Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech wrestling team enters the 2024-2025 season on the heels of a historic run by head coach Tony Robie and company – crowning the second NCAA champion in program history, continuing an elite All-American streak, conference honors, and thanking a couple of legends that have cemented themselves in Blacksburg and collegiate history. The Robie-led Hokies enter the season ranked in the top 10 with lofty goals and high-potential with returning NCAA champion Caleb Henson leading the way. Take a review of year 2023-2024 as Team 103 prepares for the season ahead.
Passing of the Torch
For just the second time in program history, a Hokie was crowned a national champion. Sophomore Caleb Henson created his own history to join Mekhi Lewis as the only national champions in program history with his dominating win on March 23, 2024, over two-time All-American (2022, Wisconsin; 2024, Michigan) and 2024 Olympian, Austin Gomez. Henson also is just the fourth Hokie to appear in the NCAA finals joining the likes of Devin Carter (2014), Jared Haught (2018), and Mekhi Lewis (2019, 2022). The Cartersville, Ga. native won five bouts over the weekend en route to the 149-pounds national title and claimed his second All-American honor in as many trips to the NCAA tournament.
Lead the Conference
For the eighth time in the last 10 seasons, the Hokies boasted a conference leading finish at the NCAA Championships. Tech finished seventh with 64 points in Kansas City – the second-most in program history – to lead the conference with the next best ACC team finishing in a two-way tie for 11th. Tech also recorded an ACC-leading finish with another Top-11 standing for the 11th out of the past 12 seasons.
All-American Streak Continues
Four Hokies found the podium in Kansas City, marking the 11th-straight season with three or more All-Americans for the program – a statistic shared only by Virginia Tech, Penn State, and Iowa. Caleb Henson ascended to the top podium to improve upon his fifth-place freshman campaign; a pillar of consistency for the Hokies, Mekhi Lewis found the podium once again in his final NCAA Championship appearance; Bryce Andonian once again put on a show en route to a sixth-place finish to conclude his Hokie career; and the young star in Thomas Stewart, Jr. put the country on notice with his seventh-place honor in his debut season.
Tech has now garnered a total of 55 All-American honors courtesy of the four place-winners. To add to his already impressive resume, 51% (28 of 55) of the podium finishes have come under Robie and company’s seven years at the helm in Blacksburg.
End of an Era: The Legend and the Human Highlight Reel Say Goodbye
Making his presence known in 2018 to become Tech’s first world champion to begin his legendary run as the most accomplished wrestler in program history, Mekhi Lewis closed the book on his illustrious career by etching his name into Hokie Stone lore one last time. The Somerset, N.J. native followed up his world title to become the program’s first national champion in 2019 as a redshirt freshman and secure the tournament’s Most Outstanding Wrestler award. Lewis would utilize an Olympic redshirt for the 2019-2020 season in hopes to represent the United States at the 2020 Olympics. After returning from a season ending injury in 2021, Lewis would make history yet again in 2022 to become the first two-time finalist in program history. Lewis would finish fourth in 2023 to become Tech’s sixth three-time All-American, and produce the same finish in 2024, writing history as Tech’s first four-time NCAA All-American. Adding to his Hall of Fame career, he is the program’s only two-time ACC Wrestler of the Year and just the second four-time ACC Champion on top of his many philanthropic efforts. To one of the most accomplished athletes in Virginia Tech history, a standing ovation for the greatest of all time.
One of the most exciting wrestlers in NCAA history, the Human Highlight Reel Bryce Andonian was always must-see TV, all eyes all the time throughout his career donning the orange and maroon. Known for his electric, full-send, let it fly wrestling style, Andonian captivated the attention of wrestling fans across the country – and with his 2021 world bronze medal performance, the world. Andonian had his breakthrough season in 2022, featured in four of the most entertaining matches throughout the tournament while finishing third at 149-pounds at the NCAA Championships in Detroit. Andonian would bump up to 157-pounds in his final two seasons, claiming two more All-American honors to become just the seventh three-time All-American in program history. A forever fan-favorite, Andonian wrapped up his career a four-time ACC finalist and five-time NCAA qualifier.
