Hokie ClubBLACKSBURG – For the eighth time in program history and for the third-straight season, Virginia Tech wrestling is sending nine student-athletes to the NCAA Championships. The Hokies recorded a program record three top-four seeds and four top-six seeds led by No. 1 Caleb Henson (149-pounds), No. 3 Eddie Ventresca (125-pounds), No. 4 Rafael Hipolito, Jr. (157-pounds) , and No. 6 Connor McGonagle (133-pounds).
The Hokies’ second-ever national champion, Henson joins Mekhi Lewis (174-pounds, 2024) and Scott Justus (184-pounds, 2002) as the only three Hokies in program history to claim the top-seed entering the season’s final event. The two-time All-American, two-time ACC champion, and defending national champion travels to Philadelphia with an unblemished 18-0 record and a 23-match win streak looking to repeat his national title performance at 149-pounds.
The resurgent season of Eddie Ventresca continues to Philadelphia. After an injury cut his season short last year, the 2023 All-American has attacked the 2024-2025 season with a vengeance – sporting an 18-3 record and adding ACC champion to his resume. A Cinderella run in 2023 that saw Ventresca enter as the No. 27 seed battle to a seventh-place finish, the Roxbury, NJ native takes to his second NCAA Championships as the three seed at 125-pounds.
By way of Manaus, Brazil, the freshman phenom Rafael Hipolito, Jr. has taken the weight division by storm – 17-3 record, three wins over two All-Americans, and an ACC title – en route to the four seed entering next week’s national tournament. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu prodigy and four-time world champion who started wrestling five years ago is no stranger to the big stage and will look to make his mark on the national stage in his debut season for the Hokies.
The graduate transfer from Danville, NH in Connor McGonagle is making the most of his final season as he takes the mats in Philadelphia as the No. 6 seed at 133-pounds. Faced with adversity during his time in Lehigh, McGonagle is enjoying his best season yet earning a 15-1 record and capturing an ACC title in his first and only year with the Hokies. The four-time NCAA qualifier will look to end his career on the podium.
Another freshman looking to make his mark next week is No. 11 seeded Jimmy Mullen at heavyweight. The three-time New Jersey state champion and world silver medalist has taken the reigns at 285-pounds for the Hokies with a 20-5 record and a runner-up finish at the ACC Championship. Mullen enters his first NCAA tournament with eight ranked wins over competitors in the bracket.
At 141-pounds, Hokies mainstay Sam Latona takes to his fifth and final NCAA Championships as the No. 12 seed. Latona holds a 23-7 record entering Philadelphia as a four-time ACC finalist and ACC champion with eight wins over the field. Already having made history as Alabama’s first two-time D1 All-American, Latona will look to become just the seventh three-time All-American and the first at three different weight classes in program history.
An unheralded recruit making his final appearance at the NCAA Championships is local product Andy Smith. The three-time NCAA qualifier from Christiansburg enters 197-pounds as the No. 19 seed after a gritty qualification process that saw him place third at the ACC Championship in Durham, NC. Smith will look to improve upon his Round of 12 finish at last year’s national tournament in his final year for the Hokies.
Returning All-American by way of Columbia University, Lennox Wolak is the No. 24 seed at 174-pounds in his final year of eligibility. Wolak caught fire late in the season and place third at the ACC Championship to earn a qualification to Philadelphia. The graduate transfer is dangerous at any point of a match and will look to find the podium once again while holding six ranked wins over fellow competitors.
Rounding out the Hokies traveling to Philadelphia is Pennsylvania native Mac Church at 165-pounds. After competing at 141-pounds in his redshirt season, the freshman bumped up two weight classes and seized the starting role for the Hokies on his way to a third-place finish in his first conference tournament to earn a trip back to his home state. Church enters as the No. 28 seed for the Hokies.
The NCAA Championships will begin on March 20-22, 2025. Follow Hokies Wrestling on X and Instagram and Virginia Tech Wrestling on Facebook for the latest Hokies news and updates.