OMAHA, Neb. – Of the 11 Virginia Tech wrestlers sent to the United World Wrestling U23 and Junior Nationals hosted by USA Wrestling, nine placed in the top eight, including three second-place finishes at the CHI Health Center.
On top of the three runners-up, Hokies finished third, fourth, fifth, seventh and eighth at the national tournaments that concluded Sunday afternoon. All six Tech wrestlers sent to Junior Nationals placed while three of five placed at U23 Nationals.
Looking to improve on an impressive freshman campaign that saw him finish as the ACC 149-pound runner-up, Bryce Andonian took second at Junior Nationals in the 65-kilogram weight class. The sophomore went 5-1 on the weekend with two pins and two technical fall victories. After reaching the quarterfinals Saturday afternoon, Andonian fought to the championship Sunday with a technical fall and a 15-15 decision win on criteria over 2020 All-American Sammy Alvarez.
Former Cadet World Team member Clayton Ulrey continued to excel at freestyle wrestling, earning second place in the 70-kilogram division at Junior Nationals. The freshman went 5-1 in Omaha with four technical fall victories en route to the championship match. Ulrey went 2-1 Sunday after a 3-0 Saturday, adding a technical fall and a decision victory to Saturday's three techs.
Hunter Catka, a teammate of Ulrey's on the Cadet World Team, also took second Sunday afternoon in Omaha. Catka went 4-1 in the 125-kilogram division with all four of his wins coming via technical fall. The No. 1 heavyweight recruit from the class of 2020 outscored his opponents 41-0 before losing a decision in the finals.
In his first competition since arriving in Blacksburg, freshman Sam Hillegas showed why he was a highly touted recruit coming out of Pennsylvania with a third-place finish in the 61-kilogram weight class at Junior Nationals. Hillegas went 7-1 at the tournament with five of his wins coming via technical fall. After dropping his first match Sunday in the quarterfinals, Hillegas won four straight to claim third place.
Another freshman making an impact in Omaha, Andy Smith placed fourth at Junior Nationals in the 92-kilogram division after a 4-2 showing at the tournament. The Christiansburg native went 3-2 Sunday, winning all matches by decision after getting a technical fall victory Saturday. Smith dropped his first match in the quarterfinals Sunday before rattling off three straight wins to reach the third-place match.
Fresh off his first season as a starter, Stan Smeltzer took fifth place at U23 Nationals in the 86-kilogram bracket. The redshirt junior went 4-2 on the weekend and had a strong 3-1 showing Sunday. Smeltzer won by technical fall and decision to reach the fifth-place match Sunday afternoon after a 1-1 Saturday.
Connor Brady earned seventh place in the 70-kilogram division at Junior Nationals. The redshirt freshman went 5-2 on the weekend and 3-2 Sunday after he rebounded from a quarterfinal defeat Sunday morning.
After a 2-2 Sunday, Dakota Howard placed seventh at U23 Nationals in the 79-kilogram weight class. Howard, competing in the consolations after dropping his first match of the day, had two technical fall victories Sunday to earn seventh and wrap up a 4-2 weekend.
Collin Gerardi took eighth place at U23 Nationals in the 61-kilogram bracket after a 3-3 weekend in Omaha. Gerardi reached the quarterfinals Saturday before falling to All-American Micky Phillippi. In the consolations, Gerardi battled back to reach the seventh-place match, where he fell to a decision loss.
Joey Prata did not compete Sunday due to an injury.
