The most anticipated match of this young 2026-27 season took place on Friday and it didn’t disappoint. Seven days after winning a Senior world championship, Virginia Tech freshman Bo Bassett made his collegiate debut for the Hokies against the top-ranked 141 lber in the nation, Lehigh’s Luke Stanich.
The dual between the fourth-ranked Hokies and the #14 Mountain Hawks started at 149 lbs so as to end with the 141 lb contest being the main event.
Stanich made his 2026-27 debut last week at the Princeton Open and posted five wins - all coming via tech falls. He is the returning NCAA third-place finisher at this weight class and a 2025 U20 world champion.
In addition to the bout being Bassett’s first match in a Hokie singlet and a bout that was for the top spot in the nation, it also had a personal aspect to it. Stanich defeated Bassett in three matches at the 2025 U20 World Team Trials for the opportunity to compete at the world level. The losses to Stanich were Bassett’s most recent losses to an American opponent.
The bout itself started with heavy hand fighting from both wrestlers; however, it was Bassett who got on the board late in the opening period with an elbow pass to a high crotch. He led 3-1 after one period.
In the second period, Bassett added a pair of takedowns to increase his lead to 9-3. After an escape from Bassett and a stall call on Stanich, early in the third period, the match appeared to be getting away from the Lehigh veteran as he faced an 11-3 deficit. To his credit, Stanich fought back and picked up two takedown, one right after another in the final :30 seconds of the period to pull within a three-point margin, 12-9.
After the second Stanich takedown, the Virginia Tech corner threw a challenge brick and the sequence was confirmed. That break stopped Stanich’s momentum heading into the final :19 seconds of the match. Stanich allowed Bassett to escape but couldn’t get another takedown, making the final score 13-9.
The late rally from Stanich will keep the intrigue surrounding their next meeting, which takes place later this month at the NWCA All-Star Classic.
With his win, Bassett will jump up from his current position of fifth at 141 lbs to a number one ranking once InterMat’s new rankings are released on Tuesday morning.
The fourth-ranked Virginia Tech team lived up to the hype, taking eight of ten matches from Lehigh in a 30-6 victory. The highlight for the home team was a slight upset by #15 Logan Rozynski, who knocked off Virginia Tech’s All-American, #8 Collin Gaj.
Lehigh will be in action this weekend with a dual against Indiana tomorrow and the Journeymen Collegiate Classic on Sunday. Virginia Tech has almost two full weeks off between a date with The Citadel on November 19th.
 
Virginia Tech 30 Lehigh 6
149 lbs - Drew Gorman (Virginia Tech) tech Kelvin Griffin (Lehigh)  17-2
157 lbs - Logan Rozynski (Lehigh) dec Collin Gaj (Virginia Tech)  5-2
165 lbs - Mac Church (Virginia Tech) maj Richie Grungo (Lehigh)  10-0
174 lbs - Ryan Burton (Virginia Tech) maj Brady Collins (Lehigh)  16-6
184 lbs - Jaden Bullock (Virginia Tech) dec Rylan Rogers (Lehigh)  4-3
197 lbs - Sonny Sasso (Virginia Tech) maj Cael Weidemoyer (Lehigh)  16-1
285 lbs - Nathan Taylor (Lehigh) dec Jimmy Mullen (Virginia Tech)  6-0
125 lbs - Eddie Ventresca (Virginia Tech) dec Mason Ziegler (Lehigh)  4-2
133 lbs - Aaron Seidel (Virginia Tech) maj Keanu Dillard (Lehigh)  14-2
141 lbs - Bo Bassett (Virginia Tech) dec Luke Stanich (Lehigh)  13-9

What a way to kick off the 2027 Season. Lots of wrestling, some surprise results, and new faces in staring spaces.
Let’s take a look at the top 7 Fantasy Wrestlers of Week 1:


For a quick recap of Week 1, check out the Fantasy College Wrestling Podcast (#FCWpodcast)!
 
