In this thread. Since the big three high school wrestling tournaments are about to happen (Ironman, Beast of the East and Powerade)
I will be posting the results of what our commits and targets do during the tournaments. Ironman will be the first tournament up. Starting on Friday December 12th
Forums:
DISCLAIMER: Forum topics may not have been written or edited by The Key Play staff.
Comments
Also shout out to Bo Bassett last night. He beat Darion Caldwell (2009 Ncaa champion and former bellator mma champion) at Real America Freestyle event number three last night by Pinfall in the first period
Welcome back dude
Here we go. Video of the pin.
This guy has a natty in his future. Likely multiple.
Does he even wrestle high schoolers anymore?
Next month or so he will but after that probably done
Primusssssssssssssssssssssss
Welcome back good buddy!
Glad to have someone else to cover wrestling. It can be alot when they are spread out across multiple tournaments.
Welcome back. You were missed!
Last day for the pop up store to get Hokies wrestling gear.
Do you think Robie is trying to push to flip Jax Forrest? He is Bo's high school teammate and very highly ranked.
I wouldn't be surprised but haven't seen anything definite
That would be amazing if we could flip him. Just amazing how much talent there is at Bishop McCort high school.
I think it's doubtful. He is a big David Taylor guy.
I agree. More likely he enrolls at OK State second semester than flips to Tech (both seem unlikely right now). Also not sure how much more NIL money Robie has for that class. Interesting thought experiment when Tech landed Bo Bassett and Melvin Miller about having enough for them and Jayden James if he didn't decommit. Jax is a bigger fish than JJ.
If we truly want to get off the No National Championship schnide then Wrestling is as close as any of our sports are and with these couple classes coming close to having a run at PSU. Give Robie the checkbook to finish the job.
I agree. Robie and Frayer have built a National Championship calibur team of coaches and staff. Now they just need the resources to get more Jimmies and Joes. The talent they have brought in these recruiting cycles can really elevate this program to the next level.
Imo. The Next two commits from Bishop McCourt will be Keegan Bassett and Jayden O'Farrill. Class of 2028
Maximus Konopka (class of 2027. The number 4 wrestler in the country at 215 pounds and the 23rd overall recruit official committed to Virginia Tech. Hokies beat out NC state and Oklahoma state for him.
There's a thread for this one
https://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2025/november/10/hokies-wrestling-hea...
Gonna have to reteach everyone the rules. yeesh
It takes awhile to remember how to "TKP Harder". Then again there might be pills for that.
When will the recruiting class be finished and fully announced?
Which Class? 2026 class signing day was November 14th but there are still a few holdouts. 2027 will be next November.
2026 Class that signed
https://www.thekeyplay.com/content/2025/november/12/hokies-wrestling-cla...
Bo Bassett with the 19-2 1st Period Tech Fall. Holy ....
The kid on the other side is going to be telling his kids about the time the future olympic gold medalist and multi time ncaa champ just whooped his ass in a single round
This is true. I attempted to block Lawrence Pete in high school for three games/years. I looked like that kid on the other side.
I still recall that he benched 485.... And what his hand strikes felt like.
I hit play, and was thinking, "I wonder which one is our guy."
It was immediately apparent. Holy schnikes!
Just throwing that poor kid around. I still can't believe this kid will be wearing a VT next year.
Ironman is this weekend. The hokie contingent is.
Keegan Bassett. The 5 seed at 113 pounds.
Alex Rojas. The 4 seed at 120 pounds.
Bo Bassett. The 1 seed at 150 pounds.
Melvin Miller. The 1 seed at 165 pounds
Maximus Frontier. The 6 seed at 165.
Jake Robie. The 7 seed at 175.
Maximus Konopka. The 1 seed at 215 pounds
Is McMullen not at Ironman because of Jax Forrest?
Nope. Just looks like he isn't wrestling this weekend
Nvm. I found him. He is the 21 seed at 138. Would be a great opportunity for him to boost his rankings
OK thanks, knew he had been to Ironman before so was hoping to see him with a run this year.
Side note on a former Hokie:
Hipolito had to have surgery and going to miss the rest of the year for Oklahoma
Waiting for the Brackets to drop
I will say. I will be gone twice today for about a hour long each time. Once from 11 to 12 and the second from 2:30 to about 3:30. So the updates might be slow for a little bit from me today.
Maximus Frontier gets the hokie contingent going with a pin in the first period
Keegan gets upsetted in round 2 3-0
McMullen with the upset over the 12 seed 8-1
Bo Bassett with a quick and easy 20-2 Tech fall
Miller with a 21-5 first period Tech fall. Frontier with another pin. And Konopka with a 10-0 Major decision
Rojas with a second period Tech fall 16-0
After the round of 32. 6 hokies are still on the championship side of the bracket. And 1 in consolations
Rojas wins. McMullen loses and Bo with another first period tech fall
Miller wins by second period tech fall 16-1. Frontier loses 3-1
Konopka wins by pin. So 4 hokies move onto the quarterfinals. And there's 3 in consolations
McMullen loses 4-1. He is eliminated
Keegan loses 4-3 and I think he is eliminated
Rojas loses to the 5 seed 7-5 and drops to consolations
Appreciate the updates, as always!