So Sweet with a Conference Sweep
It was a clean sweep for the Hokies garnering conference awards to conclude the 2023-2024 season – Henson awarded Wrestler of the Year, Stewart securing Freshman of the Year, and Robie was voted Coach of the Year. Henson became the fifth Hokie to take home the conference honor with the awardee hailing from Tech for the sixth time since joining the ACC. Stewart became the eleventh Hokie to take home the award – Blacksburg being home to the Freshman of the Year in five of the last seven seasons. For the ninth time in the last 12 seasons, the ACC Coach of the Year is at the helm in Blacksburg. The honor is a three-peat and the fifth for Robie since being tasked to lead the Hokies seven seasons ago.
Conference Champs
In his final season, Lewis added to his long-list of accolades with a fourth ACC title – just the second wrestler in program history to accomplish said feat. The New Jersey native would finish his last conference career with a 7-0 record en route to a historic ending fit for a legendary career. Lewis defeated Virginia’s Justin McCoy 8-1 in Chapel Hill last March to cap a historic ACC career that saw him win four individual titles, a 41-2 career record against conference foes with only one of those losses not coming via injury default and gave up just three takedowns in his entire career against the ACC field.
Adding his name to the list of champions was the freshman, Stewart at 184-pounds. While he started the season slow and wouldn’t officially compete in orange and maroon till January, Stewart blitzed the conference field on his way to a conference title in his first season. Earning the top seed, Stewart would avenge a regular season loss to North Carolina’s All-American, Gavin Kane – Kane defeated Stewart in sudden victory in January, but Stewart returned the favor in March. Stewart would meet NC State’s Dylan Fishback for the second time this season and would once again control the Wolfpack wrestler to secure another title for the Hokies.
New Faces and Top 10 Recruiting Class
Coach Robie and crew welcomed new faces via transfer portal, incoming freshmen, and a coaching addition as the Hokies get primed for a strong 2024-2025 season.
Tech will welcome familiar faces in grad transfers Connor McGonagle of New Hampshire by way of Lehigh and Ohio native Lennox Wolak by way of Columbia. McGonagle was tabbed No. 4 at 133-pounds at the beginning of last season before being replaced as the starter – McGonagle also notably wrestled new-teammate Sam Latona in the 2023 NWCA All-Star Classic. Returning All-American Lennox Wolak comes to Blacksburg after a sixth-place finish in Kansas City at 174-pounds. Wolak also has history against a Hokie as he and Mekhi Lewis battled on the backside at the NCAA Championships last season with Lewis taking the victory. With Lewis graduated from Blacksburg, the Columbia transfer slots in nicely and adds a fifth All-American to the potential lineup for the Hokies entering the new season.
Also joining Wolak from Columbia, but in the coaching ranks for the Hokies is newly appointed associated head coach Zach Tanelli. A three-time NCAA qualifier and an All-American honor to his name, Tanelli comes to Blacksburg after revitalizing Columbia’s program and over 15 years of coaching experience to add to the highly-credentialed staff leading the Hokies.
Additionally, the Hokies welcome yet another top 10 recruiting class to Blacksburg, boasting six of the top 200 big boarders from the Class of 2024. Tech brings in Gage Wright (West Virginia, No. 22), Dillon Campbell (Ohio, No. 57), Matt Henrich (New Jersey, No. 58), Parker Ferrell (Virginia, No. 83), Frank DiBella (New Jersey, No. 176), and Gunnar Garrelli (No. 179, Illinois) as yet another stellar class under Robie.
Another Formidable Schedule
Coach Robie and staff have put together another formidable schedule once again with three top 10 opponents – No. 10 Mizzou, No. 3 Oklahoma State, and No. 7 NC State – and the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational highlighting the Hokies’ schedule. Also included into the gauntlet is Rutgers coming to Blacksburg for the Hokies’ annual Moss Arts Center dual and Tech traveling to Philadelphia for the Keystone Classic. Tech will conclude with postseason visits to Durham on March 9 for the ACC Championship and Philadelphia for the NCAA Championships on March 20-22.
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