On to Week 2…
 
A reminder of some important rules:
Wrestlers entered at a weight must compete at that weight or else their results will not be counted. Wrestlers in the “Floater” spots can compete at ANY weight and accumulate Fantasy points. A wrestler will LOCK on your roster at 12pm ET on the day of their first competition for the week. (refer to the SHP’s Week Preview) Only results against D1 competition (starters, backups, and redshirts) will count towards Fantasy Points.  Check your league settings to know how many add/drops are permitted per week.  Have a question, concern, suggestions, or just want to chat about Fantasy Wrestling? Hit us up on X (Twitter) or head over to the InterMat Forums where we have a Fantasy Wrestling dedicated Forum page! Tournament entries are still trickling in, so turn those notifications “ON” and  check the InterMat Forums for updated entries 
Wrestlers I Like This Week
Wrestler (School)- competition for the week [Proj Score]
 
125:
Isaiah Cortez (COR) - Journeyman Classic
Marcello Milani (COR) - Journeyman Classic
Henry Aslikyan (MICH) - Michigan State Open
Antonio Mills (OHST) - Michigan State Open
Dom Munaretto (OHST) - Michigan State Open
 
Anthony Knox (RUT) - WrangleMania  [+9]
Vincent Robinson (NEB) - Vs Wyoming  [+5]
Troy Spratley or Rocklin Zinkin (OKST) - vs Drexel  [+4]
Brady Roark (SDSU) - Vs Buffalo  [+4]
Eddie Ventresca (VT) - @ Lehigh  [+3]
Alan Koehler (WISC) - Vs Army  [+3]
 
133:
Tyler Ferrara (COR) - Journeyman Classic (recommended Flex)
Elijiah Cortez (COR) - Journeyman Classic
Moses Mendoza (MICH) - Michigan State Open
Markel Baker (NIU) - Michigan State Open

Vinny Paino (PUR) - Vs Air Force, Vs The Citadel  [+8]
Brett Ungar (RUT) - WrangleMania  [+8]
Jax Forrest (OKST) - vs Drexel  [+5]
Aaron Seidel (VT) - @ Lehigh  [+5]
Joseph Uhorchuck (ARMY) - @ Wisconsin  [+4]
TK Davis (GWU) - Vs Virginia  [+4]
Cale Seaton (SDSU) - Vs Buffalo  [+4]
Jacob Van Dee (NEB) - Vs Wyoming  [+3]

 
141:
Eren Sement (MICH) - Michigan State Open
Kellen Wolbert (MICH) - Michigan State Open
 
Carter Nogle (AF) - Vs Purdue, Vs The Citadel  [+8]
Caedyn Ricciardi (NAVY) - WrangleMania  [+7]
Jayden Raney (OKST) - vs Drexel  [+4]
Braden Basile (ARMY) - @ Wisconsin  [+4]
Evan Frost (ISU) - @ Utah Valley  [+4]
Tyler Wells (OU) - @ Northern Colorado  [+4]
Gable Porter (UVA) - @ Gardner-Webb  [+4]
Greyson Clark (ILL) - WrangleMania  [+3], Journeyman Classic


 
149:
Jordyn Raney (OKST) - Michigan State Open
 
Gavin Brown (PUR) - Vs Air Force, Vs The Citadel  [+6]
Anthony Echemendia (NEB) - Vs Wyoming  [+5]
Jack Gioffre (OU) - @ Northern Colorado  [+5]
AJ Rallo (BELL) - @ Ohio  [+4]
Jacob Frost (ISU) - @ Utah Valley  [+4]
Sergio Vega (OKST) - vs Drexel  [+4]
Sam Ewing (BUFF) - @ South Dakota State  [+3]
Michael Gioffre (ILL) - WrangleMania  [+3], Journeyman Classic
Caleb Henson (VT) - @ Lehigh  [+3]


 
157:
Jaxon Joy (COR) - Journeyman Classic
Haakon Peterson (MICH) - Michigan State Open 
Kannon Webster (ILL) - WrangleMania  [+3], Journeyman Classic
 
Landon Robideau (OKST) - vs Drexel  [+5]
Joseph Antonio (ARMY) - @ Wisconsin  [+4]
Brock Herman (LR) - Vs Drexel  [+4]
Antrell Taylor (NEB) - Vs Wyoming  [+4]
Rafael Hipolito (OU) - @ Northern Colorado  [+4]
Cael Swensen (SDSU) - Vs Buffalo  [+4]
Paniro Johnson (ISU) - @ Utah Valley  [+3]
Derek Raike (OHIO) - Vs Bellarmine  [+3]

 
165:
Alessio Perentin (COR) - Journeyman Classic
Noah Mulvaney (BUCK) - Michigan State Open
Cam Catrabone (MICH) - Michigan State Open
Ladarion Lockett (OKST) - Michigan State Open
Kody Routledge (OKST) - Michigan State Open
 
