We're all set for the first day of Hokies wrestling action here at Rocket Arena in Cleveland! Follow our live coverage below.
Session 1:
3:23 p.m. - 285 pounds: Mullen is up on Mat 5 now.
3:22 p.m. - 197 pounds: Sasso pushes but can't make up the difference. Hawkss scores onemore takedown to win it, 12-8. Relatively shocking loss, considering how well Sasso had been wrestling coming into the weekend.
3:19 p.m. - 197 pounds: Hawks scores four of his and Sasso escape to reclaim the lead. Hawks responds with another takedown on the edge of the mat as time expires in the second.
3:17 p.m. - 197 pounds: Sasso scores an early takedown and hooks the leg for three more, taking a 6-2 lead after one. He starts the second on top.
3:13 p.m. - 197 pounds: Sasso is up on Mat 8 now.
3:13 p.m. - 285 pounds - No. 16 Jimmy Mullen is on deck on Mat 5. He's got Colorado’s No. 17 Vincent Mueller.
3:08 p.m. - 197 pounds: No. 4 Sonny Sasso is on deck on Mat 8. He'll face Arizona State’s No. 29 Colton Hawks.
3:07 p.m. - 184 pounds: Bullock escapes in five seconds in the first 30 seconds and rides out McGill in the second frame to take the bout, 6-5. The Hokies' grizzled veteran gets it done his way once again.
3:05 p.m. - 184 pounds: No score in extra time. Tiebreakers time.
3:02 p.m. - 184 pounds: Bullock jumps out for an escape to open the frame, cutting his deficit to one, but he can't score a takedown. With riding time, though, Bullock ties it at five, forcing sudden victory.
3:00 p.m. - 184 pounds: Bullock rides out McGill for the entire second period. It feels like he's only getting better at riding out his opponents.
2:57 p.m. - 184 pounds: McGill works for a takedown and secures it in front of the Hokies corner, which doesn't agree with the call. Bullock secures a reversal, and McGill counters with one of his own. Bullock escapes to get within two. He starts the second on top.
2:51 p.m. - 184 pounds: Bullock is up on Mat 1 now.
2:35 p.m. - 184 pounds: No. 14 Jaden Bullock is in the hole on Mat 1. He's due to meet Edinboro's No. 19 Jared McGill.
2:30 p.m. - 174 pounds: Desiante escapes to get within one. Facundo scores a takedown on a re-attack to push his lead to 9-5, but Desiante escapes. Facundo secures one more takedown to take it, 12-6. After another solid outing, Desiante will be back tonight in consolations.
2:26 p.m. - 174 pounds: Facundo escapes to tie it at 3. Desiante gets in deep on a single-leg but can't finish it. Facundo capitalizes and secures a takedown of his own. The Cowboy takes a 6-4 lead heading into the final period.
2:23 p.m. - 174 pounds: Desiante scores a takedown to take a 3-2 lead after one period. He starts the second on top.
2:20 p.m. - 165 pounds: After review, the officials award Bianchi the escape. Church drops the bout 4-1 in tiebreakers after a late Bianchi takedown. He'll look to bounce back tonight in the consolations. Really strong showing from Church.
2:19 p.m. - 174 pounds: Desiante is up on Mat 8 now.
2:18 p.m. - 165 pounds: Church escapes in six seconds to open the first 30-second period, taking a 2-1 lead into the second frame. Church is really tough on top and maintains his riding time advantage, but Little Rock challenges that Bianchi didn't escape.
2:15 p.m. - 165 pounds: Bianchi gets in one a single-leg, but Church stuffs it and forces a scramble on the edge of the mat to force tiebreakers.
2:12 p.m. - 165 pounds: Church counters with an escape of his own to open the frame. All square to force sudden victory after some scrambling from both guys.
2:08 p.m. - 165 pounds: Bianchi escapes to take a 1-0 lead. Church scrambles on the edge but couldn't get the takedown. He starts the third on bottom.
