TULSA, OK – After Session IV of the 2023 NCAA Championships, the Virginia Tech wrestling team five All-American honors, extending the streak of three or more All-Americans to 10-straight years. Mekhi Lewis, Eddie Ventresca, Sam Latona, Caleb Henson, and Bryce Andonian all take the mat for placement on Saturday morning.
No. 3 Mekhi Lewis suffered only his second loss at the national tournament in a 3-1 TB-1 heartbreaker to Nebraska's No. 2 Mikey Labriola. With a scoreless first period, Lewis would garner a quick escape in the second to lead 1-0 into the third. Labriola would even the score with an escape to send the bout into overtime. Lewis would nearly secure a takedown in the closing seconds of sudden victory. Lewis would be unable to escape in the first tie-breaker period pushing Labriola to take neutral. Lewis would be unable to score to fall into the consolation bracket and battle for third place.
Cinderella story, No. 27 Eddie Ventresca dispatched yet another Top-11 opponent in No. 9 Eric Barnett of Wisconsin to earn his first All-American honor and second on the day for the Hokies. Scoreless in the first, Barnett chose bottom to begin the second period and that's when the redshirt freshman Hokie went to work with two nearfall points to take the lead. Ventresca would give up an escape at the end of the second but not before securing riding time advantage. Ventresca would choose neutral to begin the final frame and would refuse to give up a takedown despite Barnett's numerous attempts to secure All-American status at 125-pounds.
No. 6 Sam Latona will return to the podium yet again, but this time at 133-pounds. In the blood round on Friday evening, Latona faced No. 9 Mickey Phillippi of Pittsburgh to determine All-America status. Latona would strike first and strike early, securing a single leg for two and ride the Panther for over 2:30 of riding time advantage. Phillippi would choose bottom to begin the second period to which Latona would once again ride for before giving up an escape. The Hokie would take neutral to begin the final period and would add one more takedown in the final minute to lock the 5-1 decision victory and second All-American honors in his career. Latona's victory extended the Hokies streak of three or more All-Americans to 10-straight years.
The freshman phenom's incredible season continues. After dropping his Round of 16 bout, No. 4 Caleb Henson won three straight on the backside to secure All-American honors in his debut season. Henson battled past All-American No. 7 Yaya Thomas of Northwestern on Friday night to snag a podium finish and it was the young Hokie making a statement early with a six-point move in the opening minute to lead 6-0. Thomas would manage an escape at the end of the period but Henson would never look back as the bout progressed. Henson would select bottom to begin the second period and gain an escape early in what would be the only points exchanged in the period. Henson would give up an escape in the third period but would manage to stifle Thomas from any offense. With a 7-2 decision, Henson becomes the first true freshman All-American since David McFadden in 2016.
The most exciting wrestler in college wrestling lived up to the billing once again. No. 7 Bryce Andonian battled back after a controversial quarterfinal bout to secure a fall in the blood round over Michigan State's No. 11 Chase Saldate. Flurries were exchanged throughout the bout eventually entering the third with Andonian leading 5-4. Andonian would elect to cut Saldate to push the score to even before countering the Spartan's attack into his own and put Saldate to his back for the eventual fall. With his victory, Andonian comes the Hokies' second, two-time All-American on the day.
174-pounds
Semifinals – #3 Mekhi Lewis loss #2 Mikey Labriola (Nebraska), 1-3 TB-1
125-pounds
Blood Round – #27 Eddie Ventresca DEC #9 Eric Barnett (Wisconsin), 3-1
Consolation Quarterfinals - #27 Eddie Ventresca loss #10 Brandon Courtney (Arizona State), 2-4
133-pounds
Blood Round – #6 Sam Latona DEC #9 Mickey Phillippi (Pittsburgh), 5-1
Consolation Quarterfinals – #6 Sam Latona loss Jesse Mendez (Ohio State), 1-2 TB-1
149-pounds
Blood Round – #4 Caleb Henson DEC #7 Yaya Thomas (Northwestern), 7-2
Consolation Quarterfinals – #4 Caleb Henson DEC Brock Mauller (Mizzou), 6-4
157-pounds
Blood Round – #7 Bryce Andonian FALL #11 Chase Saldate (Michigan State), 6:22
Consolation Quarterfinals - #7 Bryce Andonian loss
184-pounds
Blood Round – #7 Hunter Bolen loss #11 Gavin Kane (North Carolina), 3-4
