Picked up a win at the East Stroudsburg Open. 2006-07: Wrestled at two weight classes as a true freshman … Went 6-14 overall … Posted a 5-10 mark at 141 pounds and a 1-4 record at 149 pounds … Went 4-9 in dual meets and 0-1 in ACC action … Had one major decision and one fall, which came at the 2:39 mark … Finished third at the Davidson Open. High School: Lettered a combined four times for coaches Jeff Resscott and Shawn Seldon … A two-time state champion … Was named the Palm Beach Post Wrestler of the Year after going 53-0 his senior year … Sunshine Open champion … Named to both the Palm Beach Post and the Sun-Sentinel’s first-team … Transferred to Jupiter Christian School for his final season and entered college having wrestled for just four years … Originally signed with Fresno State but was released from that NLI when FSU dropped its wrestling program … Graduated with a 4.0 GPA and was in the top 5 percent of his graduating class. Personal: Andre Jessie Johnson was born August 15, 1988, in Hollywood, FL … The son of Kirk and Vivienne Howell … Has three siblings, Victoria, Max and Haley … Majoring in the science of food, nutrition and exercise.

Year 2006-07 2007-08 Totals

Johnson’s Career Stats

Overall Dual Leag. M.Dec. T.Fall Falls Time Pts. 6-14 4-9 0-1 1 0 1 2:39 16 2-18 0-13 0-5 0 0 0 - 0 8-32 4-22 0-6 1 0 1 2:39 16


Meet the Hokies

Jared Jones

Will Livingston

133 • Sophomore Manor, Pa. Penn-Trafford H.S.

133 • r-Sophomore (transfer) Newton, N.J. Kittatinny H.S./Ohio State University

2007-08: Saw some action in the starting lineup as a true freshman … Compiled a 5-7 overall record, going 3-4 in dual meets and 1-2 in ACC matches … Had two major decisions and one pin, coming in 30 seconds … Went 2-1 at the East Stroudsburg Open … Wrestled unattached at the NC State Open, taking second place with a 2-1 mark … Was the 133-pound representative for the Hokies at the ACC Championships. High School: Lettered four times for Coach Vince Testa at Penn-Trafford High … Finished his career with the second-most career wins in school history … Won the Outstanding Freshman and Senior Awards … Helped lead his team to the W.P.I.A.L. team tournament title. Personal: Jared Michael Jones was born April 12, 1989 … The son of Jim and Diane Jones … Has three siblings, Jason, Derek and Devan … Majoring in biochemistry with a minor in chemistry.

Jones’ Career Stats

Year Overall Dual Leag. M.Dec. T.Fall Falls Time Pts. 2007-08 5-7 3-4 1-2 2 0 1 0:30 10

Ohio State: Redshirted his sophomore year after wrestling as a true freshman … Went 15-19 as a freshman, including a 5-10 mark in dual meets and a 2-6 record in the Big 10 … Commenced his collegiate career with a fourth-place finish at the Eastern Michigan Open and followed that performance with a seventh-place showing at the Michigan State Open … At the MSU Open, two of Livingston’s five wins came via fall, while a third victory against 18th-ranked Christian Staylor of Old Dominion was a technical fall … During a span of four matches against Purdue, Ohio, Appalachian State and Ashland, posted four-consecutive shutouts, winning 3-0, 6-0, 7-0 and 11-0 … At the Big Ten Championships, defeated fourth-seed and No. 8 Franklin Gomez of Michigan State, 10-7, in wrestleback competition to advance to the consolation quarterfinals. High School: Became the all-time winningest wrestler in school history, with 145 victories (12 losses), coupled with 70 falls … In 2004-05, led the team in falls and team points … In 2006, served as the co-captain and earned numerous individual accolades in his final prep year … Was the state champion, became a High School Wrestling All-American, named the MVP, was the 2006 Distinguished Athlete Award recipient and was named the 2006 Wrestler of the Year by Mugs Media … Finished in the top 10 of the state tournament for four consecutive years (2006-first, 2005-third, 2004-seventh, 2003-eighth) and was a three-time regional champion, as well as a four-time district champion … From 2004-2006, earned allleague laurels and was part of the four-time state championship team … At Junior Nationals in 2005, executed a fourth-place showing and in 2003, was the Most Outstanding Wrestler at the Caldwell Tournament … Also lettered in cross country his freshman year. Personal: William Scott Livingston, Jr., was born July 19, 1987 in Newton, NJ … The son of Bill and Sandi Livingston … Has two sisters, Phelan and Phoebe … Majoring in history.

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

Livingston’s Career Stats *

Year Overall Dual Leag. M.Dec. T.Fall Falls Time Pts. 2006-07 15-19 5-10 2-6 1 2 2 NA 41 Jared Jones

* includes freshman year at Ohio State University

Brock LiVorio 125 • Freshman Irwin, Pa. The Kiski School High School: Lettered four times for Coach Joe Ross at The Kiski School … Ranked the No. 14 125-pounder in the country in InterMat’s final rankings … Named Outstanding Wrestler at the Dapper Dan … A twotime Pennsylvania state champion and a 2007 Prep National champion … Was runner-up at the 2008 Prep Nationals … Finished with a career record of 134-21. Personal: Brock Anthony LiVorio was born July 4, 1990 … The son of Debra and Anthony LiVorio … Has two older brothers, Nathan and Brandon … Majoring in biological sciences/pre-dental.

11


Meet the Hokies

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

Colin MacDermott

Josh McCowan

141 • Sophomore Norfolk, Va. Granby H.S.

165 • Freshman Grundy, Va. Grundy H.S.

2007-08: Saw limited action at 141 pounds … Posted a 1-2 mark … Lone win came at the East Stroudsburg Open, a 3-2 victory over Hofstra’s Mark Fontana. High School: Lettered four times at Granby High … Wrestled for Coach Jay Freeman and former Hokie wrestler and All-American Chris Martin … A two-time district champion and two-time runner-up … A regional placewinner and a state qualifier in 2005 … A two-time Cadet freestyle placewinner. Personal: Colin Michael MacDermott was born September 29, 1988 in Old Bridge, NJ … The son of Janice and Michael MacDermott … Has two siblings, Conor and Kelly … Enrolled in university studies.

Year 2006-07

Macdermott’s Career Stats Overall 1-2

Dual Leag. M.Dec. T.Fall Falls Time Pts. 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 NA 0

David MARONE HWT • Sophomore Broomfield, Colo. Broomfield H.S. 2007-08: One of the bigger surprises of the season … Was slated to be a 197-pounder, but was thrust into the starting lineup at heavyweight early on … Ended up going 18-11 despite being outweighed significantly in most matches … Took second place at the ACC Championships in that weight class … Went 9-5 in dual meets and 3-2 in the conference … Picked up two major decisions, one technical fall and a pin … Placed second at the East Stroudsburg Open … Had a big win in Tech’s 18-16 upset of Virginia, beating Jack Danilkowicz 3-1 in sudden victory. High School: Lettered four times for Coach Travis Masse at Broomfield High … A two-time Colorado state champion … Also placed second and fourth in the state … Placed second and third in the Walsh Ironman Tournament … An honorable mention All-American … Also lettered three times in football … A two-time all-state selection, earning first-team honors once … Was also a two-time first-team all-region selection and a three-time first-team all-conference choice. Personal: David Paul Marone was born October 13, 1988 in Broomfield, CO … The son of Mark and Terri Marone … Has one brother, Vinny … Majoring in business.

Year 2007-08

12

Marone’s Career Stats

Overall 18-11

Dual Leag. M.Dec. T.Fall Falls Time Pts. 9-5 3-2 2 1 1 1:51 27

High School: Lettered four times for Coach Travis Fiser at Grundy High … The state runner-up as a senior in the Group A meet … Placed fourth both his junior and sophomore seasons … Won the Big Orange in 2007 and 2008 … Was the Agie Skeens champion in 2007 and 2008. Personal: Joshua L. McCowan was born January 6, 1989 in Richlands, VA … The son of Bennie and Diana McCowan … Has four siblings, Jacob, Jordan, Michael and Matthew … Enrolled in university studies.

Tim Miller 197 • Junior Bassett, Va. Bassett H.S. 2007-08: Moved up to heavyweight for his sophomore season … Went 0-3 on the year … Competed at the East Stroudsburg Open. 2006-07: Went 4-8 as a true freshman, all coming at 197 pounds … Went 2-4 in dual meets … Both wins were via fall, the fastest coming at 1:21. High School: Lettered four times for Coach Kevin Adair … The state runner-up his senior year after placing fifth his junior year … A two-time

David Marone


Meet the Hokies region and district champion … Also lettered three times in football … Was an all-district and all-region defensive end, as well as an alldistrict, all-region and all-state center … Played in the VHSL East-West All-Star game. Personal: Timothy Michael Miller was born October 10, 1987, in Martinsville, VA … The son of Johnny and Linda Miller … Has three siblings, John, Heather and Andrew … Father, John, played football at Duke, while sister Heather played basketball at Wake Forest … Majoring in finance.

Year 2006-07 2007-08 Totals

Miller’s Career Stats

Overall 4-8 0-3 4-11

Dual Leag. M.Dec. T.Fall Falls Time Pts. 2-4 0-0 0 0 2 1:21 6 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 - 0 2-4 0-0 0 0 2 1:21 6

Nick Murray

action … Was sidelined for the year with an injury. High School: A three-sport standout at Glenelg High before finishing his career at Mount Saint Joseph … Finished third at the National Preps, fifth at the Ironman and fifth at the Powerade Tournaments … Lettered twice in wrestling, football and lacrosse before transferring … Earned defensive player of the year honors in football. Personal: Kevin Michael O’Connor was born March 7, 1987 … The son of Daniel and Martha O’Connor … Brother, Jimmy, is a former captain of the University of North Carolina wrestling team while sister, Kelly, is a former captain of the University of Delaware lacrosse team … Majoring in residential property management.

Year 2006-07 2007-08 Totals

O’Connor’s Career Stats

Overall Dual Leag. M.Dec. T.Fall Falls Time Pts. 3-10 3-8 1-4 1 0 0 - 10 9-8 7-3 2-1 0 0 3 3:57 11 12-18 10-11 3-5 1 0 3 3:57 21

Kevin O’Connor

141 • Sophomore Bound Brook, N.J. Bound Brook H.S.

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

2007-08: Began the season as the starter at 141 pounds … Went 8-14 overall (7-11 at 141 pounds and 1-3 at 149 pounds) … Was 2-9 in dual meets and 1-2 in ACC play … Had one technical fall and one pin … Went 2-1 at the East Stroudsburg Open … Wrestled in the ACC Championships at 149 pounds. High School: Lettered four times for Coach Martin Gledson at Bound Brook High … A two-time state placewinner … A two-time Battle of the Belt Super 32 champion … A three-time freestyle state champion. Personal: Nicholas Murray was born September 27, 1988 in Plainfield, NJ … The son of Bob and Jean Murray … Has two siblings, Robert and Carly … Graduated high school summa cum laude … Majoring in general engineering.

