Wrestling: Va. Tech snaps six-match Tar Heel winning streak

Youth beat experience Sunday at Fetzer Gym.

Virginia Tech (17-1 2-0 ACC) took a 19-15 decision from North Carolina (10-7 3-1) while starting no one but underclassmen.

The match figured to rest on the back-to-back matchups of top-25 grapplers weighing in at 141 and 149 pounds.

Sure enough when Virginia Tech's tandem of No. 20 Chris Diaz and No. 20 Pete Yates defeated UNC's combo of No. 18 Vincent Ramirez and No. 15 Nick Stabile on back-to-back decisions" the match turned heavily in Virginia Tech's favor.

""The most important thing today in the determination of the match was that they beat our studs" coach C.D. Mock said. That kind of shocked me to tell you the truth. I didn't expect Vincent Ramirez" I didn't expect Stabile (to lose).""

Ramirez looked to have a chance to win" trailing Diaz only 1-0 going into the third round. The match was decided when Diaz countered Ramirez's reversal attempt with a 3-point near fall leaving Ramirez down 4-0 with only a minute left.

The Tar Heels seemed to be building a comeback attempt when Thomas Scotton and Keegan Mueller strung together decisions" but Virginia Tech quelled the comeback with a major decision in the 174-pound weight class to put the match score at 19-9.

""They need to get mentally tougher" Mock said. I thought we had that fixed but today they allowed the young team to come in here and in my view" dominate us.""

The loss snapped a six-match winning streak for the Tar Heels and handed them their first loss of the ACC slate"" leaving them grasping for reasons.

""I think we got out-coached a little bit today"" Mock said. They knew all our guys very well.""

Nick Shields' early fall — which was the second fall of Jarrod Garnett's weekend — put the Tar Heels in a 6-0 hole. Mike Rappo was able to stop the bleeding with an 8-5 decision to bring the score to 6-3 going into the two ill-fated clashes.

""It doesn't matter that we were down 9-3" Mock said. What matters is Vincent Ramirez and Nick Stabile two of the guys who are key guys" got whooped. And that's a problem. That's demoralizing.""

The win marks Virginia Tech's second ACC win in as many days as they beat Virginia on Saturday to start their weekend.

 ""Props to them" I hope that they're happy with their win" Mueller said. But I think … we're going to lay the hammer on them and be ready to pound their heads come ACCs.

""I'm not making any claims" but the only promise I can give you is next time we touch somebody in a Virginia Tech singlet" it's going to be with a hard hand.""



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