Hokie Club
BLACKSBURG – After three Hokie wrestlers earned All-America honors in 2020-21, Virginia Tech wrestling added another All-American to its lineup Tuesday with the arrival of former Stanford wrestler Nathan Traxler.
Traxler was named an NWCA All-American following the cancellation of the 2020 NCAA Championships and was a three-year team captain for the Cardinal, where he was also a three-time NWCA Academic All-American. The graduate transfer is a four-year qualifier for the NCAA Championships, wrestling at 197 pounds for three years before moving up to heavyweight this past year. The Illinois native won the Pac-12 championship at 197 pounds in 2019.
"We are very excited to have Nathan joining our program and look forward to helping him accomplish his goals on the mat," Virginia Tech wrestling head coach Tony Robie said. "He will be joining a great room of big guys to learn and train alongside. Ultimately, I think that is what attracted him to Virginia Tech. I can't wait for Nathan to get to Blacksburg and get to work."
After qualifying for the 2021 NCAA Championships as a heavyweight, Traxler will stay at the weight for the Hokies. Robie added that the team plans to place the redshirt on freshman and 2021 NCAA Qualifier Hunter Catka for the upcoming season.
"I'm excited about all the opportunities Virginia Tech has to offer me in training partners, coaches, and passion for the sport," Traxler said. "I have loved my time at Stanford and will be forever grateful for the opportunities they have given me, but I'm looking forward to the new perspectives and high achieving atmosphere of the Hokie Team. Can't wait to get to work!"