Hokie ClubPHILADELPHIA, PA – Jimmy Mullen continues a strong redshirt sophomore campaign as he added a 2025 Keystone Classic title to his resume while five other Virginia Tech wrestlers found the podium in Philadelphia on Sunday.
Podium Finishers in the Palestra
Ranked No. 16 in the country at 285-pounds, Mullen picked up four wins on the day with three coming by bonus point – two falls and one major decision. In what was a thriller, Mullen battled back from a 5-0 deficit in his semifinal bout rallying off two takedowns in 0:50 to emerge victorious and advance to the finals. He put an exclamation point on his weekend with a pin fall to close out the tournament for the Hokies.
Mullen’s fellow New Jersey native and St. Joe’s Regional teammate, Ryan Burton continues a solid first year for Tech with a runner-up finish at 165-pounds in his second collegiate individual tournament. Ranked No. 14 in the country as a true freshman, Burton picked up a tech fall, a major decision, and a decision victory before dropping a tight final in overtime tiebreakers.
The Hokies’ true freshman class continues to shine as Collin Gaj bounced back after a tough National Duals weekend to place third at the Keystone Classic including a win over the 29th ranked wrestler at 149-pounds. Gaj would drop a razor close semifinal to eventual champion and sixth ranked wrestler in the country before securing third place in his first collegiate tournament to close out the weekend.
Georgia native and true freshman, Drew Gorman made his debut in orange and maroon with a fifth-place finish in the Palestra. Gorman lost his second-round bout before rattling off an impressive four straight victories in the consolations to bring home fifth at 141-pounds. Gorman also registered three bonus point victories en route to a 5-1 weekend.
Redshirt sophomore Mac Church battled back to take sixth at 165-pounds in his home state. Church went 4-2 with two bonus point victories in his first action for the Hokies since wrestling against Bucknell in Tech’s home dual opener earlier this month.
Rounding out placers for Tech was another true freshman in Chantilly, VA native Ben Weader who finished sixth in his second collegiate appearance. Weader was a buzzsaw on the weekend – battling back from deficits in all but one of his matches including a 14-11 sudden victory thriller in which he was down 9-1 at one point.
Tech returns to action after the Thanksgiving holiday on December 7 with separate contingents headed to Las Vegas for the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational and the Patriot Open. Follow Hokies Wrestling on Facebook, X, and Instagram for the latest Virginia Tech Wrestling news and updates.
Keystone Classic Results
Round of 32
141 |
Drew Gorman (VT) DEC Nathan Taylor (PENN), 12-6
157 |
Frank DiBella (VT) DEC Jackson Polo (PENN), 6-5
165 |
Mac Church (VT) DEC Alaa Aly (EDN), 10-3
184 |
Glean Gonzalez (VT) DEC Cael Black (LHU), 5-4
Harrison Smith (VT) loss via maj dec Luke Vanadia (MSU), 7-17
Round of 16
125 |
Ryan Messick (VT) loss via tech fall Desmond Pleasant (DRXL), 2-17
141 |
Jack Bastarrika (VT) loss via tech fall Joseph Oliveri (RUT), 5-21
Drew Gorman (VT) loss via fall Dante Frinzi (HARV), 1:08
149 |
Collin Gaj (VT) DEC Devon Magro (RUT), 4-3
Chris Bacchioni (VT) loss via dec Kelly Dunnigan (PENN), 0-4
157 |
Frank DiBella (VT) loss via man dec Anthony White (RUT), 0-8
165 |
Ryan Burton (VT) TECH FALL Nicholas Kunstek (LHU), 18-3
Mac Church (VT) DEC DJ Shannon (MSU), 5-2
174 |
Ben Weader (VT) TECH FALL Jackson Koppers (EDN), 19-3
184 |
Gunnar Garelli (VT) DEC Xander Kuokkanen (PENN), 10-3
Glean Gonzalez (VT) loss via dec Ryan Boucher (MSU), 6-7
285 |
Jimmy Mullen (VT) MAJ DEC Josh Terrill (MSU), 14-2
Quarterfinals
149 |
Collin Gaj (VT) MAJ DEC No. 29 Jimmy Nugent (CMU), 12-2
165 |
No. 14 Ryan Burton (VT) MAJ DEC Jake Slotnick (HOF), 9-0
Mac Church (VT) loss via dec Sean Seefeldt (PENN), 2-5
174 |
Ben Weader (VT) loss via maj dec No. 17 Josiah Queen (DRXL), 4-14
184 |
Gunnar Garelli (VT) loss via tech fall No. 13 Shane Cartagena-Walsh (RUT), 4-19
285 |
No. 16 Jimmy Mullen (VT) FALL John Vinciguerra (PENN), 2:29
Consolations
125 |
Ryan Messick (VT) loss via dec Nick Corday (MSU), 2-9
141 |
Drew Gorman (VT) TECH FALL Jordan Soriano (DRXL), 17-2
Jack Bastarrika (VT) loss via tech fall Jace Morgan (MSU), 1-18
149 |
Chris Bacchioni (VT) loss via dec Pat Phillips (F&M), 2-7
157 |
Frank DiBella (VT) loss via dec Johnathan Fuller (DRXL), 1-4
184 |
Harrison Smith (VT) DEC Glean Gonzalez (VT), 9-4
Semifinals
149 |
Collin Gaj (VT) loss via dec No. 6 Cross Wasilewski (PENN), 1-2
165 |
No. 14 Ryan Burton (VT) DEC Andrew Barbosa (RUT), 9-6
285 |
No. 16 Jimmy Mullen (VT) DEC Nate Schon (DRXL), 8-7
Consolations
141 |
Drew Gorman (VT) MAJ DEC Chase Liardi (HOF), 17-3
Drew Gorman (VT) MAJ DEC Bryce Kresho (F&M), 17-7
165 |
Mac Church (VT) MAJ DEC Paul Ognissanti (PENN), 12-0
Mac Church (VT) DEC Cody Walsh (DRXL), 10-4
174 |
Ben Weader (VT) DEC Brian Heard (PENN), 14-11 SV
Ben Weader (VT) TECH FALL Connor O’Neill (MSU), 16-1
184 |
Harrison Smith (VT) DEC Wyatt Ferguson (CMU), 4-1
Harrison Smith (VT) loss via dec Adrien Cramer (CMU), 4-5
Gunnar Garelli (VT) loss via dec Matthew Walsh (HARV), 4-9
Consolations
141 | 5th Place
Drew Gorman (VT) DEC Tahir Parkins (RUT), 13-8
149 | 3rd Place
Collin Gaj (VT) DEC Kelly Dunnigan (PENN), 6-3
165 | 5th Place
Mac Church (VT) loss via MAJ DEC Ryan Burgos (EDIN), 5-13
174 | 5th Place
Ben Weader (VT) loss via dec Avery Bassett (LHU), 5-12
Finals
165 |
No. 14 Ryan Burton (VT) loss via dec Sean Seefeldt (PENN), 1-2 TB
285 |
No. 16 Jimmy Mullen (VT) FALL Max Vanadia (MSU), 8-3 6:44