Year 2007-08

Murray’s Career Stats

Overall 8-14

Dual Leag. M.Dec. T.Fall Falls Time Pts. 2-9 1-2 0 1 1 6:47 11

Kevin O’Connor 197 • r-Junior Woodbine, Md. Mount Saint Joseph H.S. 2007-08: A steady contributor in the starting lineup at 197 pounds … Was limited late due to injury … Went 9-8 overall, including 7-3 in dual meets and 2-1 in ACC competition … Picked up three pins and earned the team 27 points … Upset No. 16 Brent Jones of Virginia, 8-6, in Tech’s 18-16 win over Virginia … Went 1-1 at the East Stroudsburg Open. 2006-07: Posted a 3-10 overall record, all at 197 pounds … Went 3-8 in dual meet action and 1-4 in ACC competition … Had one major decision. 2005-06: Began the season with the team but never saw varsity

Eddie Obendorfer 141 • Freshman Germantown, Md. Demascus H.S. High School: Lettered four times for Coach Dave Hopkins at Demascus High … Placed at the state tournament … Captain of his squad for two seasons. Personal: Edward James Obendorfer, Jr., was born April 7, 1990, in

13


Meet the Hokies Germantown, MD … The son of Kim and Ed Obendorfer … Has six siblings, Jaime, Kelly, Ann Marie, Cory, Scottie and Jaclyn … Dad wrestled for the Hokies and placed in the Southern Conference Tournament … Majoring in forestry.

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

Matt ROSEN 149 • Junior Chesapeake, Va. Great Bridge H.S. 2007-08: The starter at 149 pounds but also saw action at 157 pounds … Went 17-17 overall (16-13 at 149 pounds and 1-4 at 157 pounds) … Had a 6-10 mark in dual meets and went 2-3 in ACC competition … Wrestled in the ACC Championships at 157 pounds … Had one pin. 2006-07: Was a starter at two different weight classes as a true freshman … Went 10-15 overall … Posted an 8-7 mark at 133 pounds and a 2-8 record at 141 pounds … Had one technical fall and one pin, which came at the 3:56 mark … Won the Davidson Open at 133 pounds. High School: Lettered four times for Coach Norm Smith … Was a four-time placewinner at the state Group AAA tournament … A fourtime placewinner at the Ironman Tournament … Placed seventh at the 2006 Beast of the East Tournament … Was ranked the No. 126 product in the country by InterMat. Personal: Matthew Christopher Rosen was born February 10, 1987, in Hampton, VA … The son of Claudia and Whit Rosen … Has two brothers, Thomas and Jeremy … Majoring in human development.

Year 2006-07 2007-08 Totals

Matt Rosen

Will SNYDER

Rosen’s Career Stats

Overall Dual Leag. M.Dec. T.Fall Falls Time Pts. 10-15 5-11 1-4 0 1 1 3:56 18 17-17 7-10 2-3 0 0 1 1:40 18 27-32 12-21 3-7 0 1 2 1:40 36

Matt RYAN 184 • r-Freshman Eighty-Four, Pa. Canon-McMillan H.S. 2007-08: Was redshirted … Won the NC State Open as an unattached wrestler, going 3-0 … Took third as an unattached wrestler at the East Stroudsburg Open, posting a 5-1 mark. High School: Lettered four times for Coach Chris Mary at Canon-McMillan High School … A two-time state runner up … WPIAL champion. Personal: Matthew Alan Ryan was born on January 13, 1989, in Pittsburgh, PA … The son of Daniel and Joyce Ryan … Has two brothers, Mike and Colin … Majoring in geography.

184 • Junior Elizabeth, Pa. Elizabeth Forward H.S. 2007-08: Posted a 2-1 mark on the year, all coming at the East Stroudsburg Open … Had one pin in that tournament … Wrestled at 184 pounds. 2006-07: Saw limited action as a true freshman … Went 0-2 on the season with both matches coming at the East Stroudsburg Open … Wrestled at 197 pounds. High School: Lettered four times for coaches Rich Schevermann and Jeff Esper at Elizabeth Forward High … Was a three-time All-Allegheny County wrestler … Also was a three-year captain, winning 102 career matches … Lettered four times in football … Was captain his senior year, starting along the offensive and defensive lines for three seasons … Started at center in the Foothills Classic, an all-star game … Also ran track for four years, earning captain status his final season … Named the CALU/Valley Independent Student-Athlete of the Year. Personal: William Robert Snyder was born November 23, 1987, in Pittsburgh, PA … The son of William and Bobbi Snyder … Has one brother, Adam … Majoring in industrial design.

Year 2006-07 2007-08 Totals

14

Snyder’s Career Stats

Overall 0-2 2-1 2-3

Dual Leag. M.Dec. T.Fall Falls Time Pts. 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 - 0 0-0 0-0 0 0 1 5:00 0 0-0 0-0 0 0 1 5:00 0


Meet the Hokies

Tommy SPELLMAN 184 • Sophomore Newton, N.J. Kittatinny H.S. 2007-08: The starter at 184 pounds all season … Posted a 24-11 mark with two major decisions, one techincal fall and four pins … His 24 wins led the team … Was 9-6 in dual meets and 4-1 in ACC matches … Placed third at the ACC Championships … Won the East Stroudsburg Open with a 5-0 mark … Upset No. 10 Rocco Caponi of Virginia, 5-2, in Tech’s big win over the Cavaliers. High School: Lettered four times for Coach John Gill at Kittatinny Regional High School … A four-time state placewinner … A four-time semifinalist … Also played baseball and football. Personal: Thomas Booth Spellman was born September 14, 1988, in Newton, NJ … The son of Ken and Deb Spellman … Has two sisters, Janessa and Danielle … Enrolled in university studies.

Year 2007-08

Spellman’s Career Stats

Overall 24-11

Dual Leag. M.Dec. T.Fall Falls Time Pts. 9-6 4-1 2 1 4 1:31 32

Tommy Spellman

Dannette and Dustin … Brother Dustin was also a two-time Florida state champion in wrestling … Enrolled in university studies.

Anthony TRONGONE 174 • r-Freshman Glendora, N.J. Camden Catholic H.S. 2007-08: Was redshirted … Took second place as an unattached wrestler at the East Stroudsburg Open with a 5-1 mark … Won the NC State Open as an unattached wrestler, going 3-0. High School: Lettered four times at Camden Catholic High School for Coach Pete DiPol … New Jersey state champion … A three-time district champion … A two-time regional champion. Personal: Anthony Trongone was born on December 18, 1987, in Vorhees, NJ … The son of Tony and Linda Trongone … Has two siblings, Tara and Nick … Enrolled in university studies.

Brian Wood

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

133 • Freshman Roanoke, Va. William Byrd H.S. High School: Lettered four times for Coach Reed Carpenter – a former Hokie wrestler – at William Byrd High … A state champion as a senior, compiling a 36-4 mark … Took third as a junior and fourth as both a sophomore and freshman … Was a three-time district champion … Went 153-22 in his career … Named the region’s outstanding wrestler in 2008 … Named All-Timesland by The Roanoke Times his senior season. Personal: Brian Michael Wood was born December 23, 1989, in Roanoke, VA … The son of Ronnie and Jennie Wood … Has one sister, Laura … Enrolled in university studies.

Pete Yates Schuyler Swanton 125 • Freshman Spring Hill, Fla. Springstead H.S. High School: Lettered three times for coaches Eric Swensen and Sal Basile at Springstead High … A two-time state champion and one-time runner-up … A Fargo All-American. Personal: Schuyler Drew Swanton was born July 22, 1990, in Dunedin, FL … The son of Donna and Chris Swanton … Has three siblings, Whitney,

149 • Freshman Conyers, Ga. Salem H.S. High School: Lettered four times for Coach Tim Owens at Salem High … Ranked No. 5 in the nation at 145 pounds in InterMat’s final rankings … The Georgia State Wrestler of the Year his senior season … Compiled a 161-1 record in his career and was a three-time state champion … Also took runner-up honors once … Won the Beast of the East Tournament in Delaware … Was one of the state winners of the 2008 Dave Schultz High School Excellence award. Personal: Peter Cecil Yates was born September 20, 1989, in Germany … The son of Ralph and Rosalinde Yates … Has one younger brother, Paul … Majoring in business.

15


2007-08 Results & Stats Individual Results and Statistics

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

Records Overall Dual ACC Steve Armor 3-9 1-4 0-1 Eddie Baughan 1-4 0-2 0-0 Adam Broda 1-2 0-0 0-0 D.J. Bruce 5-4 3-3 2-0 Matt Cusick 0-0 0-0 0-0 Mark Czarny 1-5 0-2 0-0 Eric Decker 21-10 9-4 1-2 Chris Diaz 14-17 8-8 3-2 Matt Epperly 23-12 7-6 1-2 Cody Gardner 6-1 1-1 0-0 Alex Grassi 0-2 0-0 0-0 Paul Grinups 1-3 0-1 0-1 Andre Johnson 2-18 0-13 0-5 Jared Jones 5-7 3-4 2-1 Colin MacDermott 1-2 0-0 0-0 David Marone 18-11 9-5 3-2 Tim Miller 0-3 0-0 0-0 Jantzen Minton 3-2 0-0 0-0 Nick Murray 8-14 2-9 1-2 Kevin O’Connor 9-8 7-3 2-1 Matt Rosen 17-17 6-10 2-3 Matt Ryan 0-0 0-0 0-0 Will Snyder 2-1 0-0 0-0 Tommy Spellman 24-11 9-6 4-1 Justin Staylor 10-13 3-8 1-3 Anthony Trongone 0-0 0-0 0-0 John Wittenburg 0-2 0-0 0-0 Team Totals 175-176 68-89 22-26 Opponent 176-175 89-68 26-22

Major Tech Fastest Points ACC Pts Dec. Fall Fall Time own/opp. own/opp. 1 0 1 1:56 6/17 0/6 0 1 0 - 0/6 0/0 1 0 0 - 0/0 0/0 2 0 0 - 10/9 7/0 0 0 0 - 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 - 0/7 0/0 0 0 3 0:37 30/13 3/7 1 1 2 5:32 32/25 12/6 7 1 7 0:23 26/23 5/7 1 0 1 3:22 3/3 0/0 0 0 0 - 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 - 0/6 0/6 0 0 0 - 0/48 0/22 2 0 1 0:30 10/14 7/6 0 0 0 - 0/0 0/0 2 1 1 1:51 27/15 12/6 0 0 0 - 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 - 0/0 0/0 0 1 1 6:47 11/29 6/7 0 0 3 3:57 27/15 6/6 0 0 1 1:40 18/33 6/9 0 0 0 - 0/0 0/0 0 0 1 5:00 0/0 0/0 2 1 4 1:31 32/21 14/3 1 3 3 1:03 13/29 4/10 0 0 0 - 0/0 0/0 0 0 0 - 0/0 0/0 19 9 28 0:23 179/215 67/76 35 3 21 0:52 215/179 76/67

Career Overall 3-9 7-10 1-2 5-4 0-0 1-30 45-27 14-17 26-13 6-1 0-2 1-3 8-31 5-7 1-2 18-11 4-11 3-2 8-14 12-18 27-32 0-0 2-3 24-11 61-36 0-0 0-2

Career Duals 1-4 0-3 0-0 3-3 0-0 0-19 17-13 8-8 10-7 1-1 0-0 0-1 4-21 3-4 0-0 9-5 2-4 0-0 2-9 10-11 11-21 0-0 0-0 9-6 28-19 0-0 0-0

