BLACKSBURG, Va. - Despite four individual victories, No. 21 Stanford fell to No. 8 Virginia Tech, 22-12, in the season opener for both teams at Cassell Coliseum.
All four of Stanford's nationally ranked wrestlers scored points for the Cardinal, while redshirt freshmen Requir van der Merwe (149 pounds), Brandon Dallavia (165 pounds) and Nathan Traxler (197 pounds) made their collegiate debuts.
Redshirt senior Connor Schram, who moved back down to 125 pounds this season, gave Stanford an early 3-0 lead in the dual. Ranked No. 10, Schram scored a takedown in the second period, an escape and a takedown in the third and secured 1:13 of riding time in the 6-1 decision over redshirt freshman Kyle Norstrem.
Returning All-American Paul Fox, ranked No. 9 at 157 pounds, was aggressive to start his match, scoring two first period takedowns on Virginia Tech redshirt junior Ryan Blees. He added a third in the second period and tacked on an escape in the third for a 7-4 decision.
Redshirt senior Keaton Subjeck, who moved back up to 174 pounds this season, turned in a 4-1 decision against Hunter Bolen. Ranked No. 17 to start the season, Subjeck scored a takedown in the final seconds of the opening period. He added an escape to start the second period and registered riding time in the win.
Redshirt senior heavyweight Nathan Butler scored the final points for the Cardinal in a dominating 4-0 decision over Virginia Tech redshirt freshman Andrew Dunn. After a scoreless first period, No. 12 Butler earned an escape and a takedown as the wrestlers were falling out of bounds in the second. He rode out Dunn in the third period to seal the victory.
At 149 pounds, van der Merwe held his own against fourth-ranked Solomon Chishko, forcing a sudden victory period in a 5-3 loss. Redshirt junior Isaiah Locsin returned to the Cardinal lineup after missing last season. He dropped a 6-1 decision to Brent Moore at 141 pounds. Sophomore Gabriel Townsell, a 2017 NCAA qualifier, moved up to 133 pounds for the Cardinal, yielding a 12-1 major decision to Virginia Tech's Dennis Gustafson.
Stanford will be back in action on Sunday at the Hokie Open at the Berglund Center in Roanoke, Virginia.
No. 8 Virginia Tech 22, No. 21 Stanford 12
| Weight | Matchup | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 125 | #10 Connor Schram (STAN) dec. Kyle Norstrem (VT) | 6-1 |
| 133 | Dennis Gustafson (VT) maj. dec. Gabriel Townsell (STAN) | 12-1 |
| 141 | Brent Moore (VT) dec. Isaiah Locsin (STAN) | 6-1 |
| 149 | #4 Solomon Chishko (VT) dec. Requir van der Merwe (STAN) | 5-3 (SV) |
| 157 | #9 Paul Fox (STAN) dec. Ryan Blees (VT) | 7-4 |
| 165 | #9 David McFadden (VT) maj. dec. Brandon Dallavia (STAN) | 15-4 |
| 174 | #17 Keaton Subjeck (STAN) dec. Hunter Bolen (VT) | 4-1 |
| 184 | #6 Zack Zavatsky (VT) tech. fall Austin Flores (STAN) | 19-2 (4:57) |
| 197 | #2 Jared Haught (VT) dec. Nathan Traxler (STAN) | 12-5 |
| 285 | #12 Nathan Butler (STAN) dec. Andrew Dunn (VT) | 4-0 |