Opens in a new window Mekhi Lewis wrote his name in the history books as the first world champion in program history in what was just the start to a legendary career for the Hokie. After winning the 2018 Junior World Team Trials, Lewis traveled to Trnava, Slovakia for the 2018 Junior World Championships in what was his first international tournament and just his third freestyle tournament ever. Lewis was untouchable - going 4-0 including a dominant win over future Olympian Abubakr Abakarov (AZE) in the finals to secure the first world title for the Hokies.
The greatest heavyweight in program history, Ty Walz became the first world medalist for the Hokies in 2017, capturing U23 bronze at 97-kilograms. Walz would go 3-1 in Bydgoszcz, Poland to ultimately claim bronze against Chaoqiang Yang of China to bring home the first world medal to Blacksburg.
One of the most entertaining wrestlers the NCAA has ever seen, Bryce Andonian had his breakthrough season in 2021 ignited by a junior world bronze medal in Ufa, Russia. Andonian would drop his first bout at the championship to eventual champion Erfan Mohammad Elahi (IRI) but would win his two repechage matches to secure bronze in his first international tournament and bring another world medal back to Blacksburg.
Representing the WCAP Army/Southeast RTC, Jenna Burkert battled her way to a bronze finish at the 2021 World Championships in Oslo, Norway. A three-time age group world team member, Burkert secured her first world medal in what would be her last international tournament in her storied career.