BLACKSBURG – Redshirt freshman Mekhi Lewis has been selected as USA Wrestling and TheMat.com's Athlete of the Week on March 26, 2019.
Lewis knocked off two-time NCAA champion Vincenzo Joseph of Penn State in the 165-pound NCAA finals over the weekend to claim his first NCAA title. Lewis entered the tournament as the No. 8 seed.
After a scoreless first period, Lewis started the second period on top, where he stormed out to a big lead, scoring four nearfall points on the two-time defending champ. He extended his lead in the third period with an escape and takedown for a convincing 7-1 decision.
En route to the finals, Lewis also knocked off No. 1 seed and reigning Big Ten champion Alex Marinelli of Iowa and No. 4 seed and returning All-American Evan Wick of Wisconsin.
His performance at nationals garnered him the NWCA's Most Outstanding Wrestler honors. He was the fifth ACC wrestler to be named Most Outstanding Wrestler and the first since NC State's Darrion Caldwell in 2009. Lewis was only the sixth No. 8 seed to win a national title and the first eight seed to win it all at 165 pounds.
Lewis received USA Wrestling's Athlete of the Week on Sept. 25, 2018, after winning a Junior World title in Trnava, Slovakia.