Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech wrestling director of performance, and former Tech wrestler, Ty Walz takes home the bronze medal at the 2019 Continental Cup in Khasavjurt, Russia. Olympic redshirt Mekhi Lewis finishes fifth in his senior competition debut after winning three of his five matches.
The 2019 Continental Cup bronze medal is Walz's second third-place finish on the world stage. Walz won a bronze medal at the 2017 U23 World Championships. He is currently USA Wrestling's No. 3 97-kilogram wrestler.
Lewis, in his first senior-level tournament, finished fifth in the 74 kg division after making it to the semifinals, but lost in the bronze-medal match Saturday morning. He won gold at his only other international competition, the 2018 Junior World Championship in Slovakia.
Walz won his bronze medal match 7-1 Friday morning. Walz competed in just two matches in Russia due to the small field of the 97 kg weight class.
Both Walz and Lewis will begin their 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials qualification Nov. 15-16 at the Bill Farrell Memorial Open in New York City.