16

Steve Armor Eddie Baughan Adam Broda D.J. Bruce Matt Cusick Mark Czarny Eric Decker Chris Diaz Matt Epperly Cody Gardner Alex Grassi Paul Grinups Andre Johnson Jared Jones Colin MacDermott David Marone Tim Miller Jantzen Minton Nick Murray Kevin O’Connor Matt Rosen Matt Ryan Will Snyder Tommy Spellman Justin Staylor Anthony Trongone John Wittenburg Team Totals Opponent

125 3-9 - - - - - - - - - 0-2 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8-12 - - 11-24 24-11

133 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5-7 - - - - 7-11 - - - - - 2-1 - 0-2 14-21 21-14

141 - - - - - - - 14-17 - - - - - - 1-2 - - - - - - - - - - - - 16-19 19-16

149 - - 1-2 - - - - - - - - 1-3 1-3 - - - - - 1-3 - 16-13 - - - - - - 20-24 24-20

157 - - - - - 1-5 - - - - - - 1-13 - - - - - - - 1-4 - - - - - - 3-22 22-3

165 - - - - - - - - 23-12 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 23-10 10-23

174 184 - - 1-3 0-1 - - - - - - - - 21-10 - - - - - - - - - - - 0-2 - - - - - - - - - - 3-2 - - - - - - - - - 2-1 - 24-11 - - - - - - 22-15 29-15 15-22 15-29

2007-08 Team Results DATE 11/11/07 11/25/07 11/25/07 1/11/08 1/11/08 1/12/08 1/12/08 1/19/08 1/26/08 1/27/08 2/1/08 2/3/08 2/9/08 2/15/08 2/16/08 2/24/08

OPPONENT SCORE Appalachian St. W, 21-16 at Drexel W, 21-17 at #23 Penn L, 5-26 W, 17-16 Oregon St. 1 #23 Old Dominion 1 L, 3-30 North Dakota St. 1 W, 22-13 L, 12-21 Kent St. 1 at #21 Mayland* L, 8-33 North Carolina* L, 12-22 W, 18-16 Virginia* 2 Ohio W, 28-14 UNC Greensboro L, 17-20 at #19 Chattanooga L, 10-26 at NC State* L, 19-21 at Duke* W, 22-18 at #19 Old Dominion L, 9-26

* - denotes ACC Match 1 - Virginia Duals (Hampton, Va.) 2 - Rumble on the River (Glen Allen, Va.)

Kevin O’Connor

Records by Weight

Tommy Spellman

197 Hwt. - - - 5-4 - - - - - - 6-1 - - - - - - 18-11 - 0-3 - - 9-8 - - - - - - - 14-12 24-15 12-14 15-24

2007-08 Tournament Results East Stroudsburg Open Nov. 17 • East Stroudsburg, Pa. Matt Epperly • 1st at 165 pounds Cody Gardner • 1st at 285 pounds Tommy Spellman • 1st at 184 pounds David Marone • 2nd at 285 pounds Las Vegas Invitational Dec. 1-2 • Las Vegas, Nev. Eric Decker • 7th at 174 pounds Southern Scuffle Dec. 29-30 • Greensboro, N.C. Tommy Spellman • 5th at 184 pounds Chris Diaz • 6th at 141 pounds Eric Decker • 7th at 165 pounds Justin Staylor • 7th at 125 pounds ACC Championships March 8 • College Park, Md. D.J. Bruce • 3rd at 197 pounds Eric Decker • 3rd at 174 pounds Matt Epperly • 1st at 165 David Marone • 2nd at 285 pounds Tommy Spellman • 3rd at 184 pounds


ACC Championships

HOKIES HOST ACC TOURNAMENT Virginia Tech will host the 2009 ACC Wrestling Championships on March 7. Catch some of the best collegiate wrestling action in the region when 60 wrestlers converge on Blacksburg and Cassell Coliseum in an effort to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Tickets: Adults - $10 Students (with any college ID) - $5 Youth - $5

Matt Epperly

Schedule: First round Semifinals Semifinals Consolations Consolations Finals Finals

11:00 a.m. 1:00 p.m. 3:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

17


The Hokies’ Record Book Team Records

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

Season Wins Dual Wins Dual Team Wins Major Decisions Technical Falls Falls Points

256 128 16 38 17 63 740

2004-05 2004-05 2004-05 1979-80 2000-01 2004-05 1979-80

David Hoffman is one of five four-time NCAA qualifiers from Virginia Tech.

State College, Pa. Evanston, Ill. Norman, Okla. Princeton, N.J. Iowa City, Iowa Norman, Okla. Ames, Iowa Chapel Hill, N.C. Cleveland, Ohio St. Louis, Mo. Iowa City, Iowa Albany, N.Y. Kansas City, Mo. St. Louis, Mo. St. Louis, Mo. Oklahoma City, Okla. Auburn Hills, Mich.

T-67th 1.0 pt T-40th 2.0 pts T-51st 1.0 pt T-66th .5 pts T-73rd 1.0 pt T-60th 1.5 pts T-62nd 1.0 pt T-47th 4.5 pts T-48th 7.0 pts 19th 27.5 pts T-23rd 19.0 pts 44th 6.5 pts T-46th 4.0 pts 41st 7.5 pts T-42nd 7.0 pts 29th 18.5 pts T-60th 1.0 pt

ACC Tournament Team Results

2005 2006 2007 2008

Second Fifth Fifth Fourth

ACC Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler NCAA Championships Participants

Alfred Carson Armand Taylor John Wright Sherman Vandevender (0-1) Mike Grandstaff (2-4) Bob Bowman (0-1) Brandon Glover (3-1) Joe Heller (0-2) Bob Hatcher (0-1) Pat Rheam (0-1) Bill Pfeffer (1-2) Chuck Broderick (0-2) Mark Miller (0-2) Rick Stageberg (1-2) Jason Diggs (0-1) Chuck Broderick (0-2) Mark Miller (0-5) Rob Fair (1-2) Dante Winslow (0-3) Josh Feldman (7-6) John Dattalo (2-4) Eric Hall (4-6) Chris Martin (7-8) Sean Gray (13-7) David Inkman (0-2) Mike Akers (0-2) Scott Justus (8-8) David Hoffman (10-9) Chris Stith (1-2) Reed Carpenter (0-2) Steve Borja (1-2) Tyde Prater (3-2) Mike Faust (5-4) Justin Staylor (0-2) Jon Bonilla-Bowman (0-2) Eric Decker (1-2) Matt Epperly (0-2)

1956 1956 1956 1956, 58 1959, 61, 62 1959 1959 1958, 59 1962 1974 1977 1979 1978, 79, 80 1984 1983 1979 1978, 79, 80 1986 1991, 93 1991, 92, 93 1996, 97 1997, 98, 00, 01 1997, 98, 00, 01 1998, 00, 01, 02 1998 2000 2000, 01, 02, 03 2002, 04, 05, 06 2004 2005 2005 2005 2005, 06 2006 2007 2007 2008

NCAA Championships Results 1956 1959 1962 1967

18

1968 1970 1977 1984 1986 1992 1993 1994 1998 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Stillwater, Okla. Iowa City, Iowa Stillwater, Okla. Kent, Ohio

T-19th T-19th T-30th T-44th

5.0 pts 7.0 pts 2.0 pts 2.0 pts

Jon Bonilla-Bowman 2007 (co) Matt Epperly 2008

66.5 pts 44.5 pts 34.5 pts 40.0 pts

157 lbs. 165 lbs.

ACC Tournament Individual Champions Tyde Prater Mike Faust David Hoffman Justin Staylor Jon Bonilla-Bowman Matt Epperly

2005 2005, 2006 2006 2006 2007 2008

ACC Wrestler of the Year Mike Faust

2006

EWL Tournament Team Results

1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004

Eighth Third Fifth Seventh Seventh Eighth

EWL Coach of the Year Keith Mourlam

149 lbs. HWT 141 lbs. 125 lbs. 157 lbs. 165 lbs. HWT

5.5 pts 91.0 pts 85.0 pts 48.5 pts 44.5 pts 44.5 pts 1999-00

EWL Tournament Individual Champions Chris Martin Sean Gray Sean Gray Sean Gray Scott Justus

1999-00 1999-00 2000-01 2001-02 2001-02

CAA Tournament Team Results

1991-92 1992-93 1993-94 1994-95 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98

Fourth First Fifth Fourth Fourth Fourth First

CAA Coach of the Year Jerry Cheynet Keith Mourlam

165 141 141 141 184

43 pts 63 pts 38.75 pts 42.5 pts 48.5 pts 61.0 pts 93.5 pts 1992-93 1997-98

CAA Tournament Individual Champions Josh Feldman Dante Winslow John Dattalo John Dattalo Eric Hall Sean Gray David Inkman

1992, 93, 94 1995 1996 1997 1997, 98 1998 1998

CAA Wrestler of the Year John Dattalo

1997

CAA Rookie of the Year Eric Hall Sean Gray

1997 1998

HWT 158 lbs. 177 lbs. 167 lbs. 158 lbs. 134 lbs. 142 lbs.

167 lbs. 158 lbs. 134 lbs.

SoCon Tournament Team Championships 1954-55 1955-56 1957-58 1959-60 1960-61 1961-62 1962-63

42.0 points 82.0 points 85.0 points 74.0 points 73.0 points 71.0 points 73.0 points

SoCon Tournament Individual Champions

Al Carson Jim Lock Armand Taylor Joe Heller Armand Taylor John Wright Sherman Vandevender Sherman Vandevender Brandon Glover Tom Westfall Don Vaughan Tom Burrus Bob Bowman Buddy Sanders Mike Grandstaff Mike Grandstaff Frank Kirk Bob Robinson Gene Breen Don Ellerman Bob Hatcher Ernie Venturino Charles Callahan Don Marks Henry Seymour Mickey Jarrell Ken Cole Ken Jenkins

1955 1955 1955, 57 1956, 58, 59, 60 1956 1956 1956, 59 1957, 58 1957, 58, 59, 60 1957, 58 1957 1958 1959, 60 1960 1961 1962 1961 1961 1962 1962, 63, 64 1962 1962, 63 1963 1963 1964, 65 1965 1965 1965

130 lbs. HWT 137 lbs. 137 lbs. 147 lbs. 167 lbs. 157 lbs. 147 lbs. 130 lbs. 123 lbs. 167 lbs. 177 lbs. 123 lbs. 177 lbs. 123 lbs. 130 lbs. 177 lbs. 137 lbs. HWT 137 lbs. 157 lbs. 123 lbs. 157 lbs. HWT 123 lbs. 130 lbs. 137 lbs. 167 lbs.

NCAA Eastern Regional Team Results 2nd Place 3rd Place 4th Place 5th Place

1979, 1980 1973, 1978 1977 1981, 1982

NCAA Eastern Regional Individual Champions Bill Pfeffer Mark Miller Chuck Broderick Jason Diggs Rick Stageberg

1977 1978, 79, 80 1979 1983 1984


The Hokies’ Record Book Virginia State Championships 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place

2000, 2002 1979, 1980, 1998 1983

(126) (HWT) (190) (158) (134) (158) (150) (126) (167) (167) (150) (158) (HWT) (142) (167) (118) (197) (HWT) (141) (174) (165) (125) (133) (184) (197)

1976 1978, 1980 1979 1979 1980 1982 1982 1983 1984 1985 1992 1992, 1994 1994 1996 1997 1997 2000 2000 2000, 2002 2000 2000 2002 2002 2002 2002

Virginia State Coach of the Year Keith Mourlam

2000, 2002

Career Individual Wins 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 12.

