BLACKSBURG, VA - No. 8 Virginia Tech travels north to New Jersey for another ACC versus Big 10 battle against No. 13 Rutgers on Friday night at Jersey Mike's Arena at 7 p.m. EST. There will be potentially nine-ranked bouts on the evening featuring the return of Mekhi Lewis to his home state in his final season campaign.
Homecoming Weekend for Hometown Hero
As the Hokies travel to take on Rutgers to continue the dual season, one of the biggest stories of the matchup surrounds Hokie Nation's own Mekhi Lewis, a New Jersey native, who will be wrestling in his home state - and minutes from his hometown - for the first time in seven years.
Lewis grew up right down the street from Rutgers in Somerset, NJ, and attended Bound Brook High School, which is less than a 15 minute drive from the Scarlet Knights' main campus, where the Hokies will be wrestling on Friday night.
A multiple-sport athlete throughout his high school career at Bound Brook, Lewis thrived and continued to improve in the program - earning seventh in the state as a freshman, taking third sophomore year, then secured himself two-state titles in his junior and senior campaigns at 145-pounds and 160-pounds, respectively.
Mekhi's head coach at Bound Brook, Bob Doer, mentioned, "Bound Brook has had immense success and the reason is because of Mekhi Lewis. Mekhi wanted to be the guy who wanted to win states just like the guys before him and that created a profound impact because those previous state champs knew he (Mekhi) was coming so that pushed them to be better. The Bound Brook community is one big family community and Mekhi wanted to be the best for the best because of the community and the people he was representing."
Now standing as the first and only national champion in Virginia Tech's program history, Lewis returns home a legend and an inspiration, especially to those currently going through the Bound Brook wrestling program.
"What Mekhi has meant to the Bound Brook wrestling community is his embodiment of great work ethic, a determination to be great, and the ability to give back to Bound Brook wrestling by helping the youth in the community. Mekhi's success has paved the way for other Bound Brook wrestlers to believe they can achieve success just as he has. When talking about Bound Brook wrestling, he is an example of the program with his excellence in the classroom, his commitment to giving back to his community, and excelling on the mat," said Bound Brook assistant coach Manny Kakas.
While the past couple years have been filled with school, training, and competition, Lewis never forgot about his roots in New Jersey, and was able to give back to his hometown in monumental ways. One of the most notable, being an $8,000 donation to the Center of Great Expectations in Somerset, along with helping to raise an additional $13,000 for the center last summer.
Currently ranked No. 3 in the nation, Lewis and the No. 8 Hokies will look to a crowd full of family and friends, when he presumably takes on Rutgers' Jackson Turley Friday night. The dual features nine ranked wrestlers between both squads in what will prove to be an electric matchup in Piscataway. Match time is set for 7p.m. EST at Jersey Mike's Arena live on Big Ten Plus.
Bill Farrell Invitational
Cooper Flynn will once again be back in action as he takes the mat in New York City at the 2023 Bill Farrell Invitational on Saturday. In a loaded 57-kilogram weight class, the winner of each bracket will secure a berth to the 2024 Olympic Team Trials.
Action begins at 9:30 a.m. EST live on Flowrestling with a subscription.
Shorty Hitchcock
A Virginia Tech wrestling contingent will be headed to Millersville, PA for the Shorty Hitchcock Tournament on Saturday. The tournament begins at 10 a.m. EST in the Student Memorial Center.
Hokies Competing:
133 |
Caden Hagler
Jack Bastarrika
141 |
Chris Bacchione
DJ Chavis
149 |
Luke Robie
Tom Crook (unattached)
174 |
James Brown
2023 Keystone Classic
Tech will once again be making a trip back to the city of brotherly love for the Keystone Classic. The Hokies will send a deep roster as they look to secure back-to-back Keystone Classic titles and improve upon their five individual champions from a season ago. Making their career debuts on Sunday for the Hokies are freshmen Sonny Sasso and Jimmy Mullen.
Action begins at 9:30 a.m. EST from the Palestra at the University of Pennsylvania on Sunday, November 18 live on Flowrestling with a streaming subscription.
Tech at Keystone Classic
125 |
No. 15 Eddie Ventresca
133 |
Logan Frazier
141 |
Mac Church
149 |
No. 4 Caleb Henson
157 |
No. 5 Bryce Andonian
165 |
No. 19 Connor Brady
Clayton Ulrey
Rafael Hipolito, Jr.
Thomas Finn
174 |
Kolton Clark
184 |
No. 21 Sam Fisher
197 |
No. 16 Andy Smith
Sonny Sasso
285 |
No. 18 Hunter Catka
Jimmy Mullen
NWCA All-Star Classic
The NWCA All-Star Classic is back and for the second consecutive season, the lineup features two Hokies – No. 3 Mekhi Lewis and No. 5 Sam Latona!
Lewis makes his second appearance and will face a familiar foe in No. 1 Carter Starocci of Penn State at 174-pounds for the third time in their careers. Latona makes his All-Star Classic debut as he faces Lehigh's Connor McGonagle at 133-pounds.
Action takes place in State College on Tuesday, November 21 at 7 p.m. EST. Live streaming will be available via Flowrestling subscription with tickets still available for purchase here.
