10th-Ranked Virginia Tech Tops Princeton In Madison Square Garden

Sunday, December 10

New York City (Madison Square Garden)

4:00 PM

Princeton University

Virginia Tech

Jonathan Gomez picked up Princeton's first win at MSG Sunday with a 12-6 victory at 125.

Photo by: Lisa Elfstrum

10th-Ranked Virginia Tech Tops Princeton In Madison Square Garden

December 10, 2017 | Wrestling

Princeton got victories from Jonathan Gomez, Matthew Kolodzik, and Mike D'Angelo, but the 10th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies ran off 13 unanswered points to open Sunday's Grapple at the Garden showdown at Madison Square Garden and never trailed in a 26-12 dual win over the Tigers.

A powerful core of upperweights were given the opportunity to put the Hokies up early with the match starting at 174, and Virginia Tech took advantage. A trio of Top-20 wrestlers helped Virginia Tech open a 13-0 lead, though freshman Patrick Brucki again showed that he was unafraid of the biggest moments. Brucki battled third-ranked Jared Haught and didn't allow a single takedown, though a second-period ride would be enough for the 2-0 win.

Princeton freshman Jonathan Gomez put the Tigers on the board with an impressive 12-6 win over Kyle Norstrem. The Tiger rookie used two takedowns in the first period to lead 4-1, and then built that advantage to 11-2 by the end of the second. Norstrem cut into the deficit late, but Gomez still posed the impressive win to get Princeton on the board.

Tech took the next two, including a technical fall by 14th-ranked Dennis Gustafson, to all but clinch the team win, but Princeton was able to win two of the last three matches. Seventh-ranked Matthew Kolodzik was in total control at 149, grabbing a 6-0 lead after one and eventually turning it into an 18-3 technical fall.

Junior Mike D'Angelo built on his thrilling win over Lehigh with another dominant effort, this time a 14-2 major decision over Ryan Blees, for Princeton's final win of the day. The Hokies got one more tech from fourth-ranked David McFadden to close the 26-12 win.

It gets no easier for Princeton this week, as the Tigers will head to Delaware on Friday to take on top-ranked Ohio State at the Carpenter Center.

#10 VIRGINIA TECH 26, PRINCETON 12
174 - Hunter Bolen (VT) dec. Carlin Powell, 6-0
184 - #7 Zack Zavatsky (VT) MD Kendall Elfstrum, 11-2
197 - #3 Jared Haught (VT) dec. Patrick Brucki, 2-0
285 - #17 Andrew Dunn (VT) dec. Michael Markulec, 7-4
125 - Jonathan Gomez (P) dec. Kyle Norstrem (VT), 12-6
133 - #14 Dennis Gustafson (VT) TF Trey Aslanian, 18-3 (5:08)
141 - Brent Moore (VT) dec. Pat D'Arcy, 10-6
149 - #7 Matthew Kolodzik (P) TF Brendan Grammes (VT), 17-1
157 - Mike D'Angelo (P) MD Ryan Blees (VT), 14-2
165 - #4 David McFadden (VT) TF Jonathan Schleifer, 20-5 (6:56)