Sean Gray (1997-02) Chris Martin (1996-01) David Hoffman (2001-06) Eric Hall (1996-01) Scott Justus (1998-03) Rob Fair (1981-85) Jason Diggs (1979-83) Steve Borja (2002-07) Josh Feldman (1989-94) Dante Winslow (1989-94) Matt Mogel (1992-96) Mark Miller (1976-80) Bill Aschenbach (1988-92)

133-19-0 126-25-0 116-32-0 113-39-0 98-31-0 93-29-6 88-32-2 86-46-0 85-23-1 84-29-2 84-39-1 82-24-0 82-44-1

Scott Justus

14. 15.

Chris Taylor (1979-83) Jeff Lally (1989-92) Reed Carpenter (2001-05)

1. 3. 4. 5.

Chris Martin (1996-01) Sean Gray (1997-02) David Hoffman (2001-06) Eric Hall (1996-01) Baird Kilpatrick (1987-91)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 9. 12.

John Dattalo (1996-97) Eric Hall (1996-97) Sean Gray (1999-00) Mike Faust (2005-06) Rob Fair (1984-85) Chris Martin (1999-00) David Hoffman (2001-05) Steve Borja (2004-05) Chris Martin (1996-97) Sean Gray (1997-98) Chris Martin (1997-98) Sean Gray (2001-02) Chris Stith (2003-04)

Career Dual Meet Wins

Single-Season Wins

Years (1997-02) (1995-97) (2004-06) (1996-01) (2001-05) (1989-94) (1976-80) (1998-03) (1981-85) (1996-01) (1989-94) (1979-83) (1987-91) (1992-96) (1986-90)

Baird Kilpatrick (1989-90) Mike Faust (2004-05) John Dattalo (1996-97) David Hoffman (2001-05) Eric Hall (1996-97) Chris Martin (1996-97) Steve Borja (2004-05) Bill Aschenbach (1989-90) Josh Feldman (1991-92) Sean Gray (1999-00) Sean Gray (2000-01) Mark Miller (1978-79) Bo O’Dea (1990-91)

Pct. .875 .857 .838 .824 .784 .784 .773 .760 .750 .743 .739 .730 .728 .681 .677

19-1-0 19-1-0 18-0-0 18-2-0 17-1-0 17-1-0 17-3-0 17-4-0 16-0-1 16-1-0 16-0-0 16-1-0 16-3-0

77-38-1 73-39-1 73-51-0 58-5-0 58-3-0 55-10-0 51-11-0 49-11-6 43-6-0 41-10-0 40-3-0 37-6-0 35-3-0 34-5-0 33-7-0 33-10-0 32-8-0 32-8-0 32-9-0 31-5-0 31-13-0

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 8. 10.

Sean Gray (1998-2002) David Hoffman (2004-06) Steve Brown (1973-77) Mark Miller (1976-80) Chris Martin (1996-2001) Josh Feldman (1989-94) Justin Staylor (2004-08) Scott Justus (1998-03) Baird Kilpatrick (1987-91) Eric Hall (1996-2001)

45 37 29 26 25 23 23 22 22 21

Single-Season Pin Leaders 1. 2. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 14.

Steve Ratley (2006-07) Sean Gray (2001-02) David Hoffman (2001-05) Sean Gray (1997-98) Justin Staylor (2004-05) Steve Borja (2004-05) Steve Brown (1974-75) Bill Pfeffer (1979-80) John Dattalo (1996-97) Eric Hall (2000-01) Sean Gray (1999-2000) David Hoffman (2001-02) Steve Brown (1976-77) Seven tied with eight pins

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

18 15 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 9 9 9 9

Fastest Fall

9 seconds, Tomas Ovalle vs. Chris Cottrell (Navy) Nov. 21, 2004 (197 pounds)

Top 15 Single-Season Winning Percentages

(at least two seasons and 60 wins) Name Sean Gray John Dattalo Mike Faust Chris Martin David Hoffman Josh Feldman Mark Miller Scott Justus Rob Fair Eric Hall Dante Winslow Jason Diggs Baird Kilpatrick Matt Mogel Bo O’Dea

1. 3. 5. 9.

31-10-0 30-2-0 30-3-0 30-7-0

Career Pin Leaders

Top 15 Career Winning Percentages 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

David Hoffman (2005-06) Scott Justus (2001-02) Sean Gray (2000-01) Mike Faust (2004-05)

Single-Season Dual Meet Wins

Virginia State Champions Steve Brown Bill Pfeffer Mark Miller Chuck Broderick Chuck Taylor Joe Oleszewski Rick Stageberg Richard Coates Vic Amada Rob Fair Matt Burlingame Dante Winslow Josh Feldman David Inkman John Dattalo Mike Mercado Christian Basnight Doug Easlick Sean Gray Eric Hall Chris Martin Geoff Head David Hoffman Scott Justus Canaan Prater

15.

(at least 24 wins) Record 133-19-0 72-12-0 67-13-0 126-27-0 116-32-0 85-23-1 82-24-0 98-31-0 93-29-6 113-39-0 84-29-2 88-32-2 72-25-6 84-39-1 66-31-2

Sean Gray is Virginia Tech’s all-time leader in career winning percentage.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15.

Name Scott Justus Sean Gray Dante Winslow Rob Fair Sean Gray John Dattalo Chris Martin Bill Pfeffer Sean Gray Bob Pincus Josh Feldman David Hoffman John Dattalo Mike Faust Mike Faust

Year (2001-02) (1999-00) (1993-94) (1984-85) (2000-01) (1996-97) (1999-00) (1979-80) (2001-02) (1973-74) (1991-92) (2004-05) (1995-96) (2005-06) (2004-05)

Pct. .938 .930 .929 .921 .909 .878 .872 .871 .861 .857 .843 .825 .829 .822 .811

Record 30-2-0 40-3-0 26-2-0 35-3-0 30-3-0 43-6-0 34-5-0 27-4-0 31-5-0 24-4-0 29-5-1 33-7-0 29-6-0 37-8-0 30-7-0

19


The Hokies’ All-Americans Brandon GLOVER 1959 All-American

Brandon Glover

130 pounds

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

Site: Iowa City, Iowa

Brandon Glover, from Norfolk, Va., became Tech’s first All-American in wrestling when he took third place in the 130-pound weight class at the 1959 NCAA Championships in Iowa City. A four-time Southern Conference champion (1957-60), Glover went undefeated in his career except in the semifinals of those championships. For his career, the Granby High graduate went 26-0 in career dual meets and was a 1988 inductee into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame.

Josh FELDMAN 1994 All-American

Josh Feldman

Heavyweight

Site: Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Josh Feldman became Tech’s second All-American in wrestling when he took seventh place in the 1994 NCAA Championships at the heavyweight division in Chapel Hill, N.C. A three-time Colonial Athletic Association champion (1992-94), the native of Dunwoody, Ga., is currently fifth all-time at Tech in career pins with 23 and sixth in all-time wins. The graduate of Dunwoody High posted a career record of 85-23-1 for the Hokies.

Chris MARTIN 2000 All-American 165 pounds

Site: St. Louis, Missouri

Chris Martin became Virginia Tech’s third All-American in wrestling when he took fourth place at the 2000 NCAA Championships at 165 pounds in St. Louis. Also an Eastern Wrestling League Champion in 2000, the native of Norfolk, Va., posted a career record of 126-25, second-best all-time at Tech. He is tied for the career dual meet wins mark at Tech with 58 victories and is fifth all-time at Tech in career pins with 25. The graduate of Granby High is also fourth in career winning percentage, finishing with a .824 clip.

20

Chris Martin


The Hokies’ All-Americans Sean GRAY 2000, 2001 All-American

Sean Gray

141 pounds

Site: St. Louis, Missouri (2000) Iowa City, Iowa (2001)

2 0 0 8 • 0 9

Sean Gray became Tech’s first two-time All-American in wrestling when he finished seventh at 141 pounds at the 2001 NCAA Championships in Iowa City. He became Tech’s fourth All-American when he placed sixth at the 2000 Championships in St. Louis. The Flemington, N.J., native was a three-time EWL Champion and holds the school record for career wins (133), career winning percentage (.875), pins in a season (15) and career pins (45). For his career, the graduate of Blair Academy posted a career record of 133-19. He also finished his career tied for the most career dual meet wins at Tech with 58 victories.

W R E S T L I N G

Mike FAUST Mike Faust

2006 All-American Heavyweight

Site: Oklahoma City, Okla.

Mike Faust became Virginia Tech’s fifth All-American in wrestling when he took fifth place at the 2006 NCAA Championships at the heavyweight class in Oklahoma City. Also an Atlantic Coast Conference Champion in both 2005 and 2006, the native of Baltimore, Md., posted a two-year career record of 67-13. Combined with his two years at the University of Pennsylvania before he transfered, he concluded his collegiate career with 99 wins. That mark of 67-13 is good for a winning percentage of .838, third-best ever all-time at Virginia Tech. Faust, the 2006 ACC Wrestler of the Year, went 5-2 at the 2006 NCAA Championships, wrestling four overtime matches, including three that went all six overtimes. Competing in over 61 minutes, he wrestled the most minutes of any wrestler at the 2006 event. The graduate of Gilman Prep was also named an Academic All-American.

David HOFFMAN 2006 All-American

David Hoffman

141 pounds

Site: Oklahoma City, Okla.

David Hoffman became Virginia Tech’s sixth All-American in wrestling when he took eighth place at the 2006 NCAA Championships at 141 pounds in Oklahoma City. Also an Atlantic Coast Conference Champion in 2006, the native of Spring City, Pa., posted a career record of 116-32. The 116 wins are the third-most in Virginia Tech wrestling history. He also racked up 37 career pins, the secondmost in Tech history. Hoffman, a Hill School graduate, dropped his opening match at the 2006 NCAA Championships before bouncing back to win four straight, including a last-second win, to earn All-America honors. Needing a win to assure himself of a top-eight finish, Hoffman trailed No. 5 seed Josh Churella of Michigan 6-5 with five seconds left in the match. With the two neutral and in the middle of the mat, Hoffman shot in and got a takedown as the horn sounded to pick up a dramatic win and seal his place in Tech wrestling history as an All-American.

