BLACKSBURG, VA. – No. 8 Virginia Tech took the opening five bouts and defeated visiting Campbell 28-6 on Saturday at Cassell Coliseum in the 2020-21 season opener for both squads.

Virginia Tech, ranked No. 8 in the nation in the first NWCA Coaches Poll of the 2020-21 season, built an 18-0 lead with three narrow decisions and a pin at 141 pounds.

Leading off the day, Taye Ghadiali, bumping up to heavyweight, took No. 19 John Borst to the third period, but fell 6-3. No. 16 Sam Latona also edged Campbell's Zurich Storm 5-3, one of five Camels making their dual lineup debuts for CU.

Benjamin Barton picked up Campbell's first team points of the day at 157 pounds, taking a 7-4 decision over No. 25 Connor Brady. The redshirt senior, ranked No. 33 by The Open Mat, tied it up 3-3 with a takedown in the final seconds of the second period, then extended his lead to 6-3 with an escape and a third period takedown, and securing the 7-4 win with riding time.

Two bouts later, Austin Murphy was locked up 4-4 with Kolton Clark before the Campbell junior's takedown with 13 seconds remaining, earning a 6-4 decision.

At 184 pounds, Caleb Hopkins nearly brought the Camels closer, despite facing No. 2 Hunter Bolen. Hopkins trailed 4-1 after erasing riding time in the second period, but Bolen held on for the 4-3 decision.

"We wanted to dual a top-10 team early to measure ourselves and see where we stood," said head coach Scotti Sentes. "Overall we were right there in each of our individual matches and the team stayed in the fight and gave themselves chances to win. There are certainly some technical takeaways we need to correct to close the gap but in the end this team is scrappy and left the arena ready to get to back to work."

Next up, Campbell is scheduled to begin its Southern Conference slate in Lexington, Va. on January 16, squaring off with second-year program Presbyterian and host VMI.

No. 8 Virginia Tech 28, Campbell 6
285: No. 19 John Borst (VT) over Taye Ghadiali (Campbell) Dec. 6-3 (3-0)
125: No. 16 Sam Latona (VT) over Zurich Storm (Campbell) Dec 5-3 (6-0)
133: No. 14 Korbin Myers (VT) over Gabriel Hixenbaugh (Campbell) Dec 4-1 (9-0)
141: Sam Hillegas (VT) over Shannon Hanna (Campbell) Fall (4:17) (15-0)
149: No. 19 Bryce Andonian (VT) over No. 10 Josh Heil (Campbell) Dec 12-9 (18-0)
157: No. 33 Benjamin Barton (Campbell) over No. 25 Connor Brady (VT) Dec 7-4 (18-3)
165: No. 1 Mekhi Lewis (VT) over No. 32 Austin Kraisser (Campbell) MD 13-4 (22-3)
174: Austin Murphy (Campbell) over Kolton Clark (VT) Dec 6-4 (22-6)
184: No. 2 Hunter Bolen (VT) over Caleb Hopkins (Campbell) Dec 4-3 (25-6)
197: Andy Smith (VT) over Levi Hopkins (Campbell) Dec 12-7 (28-6)
* Individual rankings according to The Open Mat
* Team rankings according to NWCA

Campbell vs. Virginia Tech, extra matches
125: Joey Prata (VT) over Zurich Storm (Campbell) Dec 7-1
133: Gabe Hixenbaugh (Campbell) over Brandon Wittenberg (VT) Dec 3-0
141: Sam Hillegas (VT) over Spencer Leonhardt (Campbell) Dec 5-2
149: Caden Darber (VT) over Jason Kraisser (Campbell) DQ
157: Benjamin Barton (Campbell) over Clayton Ulrey (VT) Dec 2-0
157: Troy Nation (Campbell) over Connor Brady (VT) Dec 11-6
165: Austin Kraisser (Campbell) over Jordan Florence (VT) Dec 8-6
165: Mekhi Lewis (VT) over Jack Ervien (Campbell) TF 17-2 (5:43)
174: Austin Murphy (Campbell) over Sam Fisher (VT) Dec 3-1 (SV-1)
174: Kolton Clark (VT) over Josh Kenny (Campbell) WBF 2:20
184: Caleb Hopkins (Campbell) over Nate Warden (VT) Dec 5-4
197: Stan Smeltzer (VT) over Levi Hopkins (Campbell) Dec 12-5
197: Andy Smith (VT) over Taye Ghadialli (Campbell) Dec 5-2
285: Hunter Catka (VT) over Luke Davis (Campbell) TF 17-1 (5:39)