Hokie ClubCLEVELAND, OH – Virginia Tech wrestling advances eight onto day two of the 2026 NCAA Wrestling Championships with No. 2 Eddie Ventresca and No. 4 Aaron Seidel leading the way in the winner brackets of their respective weight classes. Six other Hokies remain alive in the consolation bracket as they navigate a path to the All-American podium. Wrestling resumes on Friday, March 20 at 12 p.m. ET with quarterfinal and consolation action live on ESPNU and ESPN+.
The Vet and the Rook into the Quarterfinals
At 125-pounds, No. 2 Eddie Ventresca continues his mission to NCAA gold with two victories to open his third trip to the NCAA Championship. Ventresca opened with a controlling 8-6 decision, giving up a late takedown as he was pushing for bonus points against Drexel’s No. 31 Desmond Pleasant. Ventresca notched two takedowns, an escape, and a riding time point for the victory. He would then follow up that win with a decision over familiar foe No. 18 Spencer Moore of Illinois. Ventresca used a feet to back over hook whip over for the takedown and two near fall to lead 5-0 early. That would be the deciding sequence as the two-time All-American Hokie would advance to the quarterfinals on Friday morning for a chance to secure his third top-eight honor.
Following up with his signature “hang as many points on the board as you can” style, it was true freshman No. 4 Aaron Seidel racking up two tech falls in his first NCAA appearance. Seidel picked up a 17-2 opening victory over No. 29 Luke Willochell of Wyoming in just 3:00. He’d then pour 22 points on Northern Iowa’s Julian Farber 4 points in the next round taking slightly longer at 4:46. The true freshman will wrestle for All-American honors in his first trip to the NCAA Championship Friday morning.
Hokies Still Battling
At 149-pounds, No. 4 Collin Gaj opened with a decision victory over No. 29 Kaden Cassidy (GMU) in his first NCAA Championship. The freshman racked up two takedowns, riding time point, and a reversal for the 9-4 decision. Gaj would drop a tight decision in the next round to No. 20 Chance Lamer of Nebraska via 1-4 decision despite multiple scoring attempts. The Hokie will look to navigate the consolation side for the chance at a podium finish.
Graduate transfer No. 14 Ethen Miller took the mat for his fourth and final NCAA Championship with an opening round victory over No. 19 Kai Owen (COL) thanks to riding time en route to a 1-0 victory. Miller would meet returning All-American from Cornell No. 3 Meyer Shapiro and battle to a tough 1-5 decision loss. Miller will look to battle on the back side for the best finish in his career.
No. 25 Sergio Desiante battled adversity after an opening loss to Oklahoma State’s Alex Facundo with a win in the consolations over No. 24 Garrett Thompson (OHIO). Desiante started early with a takedown in the first period against Thompson and wouldn’t look back with an escape and riding time victory, securing the 5-2 victory to remain alive into Friday’s consolations.
In his second trip to the National Championship, No. 14 Jaden Bullock opened with a win against Edinboro’s No. 19 Jared McGill in tiebreakers, 6-5. Bullock advanced to face No. 3 Max McEnelly out of Minnesota in the Round of 16. Bullock battled late but dropped the bout 6-12 to fall into the consolation bracket.
No. 4 Sonny Sasso was upset in the first round of this first NCAA tournament via 8-12 decision to No. 27 Colton Hawks of Arizona State. The Hokie redshirt sophomore would respond in a big way with a fall in the first round of consolations over No. 20 Wyatt Ingham of Wisconsin. Trailing in the second, Sasso would sit the corner on an Ingham attack before locking up a cradle to advance and remain alive in his first NCAA tournament.
At heavyweight No. 16 Jimmy Mullen took a commanding opening bout against No. 17 Vincent Mueller out of Columbia via 13-10 decision. Mullen racked up four takedowns before attempting more bonus and getting caught in a big move late to survive and advance. Mullen would then draw top seed No. 1 Yonger Bastida of Iowa State but dropping the bout via tech fall. Mullen will drop to the consolation bracket and look to improve his finish from his NCAA run last season.
Session 2 Results
Round of 16
125 | No. 2 Eddie Ventresca (VT) DEC No. 18 Spencer Moore (ILL), 5-2
133 | No. 4 Aaron Seidel (VT) TECH FALL No. 20 Julian Farber (UNI), 22-4 4:46
149 | No. 4 Collin Gaj (VT) loss via dec No. 20 Chance Lamer (NEB), 1-4
157 | No. 14 Ethen Miller (VT) loss via dec No. 3 Meyer Shapiro (COR), 1-5
184 | No. 14 Jaden Bullock (VT) loss via dec No. 3 Max McEnelly (MINN), 6-12
285 | No. 16 Jimmy Mullen (VT) loss via tech fall No. 1 Yonger Bastida (ISU), 4-20 6:21
Consolations
141 | No. 25 Tom Crook (VT) loss via dec No. 9 Joey Oliveri (RUT), 6-8
165 | No. 25 Mac Church (VT) loss via dec No. 24 Sean Seefeldt (PENN), 1-4
174 | No. 25 Sergio Desiante (VT) DEC No. 24 Garrett Thompson (OHIO), 5-2
197 | No. 4 Sonny Sasso (VT) FALL No. 20 Wyatt Ingham (WIS), 4:27
Session 1 Results
Round of 32
125 | No. 2 Eddie Ventresca (VT) DEC No. 31 Desmond Pleasant (DREX), 8-6
133 | No. 4 Aaron Seidel (VT) TECH FALL No. 29 Luke Willochell (WYO), 17-2 3:00
141 | No. 25 Tom Crook (VT) loss via maj dec No. 8 Vance Vombaur (MINN), 2-14
149 | No. 4 Collin Gaj (VT) DEC No. 29 Kaden Cassidy (GMU), 9-4
157 | No. 14 Ethen Miller (VT) DEC No. 19 Kai Owen (COL), 1-0
165 | No. 25 Mac Church (VT) loss via dec No. 8 Matty Bianchi (UALR), 2-5 TB1
174 | No. 25 Sergio Desiante (VT) loss via dec No. 8 Alex Facundo (OKST), 6-12
184 | No. 14 Jaden Bullock (VT) DEC No. 19 Jared McGill (EDIN), 6-5 TB1
197 | No. 4 Sonny Sasso (VT) loss via dec No. 29 Colton Hawks (ASU), 8-12
285 | No. 16 Jimmy Mullen (VT) DEC No. 17 Vincent Mueller (COL), 13-10