COLLEGE PARK, Md - Virginia and Virginia Tech had gone back and forth in the team standings of the ACC wrestling tournament all weekend.

It was only fitting that the conference champion would be decided in the last match.

The Hokies' David Marone claimed an 8-0 major decision over the Cavaliers' Derek Papagianopolis in that match at 285 pounds, giving the Hokies their first-ever ACC wrestling championship.

Tech trailed Virginia by 10 points going into the final round, and had only six wrestlers in the finals, compared to eight for UVa.

But starting with Jarrod Garrett's pin of top-seeded Nathan Kraisser of UNC at 125 pounds, the Hokies went on a run that saw five of those six wrestlers win conference titles.

Garrett was also named the tournament's most outstanding wrestler.

The Hokies then won three consecutive finals over Virginia foes:

Nick Brascetta defeated Derek Valenti at 149 pounds. Jesse Dong won his third ACC title by topping Jedd Moore at 157 pounds. Pete Yates then won his second ACC title with a win over Nick Sulzer at 165 pounds.

Those wins, along with the final win gave Tech 95.5 points. UVa ended up with 90.5.

Host Maryland ended up in third with 48.5, edging fourth-place Maryland, which had 45 points.

"Toughness prevailed tonight," Virginia Tech head coach Kevin Dresser said. "Coming back when you have zero room for error is a credit to these 10 guys and my assistants. Great staff. Great team."

The Cavaliers' lone ACC Champion was freshman George DiCamillo at 133 pounds. He decisioned Duke's Brandon Gambucci 10-9.

UVa's other finalists were Jon Fausey (174), Stephen Doty (184) and Mike Salopek (197).

Virginia Tech last won a conference tournament in 1998 as a member of the Colonial Athletic Association. Tech also won Southern Conference wrestling tourney titles seven times in the 1950s and '60s, and a 1993 CAA title.

VMI finishes 7th at SoCon tournament

LEXINGTON - Tennessee-Chattanooga had eight wrestlers reach the finals, and five came away with championships for the Mocs, on the way to the Southern Conference tournament title.

Chattanooga's 90.5 points easily bettered runner-up Campbell, which finished with 59.5 points.

Tournament host VMI was seventh with 23.5 points.

Ryan Goodsell was the top finisher for the Keydets, taking third place at 141 pounds. John Dommert, who was seeded seventh at 174 pounds, ended defeated two higher seeds on the way to a fourth-place finish.

All 10 wrestlers placed for Tech, including eight in the top three. Additionally, nine wrestlers qualified for the NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.

Virginia had nine wrestlers earn automatic qualifying spots to the 2013 NCAA Championships, the most in the program's history.

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