Bo Bassett gets the 18-3 Tech fall with 1 second left in the match. He is into the Semi finals
Miller with a 12-4 Major Decision and is into the semi finals
Konopka with a 8-1 decision to advance too the semifinals.
Smart wrestling there by Alex. I think guaranteed 5th or better.
Bo with a 17-1 TF. He is into the finals
Miller with a 19-4 TF and is into the finals
Konopka wins a back and forth decision 8-6
Three hokies into the finals. And Rojas is fighting his way through Consolations
Miller vs Jayden James is exciting. A bit of additional intrigue. I like our guy's chances. I think James is elite but Melvin Miller is a generational talent.
Did Jake Robie not wrestle? Don't see him in the bracket at 175. Looks like they moved everyone up a spot so curious why he withdrew
Weather issues
The traitor beats Miller 8-5 in SV
Konopka wins 9-5 and he is your 215 pound Ironman champion!
Should jump up to number 2 in the country at 215 next week
Bo Bassett with 14-6 Decision and is a 4 time Ironman
Only the third person to win 4 Ironmans
Bo bassett wins 14-6 in one of the weirdest matches I've ever watched. He is your 150 Ironman champion! He is the third wrestler to ever win 4 Ironman titles
So many locked hands/stall calls
And cautions. And Bachmann not even trying to win the match. If he wanted a chance to win. He would have let him up way sooner. He just wanted the score to look good
Yeah basically was afraid of getting TF
Bassett in the Semifinals
Rozas opening 18-0 match
Melvin Miller highlight
The mid to late 20s are looking great for our wrestling program.
Post Ironman rankings update.
Keegan drops from 9th to 19th
Rojas drops a spot. 9th to 10th
Bo stays number 1
Miller goes from number 1 to number 2
Fortier drops out of the rankings
Konopka jumps from number 4 to number 1!
Really dramatic ranking swings for a single tournament, even as high profile as Ironman is.
Yeah probably won't be anything to crazy after Beast of the East or Powerade over the next two weeks. We might get a Melvin Miller and Jayden James rematch at powerade tho
I seen where Mario Carini is going to the Reno tournament of champions this weekend. And he is going to complete at 190 pounds
Carini won his opening match by tech fall 17-1
Carini with a 18-5 Major decision
Carini into the quarterfinals with a second period pinfall
Rojas opens up Beast of the East with a 15-0 tech fall
Doesnt Rozas usually wrestle at 126? Why is he in the 120 bracket?
He's been 120 the last two tournaments
Surprised Robie has the #1 seed at 175. His record this year is pretty spotty.
Bo Bassett won 18-2
Beast of the East
#3 Alex Rozas -120 lbs
#1 Bo Bassett - 150 lbs
#1 Melvin Miller - 165 lbs
#1 Jake Robie - 175 lbs
Anyone else? Didn't see Konopka
Coluccio. #3 seed at 113. Won first round match with a pin
Oh. And McMullen. 29 seed at 138. He won first round 1 by tech fall 18-1
Melvin Miller won by Pin but whoever was running the scorers table was awful. They missed a whole 8 Near fall points that would have been a tech fall.
If Miller didn't pin the other wrestler. The actual score would have been 27-4🤣
Robie won 18-0 TF
Bo bassett with a 20-3 Tech fall
Miller with a 24-7 Tech fall
Coluccio with a 8-0 Major decision
McMullen got tech falled
Rozas with a pin to advance
Robie with 18-2 Tech Fall to advance
Carini loses in the semi finals 5-2
Are our guys whipping a bunch of lower division guys? These seem like dominating results.
Not really. Just showing how elite our recruits are
Coluccio with a pin to advance too the quarterfinals
The level of wrestlers coming into VT next year and beyond is elite! This staff is building it the right way.
Rojas with a tech fall to advance too the quarterfinals
Bo Bassett with a 17-1 tech fall in 40 seconds. He is into the quarterfinals
Melvin Miller with a tech fall. He is into the quarterfinals
Robie 15-0 Tech Fall victory to advance
Coluccio with a second period pin to advance too the semi finals
Rojas with a 8-1 decision to advance too the semi finals
Bo with a 22-4 tech fall to advance too the semi finals
Miller with a 18-3 Tech fall to advance too the semi finals
Robie loses 7-1 and drops to consolations
Coliccio loses to the number 2 seed and number 2 wrestler in the country 9-3
Rojas loses 5-2 to the 2 seed
Bo gives up the first takedown of the match. But wins by tech fall in the second period 26-10. He is into the finals
Miller with a 18-3 Tech fall
He is into the finals
McMullen in Consolation
Won 2-0
Won 16-0
Won 16-0
Lost in SV to #9
Robie won 4-2 in Consolation and 17-1.