U23 Nationals
57 kg
Joey Prata TF Nicholas Arborio, 13-2 (4:55)
Paul Bianchi dec. Joey Prata, 7-6
Joey Prata dec. Nicolas Aguilar, 9-4
Patrick McKee def. Joey Prata, Injury Forfeit
61 kg
Collin Gerardi dec. Travis Ford-Melton, 4-3
Collin Gerardi TF Stefano McKinney, 11-1 (2:33)
Micky Phillippi dec. Collin Gerardi, 2-0
Collin Gerardi dec. Dominic La Joie, 6-2
Josh Kramer dec. Collin Gerardi, 6-1
Drew Mattin dec. Collin Gerardi, 9-2
79 kg
Dakota Howard dec. Luke Ewing, 8-2
Dakota Howard dec. Victor Marcelli, 6-6
Nelson Brands TF Dakota Howard, 12-2 (3:46)
Dakota Howard TF Hayden Hastings, 16-6 (4:58)
Myles Wilson TF Dakota Howard, 11-0 (2:03)
Dakota Howard TF Michael Battista, 19-9 (5:23)
86 kg
Stan Smeltzer TF John Maruri, 14-2 (1:17)
Taylor Lujan TF Stan Smeltzer, 14-3 (3:53)
Stan Smeltzer dec. Tate Samuelson, 8-5
Stan Smeltzer TF Jacob Raschka, 14-4 (6:00)
Cameron Caffey TF Stan Smeltzer, 10-0 (1:29)
Stan Smeltzer def. Gregg Harvey Jr., Forfeit
125 kg
John Borst TF Wyatt Wriedt, 10-0 (3:00)
Luke Luffman dec. John Borst, 7-2
Brian Andrews dec. John Borst, 3-2
Junior Nationals
61 kg
Sam Hillegas TF Owen Berry, 10-0 (1:08)
Sam Hillegas TF Malcolm Robinson, 10-0 (2:17)
Sam Hillegas TF Ryan Jack, 10-0 (3:55)
Cole Matthews TF Sam Hillegas, 12-1 (3:50)
Sam Hillegas TF Zach Price, 12-1 (2:16)
Sam Hillegas TF Daniel Kimball, 10-0 (1:06)
Sam Hillegas dec. Isaiah Delgado, 16-9
Sam Hillegas dec. Carter Young, 10-3
65 kg
Bryce Andonian TF Michael Kumlien, 10-0 (0:24)
Bryce Andonian F Vincent Mannella, 0:12
Bryce Andonian F Legend Lamer, 1:36
Bryce Andonian TF Anthony Ferrari, 12-2 (1:45)
Bryce Andonian dec. Sammy Alvarez, 15-15
Joshua Edmond TF Bryce Andonian, 10-0 (1:29)
70 kg
Connor Brady TF Payne Carr, 10-0 (1:57)
Clayton Ulrey TF Gabriel Fiser, 10-0 (2:14)
Connor Brady dec. Kyle Mosher, 8-0
Clayton Ulrey TF Jeremy Ridge, 10-0 (0:29)
Connor Brady dec. Francis Morrissey, 12-6
Clayton Ulrey TF Andrew Garr, 13-3 (3:30)
Keegan O'Toole TF Connor Brady, 11-0 (4:59)
Clayton Ulrey TF Joseph Roberts, 10-0 (1:51)
Connor Brady TF Antonio Petrucelli, 10-0 (1:45)
Clayton Ulrey dec. Lucas Revano, 10-4
Justin McCoy TF Connor Brady, 12-2 (4:45)
Connor Brady dec. Tyler Badgett, 11-4
Keegan O'Toole F Clayton Ulrey, 1:40
92 kg
Andy Smith TF Cody Fisher, 11-1 (5:21)
Albert Ferrari TF Andy Smith, 10-0 (0:40)
Andy Smith dec. Ben Vanadia, 13-8
Andy Smith dec. Gabe Christenson, 5-3
Andy Smith dec. Zach Glazier, 5-1
William Janzer TF Andy Smith, 10-0 (2:45)
125 kg
Hunter Catka TF Jessie Knight, 10-0 (0:22)
Hunter Catka TF Dakoda Powell, 10-0 (1:30)
Hunter Catka TF Blake Querio, 11-0 (3:47)
Hunter Catka TF Matthew Cover, 10-0 (4:37)
Joshua Heindselman dec. Hunter Catka, 15-6