21


Year-by-Year Results

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

Year 2007-08 2006-07 2005-06 2004-05 2003-04 2002-03 2001-02 2000-01 1999-00 1998-99 1997-98 1996-97 1995-96 1994-95 1993-94 1992-93 1991-92 1990-91 1989-90 1988-89 1987-88 1986-87 1985-86 1984-85 1983-84 1982-83 1981-82 1980-81 1979-80 1978-79 1977-78 1976-77

Record 7-9 6-12 1-16-0 16-4-0 6-12-0 0-13-0 5-10-0 8-7-1 10-7-0 2-13-0 9-4-0 10-8-0 6-9-0 6-10-0 6-7-0 9-1-0 9-7-1 9-12-0 14-7-0 12-7-1 7-7-0 8-6-0 4-10-0 8-10-0 6-13-1 2-9-1 5-15-0 11-5-1 14-4-0 14-5-1 11-5-0 9-5-0

Coach Dresser Dresser Brands Brands Mourlam Mourlam Mourlam Mourlam Mourlam Mourlam Mourlam Mourlam Cheynet Cheynet Cheynet Cheynet Cheynet Cheynet Cheynet Cheynet Cheynet Cheynet Cheynet Cheynet Cheynet Cheynet Cheynet Cheynet Cheynet Cheynet Cheynet Cheynet

1975-76 1974-75 1973-74 1972-73 1971-72 1970-71 1969-70 1968-69 1967-68 1966-67 1965-66 1964-65 1963-64 1962-63 1961-62 1960-61 1959-60 1958-59

12-4-0 6-9-0 5-9-1 4-9-0 1-9-0 3-7-0 4-15-0 7-5-1 8-4-0 9-1-0 7-2-0 5-6-0 4-5-1 2-7-1 7-2-0 6-3-0 4-1-0 6-1-0

Cheynet Cheynet Teske Teske Teske Teske Teske Teske Teske Teske Teske Teske Teske Teske Teske Teske Teske Teske

Jerry Cheynet

All-Time Virginia Tech Wrestling Record (85 seasons): 460-475-18 (.492)

1957-58 1956-57 1955-56 1954-55 1953-54 1952-53 1951-52 1950-51 1949-50 1948-49 1947-48 1946-47 1943-46 1942-43 1941-42 1940-41 1939-40 1938-39

6-1-0 Teske 7-0-0 Teske 7-0-0 Teske 8-0-0 Teske 1-6-1 Teske 6-1-1 Teske 5-8-0 Teske 4-5-0 Learned 7-4-0 Learned 3-4-1 Learned 1-7-0 Altman 0-6-0 Altman no team for three years 1-6-1 Altman 4-3-0 Altman 1-5-0 Altman 2-4-0 Altman 1-5-0 Tilson

1937-38 1936-37 1935-36 1934-35 1933-34 1932-33 1931-32 1930-31 1929-30 1928-29 1927-28 1926-27 1925-26 1924-25 1923-24 1922-23 1921-22 1920-21

2-3-0 0-4-1 1-4-0 2-3-0 2-3-0 2-3-0 3-2-0 2-3-0 3-4-0 3-4-0 6-1-0 6-0-1 3-3-0 6-0-0 2-2-1 1-2-0 2-0-0 0-1-0

Tilson Tilson Tilson Tilson Tilson Herring Herring Herring Herring Anderson Herring Herring Herring Herring Herring Cubbage Sutton Herring

All-Time Coaching Records (by wins) Record 188-167-6 122-102-6 50-74-1 33-19-2 17-20-0 14-13-1 13-21-0 9-31-1 8-22-1 3-4-0 2-0-0 1-2-0

Coach Years Jerry Cheynet 22 Frank Teske 23 Keith Mourlam 8 George Herring 10 Tom Brands 2 Allan Learned 3 Kevin Dresser 2 William Altman 6 C.E. Tilson 6 G.C. Anderson 1 S.B. Sutton 1 Ben Cubbage 1

Years Coached Win % 1974-96 .529 1951-74 .543 1996-97 .404 1920-21, 24-28, 30-33 .630 2004-2006 .459 1948-51 .518 2006- .382 1939-48 .232 1933-39 .274 1928-29 .429 1921-22 1.000 1922-23 .333

Best Year 14-4/1979-80 8-0/1954-55 10-7/1999-00 6-0/1924-25 16-4/2004-05 7-4/1949-50 7-9 4-3/1941-42 2-3/1934,35,38 3-4 2-0 1-2

VIRGINIA TECH SPORTS HALL OF FAME The Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame was established in 1982 to honor and preserve the memory of athletes, coaches, administrators and staff members who have made outstanding contributions to athleticss at the university. A total 141 individuals have been inducted into the Tech Hall of Fame during special ceremonies held each fall. Some of the following were inducted for other sports, but all have ties to Virginia Tech wrestling.

MILTON ANDES

(inducted in 1994) A 125-pound wrestling champion of the 1920s who went on to fame as a National AAU champion.

GENE BREEN

(inducted in 2002) A heavyweight champion of the Southern Conference in the 1960s.

22

BRANDON GLOVER

FRANK TESKE

(inducted in 1988) An All-America wrestler, he was a four-time SoCon champion who lost only one match in his career.

(inducted in 1995) He led Tech to seven Southern Conference wrestling championships in a 23-year coaching stint.

DON OAKES

ARMAND TAYLOR

(inducted in 2001) A wrestler for Tech in the late 1950s who went on to a successful career as a pro football player.

(inducted in 2005) A three-time SoCon champion who helped Tech to a 19th-place finish in the 1956 NCAA Tournament.

SHERMAN VANDEVENDER

(inducted in 2001) A four-time SoCon wrestling champion who advanced to the final Olympic tryouts in 1956.

KEN WHITLEY

(inducted in 1990) A dynamic football star and heavyweight wrestler of the 1960s.


Virginia Tech vs. All Opponents Team Record American 9-4-0 Anderson 4-1-0 Appalachian State 13-13-2 Army 0-1-0 Ashland 1-0-0 Auburn 8-0-0 Ball State 0-2-0 Bloomsburg 3-4-0 Brockport 2-1-0 Brown 0-1-0 Cal-Davis 0-1-0 California (PA) 2-0-0 Camp Lejeune 1-1-0 Campbell 6-2-0 Carson-Newman 12-10-1 Central Florida 1-0-0 Central Michigan 0-1-0 Clarion 1-5-0 Clemson 0-1-0 Cleveland State 1-6-0 Cincinnati 1-0-0 Colgate 2-1-0 Coppin State 2-0-0 Cornell 0-1-0 Cumberland (KY) 1-0-0 Cumberland (TN) 1-0-0 Davidson 29-3-1 Dayton 1-0-0 Delaware 1-0-0 Delaware State 2-0-0 Drexel 2-0-0 Duke 18-12-1 1-0-0 Duquesne East Carolina 3-0-0 Eastern Illinois 1-0-0 Eastern Michigan 0-1-0 Edinboro 0-6-1 Elon 1-0-0 Ferrum 4-0-0 Findlay 1-0-0 Florida International 1-0-0 Franklin & Marshall 0-1-0 Furman 2-0-0 Gannon 1-0-0 Gardner-Webb 5-0-0 George Mason 5-9-0 George Washington 2-0-0 Georgia 3-1-0 Georgia Tech 5-1-0 Hampden-Sydney 1-0-0 Harvard 1-0-0 Hofstra 0-1-0 Howard 3-0-0 Illinois State 0-1-0 Indiana 0-4-0 Iowa 0-2-0 Iowa State 0-3-0 Ithaca 1-0-0 James Madison 12-9-0 Kansas State 0-1-0 Kent State 0-2-0 Lafayette 1-0-0 Lehigh 0-1-0

First 1080 1995 1947 1991 1997 1959 1972 1999 1988 2003 2006 1984 1950 1982 1979 1981 2005 1999 1987 1972 1979 1973 1990 1992 2005 2004 1924 1989 1989 1990 1992 1927 1996 1979 2005 1996 1998 1986 1985 2000 1978 1982 1989 1989 2000 1976 1988 1966 1966 1925 2000 2003 1995 1973 1972 1968 2003 1990 1976 1941 2004 1975 2000

Last 2005 2006 2007 1991 1997 1967 1982 2007 1996 2003 2006 1995 1951 2004 2003 1981 2005 2004 1987 2004 1979 1977 1992 1992 2005 2004 2004 1989 1989 1991 2007 2008 1996 1981 2005 1996 2007 1986 1988 2000 1978 1982 1990 1989 2006 1990 1989 1974 1975 1925 2000 2003 2001 1973 2006 2005 2007 1990 2006 1941 2008 1975 2000

Team Record Liberty 6-2-0 Livingstone 1-2-0 Lock Haven 1-6-0 Longwood 7-1-0 Loyola 1-0-0 Marshall 9-3-0 Maryland 5-12-0 Maryville 3-0-0 Massachusetts 1-0-0 Michigan 0-2-0 Middle Tennessee State 2-0-0 Millersville 1-2-0 Minnesota 0-3-0 Missouri 0-1-0 Morehead State 1-0-0 Morgan State 4-3-0 Navy 0-13-0 Nebraska 0-2-0 N.N. Apprentice 6-1-0 Norfolk State 2-0-0 North Carolina 27-31-2 North Carolina A&T 1-0-0 NC Greensboro 5-2-0 NC Preflight School 0-1-0 North Carolina State 18-31-1 North Dakota State 1-0-0 Northern Iowa 0-2-0 Notre Dame 2-0-0 Old Dominion 9-21-0 Ohio 2-8-0 Ohio State 1-8-0 Oregon State 1-0-0 Oswego State 0-1-0 Pembroke State 6-4-0 Penn 0-1-0 Penn State 0-3-0 Pfeiffer 1-0-0 Pittsburgh 0-9-0

First 1977 1986 1992 1985 1987 1955 1942 1976 1984 2000 1975 1986 2001 2004 1976 1980 1928 2006 1939 1983 1924 1982 1995 1943 1926 2008 2005 1979 1966 1990 1964 2008 1984 1974 2007 1962 1967 1965

Last 2006 1988 2004 1987 1987 1982 2008 1977 1984 2001 1979 1992 2005 2004 1976 1996 1994 2006 1988 1984 2008 1982 2008 1943 2008 2008 2005 1981 2008 2008 2006 2008 1984 1986 2007 1965 1967 2004

Team Record Pitt-Johnstown 0-3-0 Princeton 1-1-0 Purdue 0-1-0 Quantico Marines 2-0-0 Richmond 3-1-0 Rider 1-0-0 Salisbury State 3-0-0 Shippensburg 2-2-0 Slippery Rock 2-3-0 South Carolina State 2-0-0 Southern Connecticut 1-0-0 Stetson 1-0-0 SUNY Binghamton 0-1-0 Tennessee 1-8-0 Tenn.-Chattanooga 1-8-0 The Citadel 9-2-0 Towson 2-0-0 Troy 1-0-0 University of the South 1-0-0 Virginia 31-26-1 VCU 6-0-0 VMI 25-35-4 Virginia State 2-0-0 Wake Forest 1-0-0 Washington & Lee 15-22-3 West Chester State 1-1-0 West Virginia 6-11-0 Western Maryland 1-0-0 William & Mary 5-8-0 1-5-0 Wilkes Wisconsin 1-0-0 Wyoming 1-0-0

First 2001 1978 1965 1949 1974 2000 1978 1981 1988 1985 1979 1984 1975 1973 1974 1950 1980 1967 1975 1922 1969 1923 1988 1957 1921 1976 1951 1928 1965 1977 1968 2007

Last 2005 1991 1965 1950 1980 2000 1987 1981 1996 1988 1979 1984 1975 1985 2008 1999 1981 1967 1975 2008 1981 2004 1989 1957 1925 1981 2004 1928 1995 1988 1968 2007

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

• Virginia Tech had no wrestling squad from 1943-46 due to World War II • No results or incomplete data exists for the 1961-62, 1962-63, 1969-70, 1970-71 and 1971-72 seasons

D.J. Bruce and the Hokies downed Ohio University last season.