2:05 p.m. - 165 pounds: No score after one. Church starts the second period on top.
2:02 p.m. - 165 pounds: No. 25 Mac Church is up on Mat 6 now. He faces Little Rock's No. 8 Matty Bianchi.
2:00 p.m. - 174 pounds: No. 25 Sergio Desiante is in the hole on Mat 8. He has a rematch with Oklahoma State's No. 8 Alex Facundo, to whom Desinate lost last month, 4-1.
1:57 p.m. - 157 pounds: Miller sprawls to avoid a takedown and forces another neutral battle. Owen keeps up the hand fighting, forcing a stall call on Miller, but the Hokies' 157-pounder takes it 1-0 on riding time. This kid is one gritty competitor, folks.
1:54 p.m. - 157 pounds: Miller puts together a tough ride, controlling the period for all but a handful of seconds in the second period. Still no score.
1:51 p.m. - 157 pounds: No score after one. Miller starts the second on top.
1:46 p.m. - 157 pounds: Miller is up on Mat 4 now.
1:39 p.m. - There's a sizable contingent of Virginia Tech faithful scattered around the building. A strong "Let's Go...Hokies!" chant reverberates around the rafters every once in a while, in case you forgot those in maroon and orange were there. Hokies fans once again prove they'll go anywhere, any time.
1:28 p.m. - 157 pounds: No. 14 Ethen Miller is in the hole on Mat 4 against Columbia’s No. 19 Kai Owen.
1:28 p.m. - 149 pounds: After a back-and-forth third period, Gaj takes it 9-4 with riding time.
1:25 p.m. - 149 pounds: Gaj earns another takedown midway through the second and continues his tough ride to take a 6-0 lead into the final period.
1:22 p.m. - 149 pounds: After securing a single-leg takedown, Gaj rides out Cassidy to take a 3-0 lead after the first period. He'll start the second on top.
1:18 p.m. - 149 pounds: Gaj is up on Mat 2 now. Notably, his right ankle is heavily taped, like it was in the ACC tournament a few weeks ago. Something to keep an eye on.
1:06 p.m. - 149 pounds: No. 4 Collin Gaj is in the hole on Mat 2. He'll face George Mason's No. 29 Kade Cassidy.
1:03 p.m. - 141 pounds: Crook drops the bout, 14-2. He'll look to respond in the consolations later tonight.
1:00 p.m. - 141 pounds: Through two periods, Crook is down 9-2. He'll start the third on top.
12:58 p.m. - 141 pounds: Crook is down 6-1 at the end of the first. Vombauer looks dialed today,.
12:55 p.m. - 141 pounds: Crook is up on Mat 6 now.
12:47 p.m. - 141 pounds: No. 25 Tom Crook is next up on Mat 6. He'll face Minnesota's returning All-American No. 8 Vance Vombaur.
12:44 p.m. - 133 pounds: On Mat 7, Seidel secures a 7-point move in the opening seconds and gets another takedown to take a 10-2 lead after the first period. He later wins the bout by a 17-2 technical fall in the opening round. It's his 14th bonus point victory of the season.
12:43 p.m. - 125 pounds: Ventresca works hard to earn an opening-round win by a score of 8-6.
12:40 p.m. - 133 pounds: No. 4 Aaron Seidel is up versus Wyoming's No. 29 Luke Willochel.
12:40 p.m. - 125 pounds: Back-and-forth after two periods, no score change.
12:38 p.m. - 125 pounds: Ventresca secured a quick takedown and worked a turn but could't get it in the first period. He'll start the second on top. Score: Ventresca 3, Pleasant 1
12:33 p.m. - 125 pounds: Ventresca up now.
12:00 p.m. - 125 pounds: No. 2 Eddie Ventresca is in the hole on Mat 6 against Drexel's No. 31 Desmond Pleasant.