Joey Blaze (PUR) - Vs Air Force, Vs The Citadel  [+9]
Paddy Gallagher (OU) - @ Northern Colorado  [+4]
Casey Swiderski (OKST) - vs Drexel  [+4]
Mac Church (VT) - @ Lehigh  [+4]
Connor Euton (ISU) - @ Utah Valley  [+3]
Jacob Herm (SDSU) - Vs Buffalo  [+3]
Nick Hamilton (UVA) - @ Gardner-Webb  [+3]

 
174:
Simon Ruiz (COR) - Journeyman Classic
Lorenzo Norman (OKST) - Michigan State Open
Danny Wask (NAVY) - WrangleMania  [+7]
Christopher Minto (NEB) - Vs Wyoming  [+5]
Grant O’Dell (BELL) - @ Ohio  [+4]
Colin Kelly (ILL) - WrangleMania  [+4], Journeyman Classic
Marcus Espinoza-Owens (UVU) - Vs Iowa State  [+4]
Tyler Eise (OU) - @ Northern Colorado  [+3]
Drake Rhodes (SDSU) - Vs Buffalo  [+3]
Ryan Burton (VT) - @ Lehigh  [+3]

 
184:
Louis Cerchio (COR) - Journeyman Classic
Mikey Dellagatta (COR) - Journeyman Classic
Brock Mantanona (MICH) - Michigan State Open
Bennett Berge (OKST) - Michigan State Open
Shane Cartegena-Walsh (RUT) - WrangleMania  [+8]
Chris Moore (ILL) - WrangleMania  [+5], Journeyman Classic
 
Mikey White (OKST) - vs Drexel  [+5]
Dylan Newsome (UVA) - @ Gardner-Webb  [+5]
Jersey Robb (OU) - @ Northern Colorado  [+3]
Eddie Neitenbach (WYO) - @ Nebraska  [+3]

 
197:
Jude Correa (COR) - Journeyman Classic
Dillon Bechtold (BUCK) - Michigan State Open
Hayden Walters (MICH) - Michigan State Open
Ryder Rogotzke (OHST) - Michigan State Open
 
Karson Tomkins (AF) - Vs Purdue, Vs The Citadel  [+8]
Stephen Little (LR) - Vs Drexel  [+5]
Cody Merrill (OKST) - vs Drexel  [+5]
Sonny Sasso (VT) - @ Lehigh  [+4]
 
285:
Rocco Dellagatta (COR) - Journeyman Classic
Nicholas Sahakian (MICH) - Michigan State Open  
 
Rylan Kuhn (AF) - Vs Purdue, Vs The Citadel  [+7]
Coby Merrill (ISU) - @ Utah Valley  [+5]
Bradley Hill (OU) - @ Northern Colorado  [+5]
Dreshaun Ross (OKST) - vs Drexel  [+5]
Cade Ziola (NEB) - Vs Wyoming  [+4]
Luke Rasmussen (SDSU) - Vs Buffalo  [+4]
Brenan Morgan (UVA) - @ Gardner-Webb  [+4]
Nathan Taylor (LEH) - WrangleMania  [+3]

Hey Guys- need more questions!!
In the meantime, let's talk about the axe.
There is a pretty good read by Andy Frisella about The Axe on his website.
What The Axe Can Teach You About Success... (andyfrisella.com)
You can read at your leisure. I think you guys would enjoy Andy's content if you want to take a deep dive.
Yesterday, I found myself telling our guys to "keep swinging the axe" as we get ready for the start of the season. I like using that metaphor because I think it highlights a couple of things.

1- They aren't going to go down on the first swing.
2- You gotta have a sharp axe
3- Swinging an axe is hard, and it doesn't get much easier as you continue to do it.
 
Frisella covers some of these points in his piece as well.
So, obviously this can be applied to mat wrestling. Your first attack might not be successful, but if you are persistent with that axe, you will get to where you want to be. You have to be dogged.  
It can also be a mantra for your training. You don't see immediate progress with an axe. It takes a while. It isn't an implement built for instant gratification. But every swing does matter.
The last place I think about axe swinging is in your pursuit of the outcomes you want. You have to push your athletes to be sure, but you have to push your peers, your supervisors, your stakeholders as well. No one wants to do paperwork, but you have to. No one wants to think strategically, but it is essential to "felling the tree." No one wants to bother people and stay on them every day. But all these things are just as essential as the 90 minutes, or so, you practice every day.  
You have to keep swinging the axe.
Axe swinging is grim, gritty work and the payoff is almost never apparent on the first strike.
Keep doing it.
Have an axe-worthy weekend.