23


NCAA Excitement

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

Virginia Tech wrestlers will be working this year toward competing in the NCAA Wrestling Championships at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo. They’ll be looking to join other Tech grapplers who have made their marks on college wrestling’s grandest stage. Sean Gray 1998 •2000 • 20 01 • 2002

With the new NCAA qualifying system in place, the Hokies – and the rest of the ACC – will be looking to qualify more wrestlers this season.

Matt Epperly 2008

Reed Carpenter 2005

David Hoffman 2002 • 2004 • 2005 • 200 Mike Faust 2005 • 2006

Steve Borja 2005

Tyde Prater 2005

24

6


The ACC

The Tradition

Consistency. It is the mark of true excellence in any endeavor. However, in today’s intercollegiate athletics, competition has become so balanced and so competitive that it is virtually impossible to maintain a high level of consistency. Yet the Atlantic Coast Conference has defied the odds. Now in its 56th year of competition, the ACC has long enjoyed the reputation as one of the strongest and most competitive intercollegiate conferences in the nation. And that is not mere conjecture, the numbers support it. Since the league’s inception in 1953, ACC schools have captured 109 national champion-ships, including 57 in women’s competition and 52 in men’s. In addition, NCAA individual titles have gone to ACC student-athletes 145 times in men’s competition and 92 times in women’s action. The sport of wrestling has played an integral role in the ACC’s Tradition of Excellence since the league’s inception in 1953. In the 55-year history of ACC wrestling, nine schools have sponsored the sport including Clemson, Duke, Georgia Tech, Maryland, North Carolina, NC State, Virginia, Virginia Tech and Wake Forest. The Terrapins lead all schools with 21 conference championships, the first 20 in succession from 1954-1973 and the 21st last season. North Carolina is second with 17 ACC titles. NC State has been crowned league champs 14 times, while Virginia has laid claim to three conference titles. Entering its 56th season, six schools, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, NC State, Virginia and Virginia Tech, will vie for the title of ACC Champion. At the NCAA Championship, ACC schools have registered 12 top 10 finishes including a league-high five top 10 finishes by the University of North Carolina. The Tar Heels posted the league’s best finish at the national tournament with a tie for fifth place in 1982. NC State owns four top 10 finishes in school history with a team-best seventh-place showing in 1993. Clemson, Maryland and Virginia have each finished in the top 10 once. The ACC has garnered 14 individual national champions including one threetime champion and one two-time champion. T.J. Jaworsky of North Carolina captured three straight titles at 134 pounds from 1993 to 1995, including the 1994 title in Chapel Hill at the Dean E. Smith Center. Jaworsky was also named the NCAA Championship Meet Most Outstanding Wrestler in 1995. Clemson’s Scott Henson won back-to-back titles at 118 pounds in 1993 and 1994. At the 1988 NCAA Championship at Iowa State University, Scott Turner of NC State was named Most Outstanding Wrestler after capturing the individual title at 150 pounds. North Carolina head coach C.D. Mock, now in his fourth season with the Tar Heels, won Carolina’s first individual title back in 1982 at 134 pounds. Bob Kopnisky of Maryland won the league’s first individual national title back in 1965 at 157 pounds. UNC leads all league schools with five NCAA individual champions. NC State has claimed four individual titles, while Clemson has won three and Maryland one. In addition to rising back to the top of the ACC heap in 2008, Maryland led the conference in NCAA competition with six wrestlers competing and a No. 21 overall finish. ACC Wrestler of the Year Hudson Taylor set the pace for the Terps in the 197-pound weight class with a third-place national finish at the 2008 Championships, held March 20-22 at St. Louis. Virginia Tech’s Matt Epperly earned ACC Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler honors at 165 pounds.

2007-08 in Review

The 2007-08 academic year concluded with league teams capturing four national team titles and 12 individual NCAA crowns. In all, the ACC has won 43 national team titles over the last 12 years. The ACC has won two or more NCAA titles in 26 of the past 28 years. A total of 140 ACC teams placed in NCAA post-season competition in 200708. League teams compiled a 119-69 (.633) mark against non-conference opponents in NCAA championship competition. In addition, the ACC had 154 student-athletes earn first team All-America honors this past year. Overall, the league had 258 first, second or third team All-Americans. In addition, the ACC produced 10 national Player of the Year and five national Coach of the Year honorees.

The Championships

The conference will conduct championship competition in 25 sports during the 2007-08

academic year - 12 for THE MARCH TO THE ARCH men and 13 for women. The first ACC The six ACC schools that sponsor wrestling championship was held as a varsity sport – Duke, North Carolina, in swimming on Feb. 25, North Carolina State, Maryland, Virginia and 1954. The conference Virginia Tech – will convene on the campus of did not conduct Virginia Tech on Saturday, March 7, 2008 for championships in cross the annual ACC Championship to determine the country, wrestling or team and individual champions in the Atlantic tennis during the first Coast Conference. year. This year, the NCAA has a new qualifying The 12 sports for men system in place in which there’s no set are football, cross country, number of qualifiers in weight classes or from s o c c e r, b a s ke t b a l l , conferences going into the season, but the ACC Championships will still have a heavy hand in swimming, indoor and determining who will head to the 2009 NCAA outdoor track, wrestling, Wrestling Championships, held on March 19-21 baseball, tennis, golf and at St. Louis’ Scottrade Center. lacrosse. Fencing, which was started in 1971, was discontinued in 1981. Women’s sports were initiated in 1977 with the first championship meet being held in tennis at Wake Forest University. Championships for women are currently conducted in cross country, field hockey, soccer, basketball, swimming, indoor and outdoor track, tennis, golf, lacrosse, softball and rowing with volleyball deciding its championship by regular season play.

A History

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

The Atlantic Coast Conference was founded on May 8, 1953, at the Sedgefield Inn near Greensboro, N.C., with seven charter members - Clemson, Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, South Carolina and Wake Forest - drawing up the conference by-laws. The withdrawal of seven schools from the Southern Conference came early on the morning of May 8, 1953, during the Southern Conference’s annual spring meeting. On June 14, 1953, the seven members met in Raleigh, N.C., where a set of bylaws was adopted and the name became officially the Atlantic Coast Conference. Suggestions from fans for the name of the new conference appeared in the region’s newspapers prior to the meeting in Raleigh. Some of the names suggested were: Dixie, Mid South, Mid Atlantic, East Coast, Seaboard, Colonial, Tobacco, Blue-Gray, Piedmont, Southern Seven and the Shoreline. Duke’s Eddie Cameron recommended that the name of the conference be the Atlantic Coast Conference, and the motion was passed unanimously. The meeting concluded with each member institution assessed $200.00 to pay for conference expenses. On Dec. 4, 1953, conference officials met again at Sedgefield and officially admitted the University of Virginia as the league’s eighth member. The first, and only, withdrawal of a school from the ACC came on June 30, 1971, when the University of South Carolina tendered its resignation. The ACC operated with seven members until April 3, 1978, when the Georgia Institute of Technology was admitted. The Atlanta school had withdrawn from the Southeastern Conference in January of 1964. The ACC expanded to nine members on July 1, 1991, with the addition of Florida State University. The conference expanded to 11 members on July 1, 2004, with the addition of the University of Miami and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. On Oct. 17, 2003, Boston College accepted an invitation to become the league’s 12th member starting July 1, 2005.

2007-08 National Championships Field Hockey................North Carolina Ice Hockey...................Boston College Men’s Soccer................Wake Forest Men’s Track & Field.......Florida State

25


NCAA Excitement

A Research University in Action 2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

Beginning in 1872 with 132 students and two programs of study, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, popularly known as Virginia Tech, has evolved into a comprehensive university of national and international prominence. With about 27,500 students in Blacksburg and about 2,500 other students statewide, the university produces world-class scholarship in a challenging academic environment. University tradition is firmly rooted in our motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), and our historic land-grant mission is brought to life through learning, discovery and engagement.

Learning

Virginia Tech’s challenging academic standards attract high-achieving students. Our eight colleges (Agriculture & Life Sciences, Architecture & Urban Studies, Engineering, Liberal Arts & Human Sciences, Natural Resources, Pamplin Business, Science and Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine) and Graduate School offer more degree programs – approximately 200 – than any other university in the state. Virginia Tech is one of the nation’s leaders in developing and using instructional technologies. More than 85 percent of our departments offer e-learning courses, which have attracted more than 100,000 enrollments since 1998. During this time, more than 700 different faculty members have offered more than 3,500 different courses.

Discovery

The university’s groundbreaking research transforms lives and communities. With annual research expenditures of nearly $367 million, Virginia Tech ranks among the top 55 research universities in the United States. The university, which has more than 100 research centers, also consistently ranks among the top institutions in industry-supported research and near the top 10 in the number of patents issued each year. The university’s nationally and internationally recognized faculty and motivated students are involved in more than 3,500 research projects in fields ranging from biotechnology to materials, from the environment and energy to food and human health and from transportation to computing information.

Engagement

As part of our outreach mission and in adherence to our motto, we serve and engage the citizens of the commonwealth, the nation and the world.

Beautiful Burruss Hall, located at the center of the Drillfield, houses the university’s administrative offices as well as undergraduate admissions. A 32 stone memorial, commemorating the victims of the 2007 tragedy, stands directly in front of Burruss.

26

Virginia Tech is involved in a multitude of economic and community development • Located in Blacksburg, Virginia p ro j e c t s. T he s e e f fo r t s • Eight colleges and Graduate School focus on education and the • 60 bachelor’s degree programs dissemination of knowledge • Approximately 140 master’s and to the global society in which doctoral degree programs we live. • About 30,000 students, most full-time Professionals, organizations • 16:1 student-faculty ratio and communities tap Virginia • Main campus includes more than 125 Tech’s vast resources, expertise, buildings, 2,600 acres, and an airport and research results through • Computing and communications hundreds of continuing complex for worldwide information and professional education access programs and five campus • Ranks 55th in university research centers located throughout expenditures in the United States the commonwealth. Virginia • Has adjacent Corporate Research Tech has a long history of Center providing innovative distance- learning techniques to meet the various needs of working adults and other nontraditional students. The Inn at Virginia Tech & Skelton Conference Center on campus and The Hotel Roanoke & Conference Center in Roanoke, both owned by Virginia Tech, support the university’s outreach mission by working with faculty to plan and host conferences and continuing education and professional programs. Virginia Tech manages more than $46 million in funded economic development projects in 44 countries and encourages faculty members to develop global course content and study abroad opportunities for students. In 2007-08, more than 2,150 students from more than 100 foreign countries studied at Tech, while more than 1,000 Virginia Tech students studied abroad. Virginia Cooperative Extension, operated jointly by Virginia Tech and Virginia State University, has been helping people improve their economic, cultural and social well being for nearly a century. With 107 city/county offices, tens of thousands of volunteers, and programs across the state, Extension reaches and teaches millions of Virginians annually.

At a Glance


The ACC

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

Torgersen Hall is connected to Newman Library by a bridge that spans the Alumni Mall.

Interesting Facts & Figures

Most buildings, new and old, on the Virginia Tech campus are made of Hokie Stone, a limestone found in the local area.

