Bloomsburg Drops Virginia Tech in Wrestling, 22-18

Story courtesy of Virginia Tech Sports Info

BLACKSBURG, VA - The Virginia Tech wrestling team suffered a controversial and heartbreaking loss to Bloomsburg, 22-18, Sunday afternoon at Cassell Coliseum. With the loss, Tech drops to 6-3 overall, 1-1 in the EWL. Bloomsburg improves to 4-6, 2-2 in the EWL.

The meet came down to overtime in the final match between Techšs Andrew Donofrio and BUšs Josh Loew at 157 pounds. With Tech trailing 19-18, a win would win the meet for the Hokies. Donofrio scored a takedown in the first period but gave up a takedown with 20 seconds left in the match to tie it

up. Donofrio appeared to reverse Loew to earn the win at the buzzer, but referee Jim Rupp did not award the points, sending the match to overtime. There, Loew got a takedown 33 seconds in and won in sudden victory, 3-3.

The match started at 165 pounds, where Techšs Chris Stith, ranked 20th in the nation, picked up a takedown and two near-fall points en route to a 7-2 decision over Ryan Garner. Bloomsburg took a 6-3 lead when 19th-ranked Justin Johnson of BU made quick work of Steve Borja, pinning him in 25 seconds. At 184 pounds, the Huskies extended their lead when Nate Shirk picked up an 8-2 decision over Jerome Villanueva. Canaan Prater tied the match up when he pinned Chad Hoare at the 4:21 mark. After a scoreless first period, Hoare chose the down position and Prater used that to eventually pick up his fifth pin of the year and his second in as many matches.

Tech took a 12-9 lead when heavyweight Kris Wiedegreen picked up a 3-2 decision over Aaron Ferrence. Wiedegreen got a reversal to start the second period and used a point for riding time to pick up the win. Shifting to the lighter weights, BUšs Brian Sellers picked up four team points at 125 pounds with a 12-4 major decision over Ryan Broughman.

Tenth-ranked David Hoffman of Virginia Tech put the Hokies back on top at 133 pounds when he recorded a 10-5 decision over Bryan Hart. Hoffman used three takedowns, two near-fall points and a reversal to move to 13-2 on the year.

At 141 pounds, BUšs Scott Heckman picked up a pin at the 2:22 mark of Chris Smolko to make it 19-15 in favor of the Huskies. Techšs Reed Carpenter pulled the Hokies to within one point at 149 pounds with a 2-0 decision over Brad Forbes. Carpenter used an escape in the second period and riding time to pick up the win. That sent the dual meet to the final match where Loew won the match for the Huskies in overtime.

165 #20 Chris Stith (VT) dec. Ryan Garner, 7-2

174 #19 Justin Johnson (BU) fall Steve Borja, :25

184 Nate Shirk (BU) dec. Jerome Villanueva, 8-2

197 Canaan Prater (VT) fall Chad Hoare, 4:21

285 Kris Wiedegreen (VT) dec. Aaron Ferrence, 3-2

125 Brian Sellers (BU) maj. dec. Ryan Broughman, 12-4

133 #10 David Hoffman (VT) dec. Bryan Hart, 10-5

141 Scott Heckman (BU) fall Chris Smolko, 2:22

149 #24 Reed Carpenter (VT) dec. Brad Forbes, 2-0

157 Josh Loew (BU) dec. Andrew Donofrio, 3-3 (sv)