Old Dominion (6-8, 4-2 MAC) vs. No. 7 Virginia Tech (8-1, 0-1 ACC)
Match Info – Sunday, February 2 at 1 p.m. | Alumni Match
Location – Chartway Arena (Norfolk, Va.)
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NORFOLK, Va. – The Old Dominion wrestling team returns home to celebrate the program's alumni on Sunday, February 2 at 1 p.m. when it takes on No. 7 Virginia Tech in a Commonwealth showdown.
The Monarchs have won four of their last five matches, and collected two wins in Pennsylvania last weekend with 24-9 and 25-9 victories over Mid-American Conference (MAC) foes Edinboro and Clarion, respectively. The Monarchs now sit in second place behind Rider in the MAC East Division with a 4-2 conference record.
Redshirt sophomore Killian Cardinale earned two wins by major decision in last weekend's matches at 125 pounds to kick-start the ODU triumphs, earning him MAC East Division Wrestler of the Week honors. Cardinale won his bouts by a combined score of 29-10, defeating Lucas Rodriguez of Edinboro, 15-5, and Clarion's Cam Butler, 14-5. It was the second time this season that the Bristow, Virginia native earned the Wrestler of the Week nod.
Cardinale is one of three Monarchs that are featured in the national polls this week, checking in as high as No. 14 in the country. Redshirt seniors Sa'Derian Perry and Larry Early are also nationally ranked, as Perry tops out at No. 18 at 141 pounds and Early at No. 11 in the 157-pound polls.
Cardinale, Perry and Early each won both of their bouts last weekend, along with Shannon Hanna II, Shane Jones and Antonio Agee. Junior Will Hilliard earned a 9-3 win by decision over Ty Bagoly of Clarion, who was ranked No. 27 in the nation at the time.
Jamie Kelly Ceremony / Alumni Match
Sunday serves as Old Dominion's alumni match. The ODU wrestling program will hold a special pre-match ceremony to honor the late Jamie Kelly, who wrestled for Old Dominion from 1994-1998 and later served as an assistant head coach for the program.
The ODU wrestling program will also honor its alumni with a special halftime presentation, as all former Monarch wrestlers who have registered will be recognized during the intermission.
For those alumni that wish to be a part of the presentation, click here and use the code WRES20 to register.
About Virginia Tech
Ranked seventh in the nation according to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), the Hokies suffered their first loss of the season last weekend against then-No. 12 North Carolina, 23-10. Prior to that, VT won its first eight matches of the season, five of which coming against top-25 opponents and was ranked No. 3 in the country.
The Hokies currently have nine wrestlers ranked in national polls on their roster, with two ranked in the top-five in the country. At 184 pounds, Hunter Bolen, an NCAA qualifier a year ago is ranked second in the country behind only Arizona State's Zahid Valencia. Bolen, a redshirt sophomore, has a 19-1 record this season and has wrestled to a 9-0 mark in duals. His 19 wins are the most on his team.
VT's other top-five wrestler comes in the 165-pound weight class. Three-time All-American David McFadden, checks in as high as No. 5 in the country. McFadden boasts a 16-3 record this season and has gone 7-2 in dual matches.
The Hokies have four other wrestlers ranked in the top-15 in the country in No. 13 Joey Prata (125 lbs.), #12 Collin Gerardi (133 lbs.), No. 13 Mitch Moore (141 lbs.) and No. 13 B.C. LaPrade (157 lbs.).
John Borst checks in at No. 17 in the country at 285 pounds and at 149 pounds, Bryce Andonian cracks the top-25 at No. 23. 174-pounder Cody Hughes is listed at No. 28 to compete the list of nine ranked wrestlers on the Hokie roster.
Series History
Sunday's dual marks the 42nd time these two Commonwealth schools have faced off against each other, and the series history couldn't get much closer. Virginia Tech holds a slight 21-20 advantage over the Monarchs.
The first time these two teams faced off against each other was in the 1965-66 season, with the Hokies coming away with a 20-14 win. Virginia Tech has won the last seven matches between the two programs, dating back to the 2009-10 season. Last year, the then No. 13 Hokies earned a 31-9 victory over the Monarchs at the Virginia Duals.
Tickets
You can get your tickets to this Commonwealth clash, and every other home dual this season by visiting ynottix.com. Gates open one hour before every match.
Admission is free for students with a valid ID. Standard admission is $6 while seniors, youth and military can purchase tickets for $5 each.
Pre-Match Social
ODU wrestling will host a pre-match social located in the Big Blue Room at 12 p.m., one hour prior to the start of Sunday's match. The Big Blue Room will close at the start of the action, and then reopen during intermission. All fans, alumni and Jamie Kelly supporters are welcome to attend. Soda, water and adult beverages will be available.
Probable Starters Against Virginia Tech
125 lbs. : #14 Killian Cardinale vs. #13 Joey Prata
133 lbs. : Shannon Hanna II vs. #12 Collin Gerardi
141 lbs. : #18 Sa'Derian Perry vs. #13 Mitch Moore
149 lbs. : Kenan Cartervs. #23 Bryce Andonian
157 lbs. : #11 Larry Early vs. #13 B.C. LaPrade
165 lbs. : Shane Jones vs. #5 David McFadden
174 lbs. : Alex Cramer vs. #28 Cody Hughes
184 lbs. : Antonio Agee OR Dean Drugac vs. #2 Hunter Bolen OR Cody Howard
197 lbs : Timothy Young vs. Stanley Smeltzer
285 lbs. : Will Hilliard OR Jacob Bullock vs. #17 John Borst
Wrestling to Honor Alumni on Sunday Against No. 7 Virginia Tech