• The university’s annual budget is about $1.02 billion. • Virginia Tech has about 198,000 living alumni from every state and about 100 countries. • All campus facilities, including residence halls, have high-speed connections to voice, data and video communications. • Virginia Tech is one of three public universities in the country that offers the combined advantages of a military-style leadership development program – here it is through the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets – and a traditional academic and social life. • U.S. News & World Report ranks Virginia Tech 29th among national public universities. Of all universities – public or private – it ranks Tech 71st. • Kiplinger Personal Finance magazine ranks Virginia Tech in the top 20 public colleges and universities that offer a first-class educational experience at a bargain price. • The National Science Foundation ranks Tech 10th in the nation in agricultural and natural resources research expenditures. • The university’s undergraduate engineering program is 17th among the nation’s engineering schools and ninth among public universities, according to U.S. News & World Report. Seven of the college’s undergraduate programs rank in the top 25. • U.S. News & World Report ranks the College of Engineering’s graduate program 33rd nationally, with two individual programs in the top 10. • The Pamplin College of Business undergraduate program was ranked 37th in the nation and 22nd among public schools by U.S. News & World Report. • Virginia Tech consistently ranks among the top 15 schools in the nation in number of patents received. • DesignIntelligence ranks Virginia Tech’s undergraduate architecture program fourth nationally and first among public universities. It also ranks the university’s undergraduate interior design program seventh in the nation. In addition, it ranks the graduate architecture program 10th in the nation and the graduate interior design program fifth. • The university’s forestry program is top-ranked in North America, according to a study conducted by Auburn University.

27


Administration

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

Jim Weaver Director of Athletics

Sharon McCloskey Senior Associate A.D., Senior Woman Administrator

Tim East Associate A.D., External Affairs

Tom Gabbard Associate A.D., Internal Affairs

Chris Helms Associate A.D., for Olympic Sports

Jon Jaudon Associate A.D., Administration

John Ballein Associate A.D., Football Operations

Shauna Cobb Assistant A.D., Compliance

Mike Gentry Assistant A.D., Athletic Performance

Reyna Gilbert Assistant A.D., Student Life

Mike Goforth Assistant A.D., Athletic Training

Tim Parker Senior Assistant A.D., Compliance

Lisa Rudd Assistant A.D., Financial Affairs

Dave Smith Assistant A.D., Athletics Communications

Sandy Smith Assistant A.D., Ticketing Services

Jeremy Wells Assistant A.D., Marketing & Promotions

WRESTLING SUPPORT STAFF

Marianne Baffi Wrestling Secretary

By the way,

28

Siobhan McArdle Scorebook

Matt Moeller Marketing

Ruben Moguel Equipment Manager

What Is a Hokie?

That’s the most often-asked question in Virginia Tech athletics. The answer leads all the way back to 1896 when Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College changed its name to Virginia Polytechnic Institute. With the change came the necessity for writing a new cheer and a contest for such a purpose was held by the student body. Senior O.M. Stull won first prize for his “Hokie” yell which still is used today. Later, when asked if “Hokie” had any special

Jonathan Pierce Manager

meaning, Stull explained the word was solely the product of his imagination and was used only as an attentiongetter for his yell. It soon became a nickname for all Tech teams and for those people loyal to Tech athletics. The official school colors – Chicago maroon and burnt orange – also were introduced in 1896. They were chosen because they made a “unique combination” not worn elsewhere at the time.

Damian Salas Scoreboard

Tech’s lovable mascot – The HokieBird


Sports Medicine The Sports Medicine Department at Virginia Tech is constantly evolving to incorporate new ideas utilizing state-of-the-art resources for the betterment of all Hokie student-athletes. Under the leadership of Assistant Director of Athletics for Athletic Training Mike Goforth, the department is constantly improving and developing new strategies to provide the most current and comprehensive care. Their team of certified athletic trainers, Sean Collins orthopaedic surgeons, Board Certified primary care physicians, chiropractors, physical therapists, sport psychologists, nutritionists, massage therapists and orthotists are available on site to manage the health care needs of Tech athletes. The staff continually looks for ways to enhance the services provided for their athletes as evidenced by their participation in local and national projects pertaining to related topics such as concussion management, prevention of antibiotic resistant types of staph infection (MRSA), high ankle sprains and collegiate health care management strategies. Tech is entering its eighth full year in the 4,300-square-foot Eddie Ferrell Memorial Training Room, which consolidated the training rooms that existed in the Merryman Center and Cassell Coliseum. The facility gives the training staff a centralized area to care for the needs of all Virginia Tech student-athletes. There is top-of-the-line equipment and a unique style of architecture, developed by Glenn Reynolds, AIA and Larry Perry as the consulting engineer. The Ferrell Training Room nearly doubled the size of the former Merryman Center facility. Tech now has more than 10,000 square feet dedicated to sports medicine, placing in the top five percent nationally. The $10 million Merryman Center includes 2,400 square feet of medical space and a physician’s suite. The suite is equipped with a new state-of-the-art X-ray system, a fluoroscopy unit and a minor procedure room. The training room also has offices for the staff, dozens of training tables, two cold tubs, whirlpools, an underwater treadmill, a Biodex System 3 and various other pieces of rehabilitation equipment and treatment modalities. In addition, a training room has been constructed in Rector Field House

to serve teams when they practice indoors and the Gordon Family Mobile Sports Medicine Unit is a new portable training room that can be transported to various venues. “If our strength and conditioning is so important, and it is, then we owe it to our athletes to provide them with the necessary resources to keep them actively participating,” Goforth said. “We basically adopt the attitude that our mission is to keep them participating on the field and during the other times of the year, it is our job to keep them participating in our strength and conditioning program.” Their programs consist of strengthening, stretching and – most importantly – movement pattern analysis and training to help prevent the re-occurrence of injuries. A vital part of student-athlete medical services is access to the Montgomery Regional Hospital’s SWVA Center for Orthopaedics and Schiffert Student Health Center. Both facilities are staffed with qualified physicians and staff, and have a wide variety of technologies designed to increase the level of care available to Tech’s athletes. If physical therapy is needed, student-athletes can be seen by therapist Mark Piechoski in the Ferrell Training Room. Piechoski, who is a certified athletic trainer, physical therapist and strength and conditioning specialist plays a large role in the overall program developed to return the injured athlete back to 100 percent. In addition, staff sport psychologist Dr. Gary Bennett is available to all student-athletes for personal and performance issues. Virginia Tech also has the services of Dr. Greg Tilley and Dr. Dale Reynolds, team chiropractors. Tilley provides Tech athletes with specialized treatment for spine-related conditions and also plays a huge role in performance enhancement through various chiropractic techniques. Team orthopaedic surgeons Dr. Marc Siegel, Dr. Jim LeBolt and Dr. Demian Yakel bring a wealth of experience and skill to assist when athletes need orthopaedic consultation for certain types of sports-related injuries. Tech also maintains a special relationship with Montgomery Regional Hospital. Montgomery Regional Hospital is the choice for state-of-the-art equipment to perform surgeries, diagnostic imaging and processing of laboratory requests. Sean Collins, in his third season at Virginia Tech, works with the Hokie wrestling program.

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

Athletic Trainer Sean Collins works closely with the Tech wrestling team to provide topnotch care.

29


Athletic Performance Strength and Conditioning

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

One of the most important aspects of a successful college wrestling program is its strength and conditioning program. Before the lights ever come on, before the first whistle is blown and before the first match is wrestled, college wrestlers work on getting themselves physically prepared for the rigors of a five-month season. Thanks to the direction of Assistant Athletics Director for Athletic Performance Mike Gentry, the Terry Mitchell Virginia Tech strength and conditioning program is among the best in the nation, helping to make the wrestling program one of the best as well. One of the main support centers of Tech wrestling is the strength and conditioning program. The wrestling team trains in the Jim “Bulldog” Haren Weight Room. Located in Jamerson Athletic Center, the 5,000-square foot weight room was officially dedicated in September 1985 to Haren, a former Hokie player and long-time supporter of the Virginia Tech Athletics Department. Gentry is in his 22nd season as the Hokies’ director of strength and conditioning. As assistant athletics director for athletic performance, his duties include overseeing the strength and conditioning training of athletes in all 21 varsity sports at Virginia Tech. Assisting Gentry in the weight room this year are four full-time assistant strength and conditioning coaches: Terry Mitchell is the assistant director of strength and conditioning. Former

Tech football players Jarrett Ferguson and Keith Short, as well as former Tech volleyball player Jamie Meyer, serve as coordinators for strength and conditioning. Mitchell, who handles the strength and conditioning for Tech’s wrestling team, has experience in the Texas Rangers farm system. He graduated from Lee (Tenn.) College in 1994 and earned a master’s in health promotions at Tech in 2004. He is married to the former Terri Thompson and this is his seventh year with the Hokie wrestling program.

Sport Psychology

Virginia Tech also offers another important service to all its student-athetes – sport psychology. Dr. Gary Bennett coordinates the sport psychology department, which offers psychological and performance enhancement services for studentathletes. Bennett, who is in his ninth year as the sport psychologist for the Virginia Tech Athletics Department, also works closely with the Cook Dr. Gary Bennett Counseling Center. Bennett meets with student-athletes on an individual basis for personal counseling and to discuss the mental aspects of the game. He also works on team building, communication and performance enhancement. The sport psychology department also offers an injury group to afford injured athletes the opportunity to meet with other injured athletes and talk about their recovery process. Injured athletes may also meet individually with the sport psychologists if they do not feel comfortable in the group or cannot make the sessions. One of the sport psychology resources is the Dynavision 2000, a unique conditioning and training program designed to increase focus and concentration, improve coordination and visuomotor reactions and increase peripheral awareness. Virginia Tech is privileged to be one of only a handful of schools with this cutting-edge technology.

Sports Nutrition

Tech wrestlers have the luxury of training in both their work out room and in a 5,000-square foot weight room.

30

Eating healthy and choosing nutritious diets are important aspects of a Virginia Tech studentathlete’s life, and that’s why in July 2002, the athletics department implemented the sports nutrition program. Amy Freel serves as the director. Freel, who is in her seventh year as the sports nutritionist in the Virginia Tech Athletics Department, works individually with studentAmy Freel athletes to provide them with information they need on their diet. She also provides individual players with diet counseling on issues such as gaining lean muscle mass, losing body fat, and eating choices to improve performance. The sports nutritionist works with the “Training Edge,” a dining option for health-conscious students and athletes, to design menus for training tables and daily menu selections. Also in July 2002, the Virginia Tech Athletics Department purchased the BOD POD body composition system. Tech is one of a handful of college athletic departments using this type of technology. The BOD POD is found in many professional training facilities, such as the NFL and Major League Baseball. It accurately measures body composition (percent of body fat, lean muscle mass and fat mass) through air displacement within five minutes. Research has shown that an increase in lean muscle mass will increase athletic performance. The Sports Nutrition Program has helped countless Tech athletes maximize their athletic performance. Freel received her undergraduate degree in dietetics in 1996 from Ball State University. She became a registered dietitian in 1997 and earned her master’s degree in dietetics from Ball State in 1998.


