Caleb Henson takes 149-pound crown at Cliff Keen Las Vegas InvitationalCaleb Henson takes 149-pound crown at Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational
Wrestling

Caleb Henson takes 149-pound crown at Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational

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Las Vegas, NV – Virginia Tech wrestling is returning to Blacksburg with a champion for the first time since 2018 and five other place winners at the 2024 Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. No. 1 Caleb Henson protected his ranking and showed why he’s the defending champion in emphatic fashion over the weekend to be crowned the 149-pound CKLV champion.

 

The Champ

  • No. 1 Caleb Henson was the show in Las Vegas – going 5-0 with three bonus point victories and three wins over ranked opponents.
  • Henson defeated All-American Jaden Abas (Stanford) in the semifinals via fall to advance to his second-straight CKLV finals appearance in as many entries.
  • The defending national champion met a familiar foe for a rubber match in No. 5 Ridge Lovett who he lost to in the Vegas finals last year but would get revenge in the NCAA semifinals.
  • After a controlling bout that saw sudden victory, it was Henson who would secure a sweeping low double to capture the title and improve his season record to 11-0 with an 82% bonus rate.

 

Finding the Podium

  • No. 11 Eddie Ventresca capped off a strong weekend in Las Vegas with a runner-up finish at 125-pounds, falling to No. 3 Matt Ramos (Purdue) in the finals. Ventresca tallied two upset victories over the weekend – No. 2 Caleb Smith (Nebraska) and No. 6 Tanner Jordan (South Dakota State)
  • No. 16 Jimmy Mullen finished fourth going 4-2 (including medical forfeit) in a loaded heavyweight bracket in his CKLV debut with his only loss coming to No. 5 Cohlton Shultz (Arizona State).
  • No. 17 Sam Latona was resilient over the two-day gauntlet battling back to finish 6th on the weekend. Latona’s weekend was highlighted with a resounding victory over No. 7 Sergio Lemley (Michigan) en route to another podium finish in his career at CKLV.
  • No. 11 Andy Smith secured a sixth-place podium finish at 197-pounds after defeating No. 12 Luke Surber (Oklahoma State) in the quarterfinals and went 2-2 (including medical forfeit) on the weekend for his second career CKLV placement.
  • No. 23 Rafael Hipolito, Jr. put together a spectacular debut tournament including a dominant victory over returning All-American No. 5 Peyten Keller (Ohio) to place eighth over the weekend.

 

The No. 7 Hokies return to action on December 19 for a top-10 dual against No. 3 Oklahoma State in Stillwater. Follow Hokies Wrestling on X, Instagram, and Facebook for all the latest Virginia Tech Wrestling news and updates.

 

CKLV Day 2 Results

Finals

125 – No.11 Eddie Ventresca (Virginia Tech) loss No. 3 Matt Ramos (Purdue), 4-7

149 – No. 1 Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech) DEC No. 5 Ridge Lovett (Nebraska), 6-3 SV

 

Third Place

285 – No. 16 Jimmy Mullen (Virginia Tech) loss No. 5 Cohlton Schultz (Arizona State), M FOR

 

Semifinals

125 – No. 11 Eddie Ventresca (Virginia Tech) DEC No. 2 Caleb Smith (Nebraska), 2-2 TB2

149 – No. 1 Caleb Henson (Virginia Tech) FALL No. 14 Jaden Abas (Stanford), 7-4 6:53

197 – No. 11 Andy Smith (Virginia Tech) loss No. 3 Jacob Cardenas (Michigan), 0-12

 

Consolation Quarterfinals

141 – No. 17 Sam Latona (Virginia Tech) DEC Sergio Lemley (Michigan), 7-2

157 – No. 23 Rafael Hipolito (Virginia Tech) loss No. 10 Paniro Johnson (Iowa State), M FOR

285 – No. 16 Jimmy Mullen (Virginia Tech) DEC No. 20 Lance Runyon (Northern Iowa), 3-2

 

Consolation Semifinals

141 – No. 17 Sam Latona (Virginia Tech) loss Jacob Frost (Iowa State), M FOR

197 – No. 11 Andy Smith (Virginia Tech) NC No. 9 Trey Munoz (Oregon State)

285 – No. 16 Jimmy Mullen (Virginia Tech) M FOR No. 8 Nick Feldman (Ohio State),