The Kent State wrestling team's opening weekend will pose one of its biggest challenges of the season at Virginia Tech. The Golden Flashes take on the host Hokies and Chattanooga in dual meets Saturday (Nov. 7) in Blacksburg, Va. followed by The Hokie Open Sunday (Nov. 8) in Salem.

CLASH OF RANKED TEAMS: According to Lighthouse Wrestling and Division 1 College Wrestling, Virginia Tech is No. 21 in preseason Division I team rankings. The Hokies are 24th in Wrestling Insider Newsmagazine's Tournament Power Index, while the Golden Flashes are 21st. KSU is No. 22 in D1CW's preseason poll and No. 23 according to Lighthouse.

TOURNAMENT INFO: Kent State, Virginia Tech and Chattanooga are among the 18 teams with at least 10 wrestlers competing at the Hokie Open. Nationally ranked Virginia and Duke along with future dual opponents Newberry and Ohio are also among the teams competing. For more tournament information visit www.hokieopen.com.

LIVE STATS: Live stats for all of Saturday's dual meets at Cassell Coliseum will be available at: www.hokiesports.com/wrestling/live

A LOOK AT VIRGINIA TECH

The Hokies return all 10 starters from a team that went 20-2 last season and 5-0 in ACC duals. Six of Virginia Tech's probable starters were NCAA Qualifiers last season and four of those qualifiers are ranked in InterMat's preseason Top 20:

125- #12 Jarrod Garnett (So.)

141- #7 Chris Diaz (Jr.)

149- #15 Peter Yates (So.)

184- #17 Tommy Spellman (Jr.)

 - Diaz, Yates and redshirt sophomore Anthony Trongone (174) each won individual titles at last year's Hokie Open. Garnett placed second, while D.J. Bruce, this year's starter at heavyweight, finished second at 197. Junior Matt Epperly (165) placed third at last year's Hokie Open.

A LOOK AT CHATTANOOGA

The Mocs return eight starters from a team that went unbeaten (5-0) in Southern Conference Duals last season and 12-8 overall. Three Chattanooga wrestlers were victorious against Kent State in last season's dual at the Boilermaker Challenge, including Joey Knox, this season's starter at 157 and Jason McCroskey, the starter at 174. Knox, a senior is ranked 16th in Intermats's preseason poll, while senior Cody Cleveland is ranked 20th at 141. Knox, McCroskey and Cleveland join senior Demetrius Johnson (125) as returning Southern Conference champions in Saturday's projected lineup. Heath Eslinger will be making his debut as Chattanooga's head coach.

MAC PRESEASON POLL

By the narrowest of margins, Central Michigan was picked ahead of Kent State for the top spot in the Mid-American Conference preseason rankings. The Chippewas earned 28 total points from MAC coaches, while the Golden Flashes received 26. Northern Illinois came in the third spot with 16, followed by Ohio (13), Buffalo (12) and Eastern Michigan (5). The Golden Flashes were represented in all 10 weight classes of the poll with three No. 1 individual rankings. Three KSU wrestlers were ranked second, one third and three fourth.

WEIGHT-BY-WEIGHT BREAKDOWN

125- Sophomore Troy Opfer earned the right to wrestle in the dual meet against the Hokies with a 2-0 intra-squad win over redshirt freshman Stevie Mitcheff. Junior Nic Bedelyon will be out of action until at least January, while recovering from shoulder surgery. Bedelyon was ranked as high as fifth in national preseason polls and second in the MAC's preseason poll. Mitcheff could get the start Saturday against Chattanooga.

133- Senior Danny Mitcheff was ranked as high as seventh in national preseason polls and first in the conference. With three victories this weekend, Mitcheff would become the ninth wrestler in Kent State history with 100 career victories. Redshirt freshman Sean Collins gave Mitcheff a close match at Saturday's scrimmage and looks to be on the victory stand at the Hokie Open.

141- Redshirt freshman Chase Skonieczny was ranked fourth in the MAC's preseason poll after an 8-2 opening season wrestling unattached. Skonieczny topped redshirt junior Marcel Clopton 6-1 in the intra-squad scrimmage. Clopton could also see action in dual meets this year after going 13-5 last season.

149- Junior transfer Matt Cathell will make his debut with the Golden Flashes this weekend after going 45-8 in two seasons at Delaware State. Cathell was ranked as high as 11th in national polls and second in the MAC preseason poll. True freshman Tommy Sasfy earned victories over teammates Jake Peterson and Drew Leonard at last weekend's scrimmage. Sasfy won 146 matches in high school, including a 39-2 mark his senior year, finishing as state runner-up at 140 pounds.

157- Redshirt freshman Mallie Shuster hopes to be the surprise of the weekend after winning the starting nod (against Virginia Tech) at the intra-squad scrimmage. Shuster won a combined 44 matches at college tournaments last season and was ranked fourth in the MAC preseason poll. Redshirt sophomore Ross Tice is likely to see action against Chattanooga Saturday. Last year's starter at 157 finished 18-16 overall and 3-2 in conference duals.

165- Redshirt junior Sli Bostelman is expected to face Virginia Tech after edging teammate Obie Simpson in overtime. A two-year starter at 157, Bostelman went 18-9 wrestling unattached last season. Simpson was ranked first in this year's MAC preseason poll after taking second at last season's MAC Tournament. He is likely to get the start against Chattanooga. 

174- Redshirt junior Chris Estep was ranked third in the MAC preseason poll and held on to his starting nod with a 5-0 scrimmage win over redshirt freshman Casey Newburg. Estep finished third at last season's MAC Championships, but will be pushed throughout the season by both Newburg and redshirt freshman Keith Witt.

184- Redshirt sophomore Dustin Kilgore was ranked as high as eighth in national preseason polls and first by MAC coaches. Kilgore was named MAC Freshman of the Year last season after going 33-5 with a pair of NCAA Tournament wins. He will be challenged in his opening bout by 17th ranked Tommy Spellman of Virginia Tech. Newburg and Witt could also see action at 184 this weekend. 

197- Redshirt freshman Adam Cogar was ranked fourth in the MAC's preseason poll. Cogar went 20-2 in college tournaments last season and earned the starting nod with a 6-1 win over redshirt sophomore Ryan Buckner. Kilgore could also see action at 197.

285- Redshirt sophomore Brendan Barlow was picked second in the MAC preseason poll. Barlow went 20-6 last season with a second place finish at the Body Bar Invitational. He won titles last year at the Cleveland State and Ashland Opens.

DUAL STREAK

Kent State won seven straight dual meets to close out the 2008-09 season and will attempt to extend that winning streak to nine on Saturday.

DUAL HISTORY

The Golden Flashes and Mocs have met nine times in dual meets dating back to 1987. KSU has won all four meetings this decade, including a 32-10 victory at last season's Boilermaker Challenge. The Flashes hold an 8-1 all-time series lead with Chattanooga, whose only victory came in 1988.

KSU has won both all-time meetings with Virginia Tech, most recently a 21-12 victory in January of 2008 at the Virginia Duals.