Student Life Led by the Virginia Tech Student Athlete Advisory Committee, Hokie student-athletes volunteered countless hours in the local community last year. In addition, over 400 Virginia Tech student-athletes earned a 3.00 grade point average during one or both semesters in 2007. The accomplishments are even more amazing in the context of the 2007-2008 athletic seasons being some of the most successful in Virginia Tech history. The Virginia Tech Athletics Office of Student Life programs and services are inspired from the NCAA/ Reyna Gilbert CHAMPS (Challenging Athletes’ Minds for Personal Success) Life Skills Program. The program has been previously honored for its commitment to serving the good of the student-athletes by the Division I-A Athletic Director’s Association as a Program of Excellence. The office is under the direction of Reyna Gilbert and Danny White.

Student Athlete Advisory Committee

The Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) is a committee made up of student-athletes assembled to provide insight on the student-athlete experience. The SAAC also offers input on the rules, regulations and policies that affect student-athletes’ lives on NCAA member institution campuses. Two members of each sport team serve on SAAC each academic year. The leadership team during 2007-2008 was Bryan Collier (men’s soccer) - President, Beth Walker (softball) – Vice President, and Heather Hallberg (women’s soccer) – Secretary. Highlights of the 2007-2008 SAAC include the second annual toy drive competition among sports teams for the Montgomery County Christmas store, which collected over 1,400 toys, a canned food drive competition collecting over 2,000 food items for the local food banks, and participating in Virginia Tech’s Relay for Life.

Personal Development

Virginia Tech student-athletes welcomed Bryon Hurt to campus in October, a former college quarterback turned activist. Hurt examined issues of masculinity, sexism, violence and homophobia in today’s hip-hop culture. As in past years, the Virginia Tech football team invited numerous speakers to present a variety of topics during the fall two-a-day practices and meetings. Topics covered in these presentations included: appropriate campus and community conduct, media relations, sport psychology, drug and alcohol education, sports agent relations, and healthy relationships.

Career Development

Virginia Tech student-athletes are savoring their collegiate athletic experiences with the understanding that upon graduation, they will need to secure a job. The Student Life Office worked with Becca Scott in the Virginia Tech Career Services Center to create programs designed to teach studentathletes why they are much sought after for their transferable skills (resiliency, time management, teamwork, competitiveness and ambition). Student-athletes had the opportunity to participate in an Etiquette

Dinner held in January where over 80 student-athletes and coaches were in attendance. In the fall, the office also hosted its second annual Mock Interview Night with representatives from Wolseley North America, Northwestern Mutual Finance and the Virginia Tech graduate program. In addition to the mock interview night, student-athletes are offered workshops on topics such as resumé design, interview attire and job search information. Student-athletes are encouraged to participate in on-campus interviewing and eRecruiting along with securing internships and co-ops during their college careers.

Academic Excellence

The Virginia Tech Athletics Office of Student Life is responsible for nominating student-athletes for academic honors and awards. Athletes are nominated for on-campus, Atlantic Coast Conference and national awards. Student-athletes with a 3.0 GPA are rewarded each semester by being honored on the Athletic Director’s Honor Roll. The 2007 calendar year listed 432 student-athletes with this honor. Paul LaPenna (men’s cross country) and Claire Dickey (women’s swimming and diving) received the Skelton Award for Academic Excellence in Athletics. The award is given to one male and one female student-athlete who demonstrate leadership, outstanding academic excellence and community involvement. The recipients of the award receive a $5,000 scholarship donated by Dr. Bill and Peggy Skelton.

Student Athlete Advisory Committee

The Virginia Tech Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) promotes effective communication between athletic administration and studentathletes. SAAC is comprised of two representatives from each sport. These representatives meet twice a month to discuss issues and concerns regarding their sports, department of athletics, ACC and NCAA legislation. The studentathletes encourage their teammates to get involved both on campus and in the community. Each year SAAC sponsors a canned food drive during the basketball season. The representatives from the Tech wrestling squad are Tim Miller and Will Snyder.

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

Community Outreach

Virginia Tech student-athletes are involved more than ever in the local community. Having volunteered many hours in the schools, community groups and hospitals, the student-athletes are setting a high precedent for all involved with the program. Under the “Hokies with Heart” umbrella, each sports team has a community partner with which they volunteer their time and host a home match to honor the partnership program. Once again, the Hokie wrestling squad is partnered with Falling Branch Elementary School and has participated in several events, including “Reading Night” and “Beautification Day” at the school. In the past, the team has adopted a highway and cleaned it and has done autograph nights at various elementary schools.

The wrestling team’s community partner is Falling Branch Elementary. The team took part in the school’s “Beautification Day” in which it helped with groundskeeping projects the school needed help with.

31


Academic Support

2 0 0 8 • 0 9 W R E S T L I N G

The success of Virginia Tech’s wrestling program rests largely on the academic progress of each student-athlete. The academic performance of Tech student-athletes has improved each year due in part to the Student Athlete Academic Support Services (SAASS). Tech’s student-athlete graduation rate has risen significantly in recent years and was a school-best 76 percent for 2007. This marks the fourth time in the last six years that Tech’s student-athlete Greg Beatty graduation rate has been 70 percent or better. In addition to posting impressive graduation figures, current Tech student-athletes are also performing well in the classroom as well. For the 2007 calendar year, 501 3.0 GPAs were earned by student-athletes, student trainers, student managers, cheerleaders and HighTechs. These student-athletes and students from support areas were recognized at the Athletic Director’s Honors Breakfast last spring. Student-athletes are the most visible student component of a university, entertaining thousands of fans, students and alumni. Their athletic abilities and achievements are the primary focus for national media attention, and athletic events bring back not only faithful alumni, but present a welcome mat for potential new students. Student-athletes devote many hours to practice, conditioning and training not required of all students. Due to their time commitment and high visibility, it is the school’s obligation and in Tech’s best interest to supply these students with services to help them maximize their academic potential. Tech’s SAASS office is committed to providing fundamental and supplemental programming, consistent with university and NCAA policy, to enhancing each student-athlete’s educational experience. Stakeholders of the office’s mission include student-athletes and their families, the university community, coaches and athletics administrators. SAASS seeks to develop relationships with its stakeholders, founded on trust and respect, and provides the following services to accommodate their needs: • • • • • • • • •

University and NCAA information Orientation Academic assessment The development of an effective student life program Appropriate referrals Monitored study environments Tutorial programs State of the art technological learning assistance Student-athlete academic performance evaluations

The expectations of the Virginia Tech community are that each student-

athlete achieves their maximum academic and athletic potential. With the proper assistance, facilities and encouragement, these potentials can become a reality. SAASS provides programming for student-athletes from their freshman year through graduation. This includes a comprehensive orientation to Tech, study hall, mentoring, tutoring, academic monitoring, academic recognition and eligibility education. Additionally, student-athletes are referred to and encouraged to take advantage of other campus agencies charged with helping students in their academic pursuits. In 2006, the SAASS office moved to the West Side of Lane Stadium. Here, student-athletes have access to state-of-the-art technology, quiet study facilities, individualized tutorial rooms and direct access to the SAASS staff. This complex is a focal point for the Athletics Department, both aesthetically and pragmatically, and provides a centralized place for student-athlete services. The new facility features more than 18,000 square feet of space, 10 staff offices, 18 private tutor rooms, a state-of-the-art classroom, a 45-station computer lab, three reading/study rooms, a conference room and reference library. Together, these spaces provide the student-athlete with a variety of study environments conducive to their success. Athletes can use these facilities between classes, after practice or in the evenings, with flexible hours tailored to make the most of a student-athlete’s limited time. Colin Howlett is in his 12th year with Tech and serves as the interim director in the SAASS office. Howlett oversees the advisement of football student-athletes with regard to satisfactory progress, eligibility and degree completion as set forth by the NCAA, ACC and Tech in addition to assisting the director in all facets of the program. Academic coordinator director Sarah Armstrong begins her fourth year as a full-time member of the SAASS staff. Katie Ammons, a former standout Hokie student-athlete, serves as an academic coordinator and is in her 10th year in the SAASS office. She also is in charge of the operation of the computer labs and other computing resources available for student-athletes. Greg Beatty, Mike Swanhart and Molly Tye serve as academic counselors. Beatty is in his first year at Tech and oversees the progress of the wrestling team. Dr. Peggy Weiss and Melissa Daigneault serve as the learning specialists for the SAASS unit and have developed the Learning Assistance Program to help support student athletes and teach them more effective ways to study and perform well academically. Weiss and Daigneault collaborate with the office of Services for Students with Disabilities and all of the SAASS academic coordinators. Terrie Repass is in her 34th year of service at Tech as the office secretary and “first contact” person for SAASS. Repass is responsible for organizing special events and meetings for the office, while preparing all accounting, purchasing and travel transactions for the office.

COMPUTER SERVICES Another example of Virginia Tech’s commitment to providing its student-athletes with the best academic resources possible is the presence of the Computer Services department, under the direction of Tommy Regan. Because all Tech students are required to own computers, the Virginia Tech athletics department helps its scholarship athletes fulfill that requirement by providing them with state-of-the-art laptops equipped with the most recent software. In addition to procuring laptops for the athletes, the office also addresses hardware and software needs for the student-athletes and the entire Virginia Tech athletics staff. Assisting Regan this year is Chris Mayer.

32

Tommy Regan

Chris Mayer


With a strong recruiting system in place and a veteran coaching staff leading the way, the Virginia Tech wrestling program is on its way up, thanks to great facilities, support and a campus that sells itself. The staff has also made inroads around the state, offering free clinics in Northern Virginia and Norfolk, as well as a coaching clinic in Blacksburg. Once again this summer, athletes will have the chance to train with the best at the Kevin Dresser Wrestling Camps. For dates, locations and information, check out www.kevindresserwrestlingcamps.com And for all the latest news, rosters, stats and results on the Hokies, go to the source, hokiesports.com

Rector Field House – home of one of the wrestling camps offered by Virginia Tech.


2008-09 SCHEDULE

D.J. Bruce

Nov. 9 16 22 30 30 Dec. 5 6 29 30

George Mason 5 p.m. at Hokie Open All Day at Navy Classic All Day at Chattanooga 1 p.m. vs. Anderson 3 p.m. at Las Vegas Invitational All Day at Las Vegas Invitational All Day at Southern Scuffle All Day at Southern Scuffle All Day

Lone Star Duals Jan. 3 vs. Brown 3 vs. Central Oklahoma 3 vs. Cal Poly

Bulldog Duals Jan. 10 at Gardner-Webb 10 vs. The Citadel 10 vs. Davidson

11:30 a.m. 1 p.m. 2:30 p.m.

16 at Appalachian State 5 p.m. 16 vs. Campbell 7 p.m. 18 Rutgers 3 p.m. 18 VMI 5 p.m. 24 vs. Binghamton Noon 24 at Michigan 4 p.m. 25 vs. Nebraska 11 a.m. 25 at Central Michigan 3 p.m. 31 vs. Virginia * 1 p.m. Feb. 1 at North Carolina * 1 p.m. 8 Maryland * 5 p.m. 15 Duke * 5 p.m. 15 NC State * 7 p.m. 19 at Old Dominion 7:30 p.m. Mar. 7 ACC Championships All Day 19 at NCAA Championships All Day 20 at NCAA Championships All Day 21 at NCAA Championships All Day * Atlantic Coast Conference matches Home matches in CAPS

Tommy Spellman

11 a.m. 5 p.m. 9 p.m.


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.