Has locked in a top 8 finish
Coluccio with a pin to advance too the 3rd place match
Why did they have to win to advance to 3rd? Typically the losers in Semifinals are the 3rd/4th. Consolation best usually is the 5th/6th
If you lose in the semi finals. You go to the consolation semis. It's like that for most college tournaments as well. If you make the semi finals. You are guaranteed to finsh in between 1st to 6th
Rojas with a 1-0 decision to advance too the third place match
Robie wins 16-10 to advance to Consolation finals for 3rd place
Robie falls 10-7 to finish 4th
Coluccio gets reversed and gets put to his back in the final minute too lose 8-4. He places 4th
Rojas wins 5-3 and places 3rd!
This 144 final is wild🤣
Easy Bo Bassett tech fall. 15-0 over number two in the country. He is your 150 pound BOTE champion!
That was too easy. He just bullied that kid.
To me. The more Bo Bassett wrestles someone. The better he gets against that opponent. At Super 32. He only best Desena 14-5. Another example is Beau Barlett in freestyle. The first time they wrestled Bo won 1-0. Last month. Bo beat him 15-4
Yeah dont let Bo get experience and tape on someone. He is going to identify the weaknesses and attack those non-stop
Melvin Miller wins by tech fall 18-1. He is your 165 pound BOTE Champion! A statement weekend for Miller
Seeing how well the talented young wrestlers are doing around the country, I couldn't be more excited to see these guys hit the mat in a VT singlet. The 2025 class is already showing it had a bunch of guys that can get 2+ wins at NCAAs and the next two classes look like they'll have plenty of contenders too. I haven't heard anything about it but I really hope Melvin Miller reclassifies.
Bo Bassett will take on Cayden Henschel in Real American Freestyle on January 10th at Amerant Bank Arena on Fox Nation
I seen that guys YouTube channel. I think Bo wins
Does he pin him or just go for a sub-60s tech fall?
Powerade seeds has dropped.
152. Bo Bassett-#1 seed
160. Melvin Miller-#1 seed
172. Maximus Fronter-#6 seed
Didn't see a general wrestling recruiting thread (and didn't feel qualified to start one), so I'll drop this here. Saw this on the book of faces. House good is this guy? Do we have a real shot at him, and should we be excited over that?
Has a bad attitude problem. But if the staff and EV can get him to mellow out. He would be a steal. Especially if Eddie doesn't want to come back his extra year (Which i wouldn't blame him. Wrestling for six year's in college is tough on the body)
Speaking of. We made his top four. Us unc OHST and Rutgers
No Bo Bassett at powerade. Hopefully he is just sick
Melvin Miller and Maximus Fronter are into the semis at powerade. Maximus beat number 15 Lucas Boe. So we should see Maximus back in the rankings
Miller and Maximus into the powerade finals
Melvin Miller with a 16-4 Major Decision over number 4 Zeno Moore. He is your 160 pound Powerade champion!
Maximus Fortier with a 4-1 Decision. He is your 172 pound Powerade champion!
Did not expect this one. Definitely will be back in rankings.
Beat the number 15 wrestler at two different weights. And he looked really good
Doc B news. Mario Carini takes out number #2 in the country at 175 Nicholas Singer. Gets number #1 in the country Joseph Jeter in the finals. Nvm. Number one got upsetted as well
Mario Carini takes out number six in the country 8-1. He is your 178 pound Doc B champion!
I am guessing he won't stay at #12 for long.
Bo at RAF5 calling out Henry Cejudo
I love the confidence
https://youtu.be/X5wCQvhCdHs?si=_s3VwEfUCmtI0uOM
Does Roanoke also work with SERTC? Either way, man did they have a weekend. Took down #1 Wartburg, #2 Augsburg and #3 UW-LaCrosse to sweep their way to a D3 National Duals Title
They do in fact work with SERTC
What is SERTC and how does it help our wrestling program?
SERTC is our wrestling program, basically.
It's the Olympic Regional Training Center associated with Tech. It is the vehicle for the majority of the NIL deals for wrestlers. It also supplements coach/staff salaries and pays in-house athletes like Bryce Andonian currently, James Green and Ty Walz in the past, and most likely Caleb Henson once he graduates. SERTC can also pay for expenses for Tech wrestlers to compete in freestyle over the off-season and chase Olympic/World medals. It is the most important vehicle for recruiting and retaining top talent like Bo Bassett and Melvin Miller.
Donations to the Hokies Club, designated for Wrestling, have more limitations around what it can be spent on. It helps the team in different areas.
Robie's strategy is to build out SERTC using in-house talent like BA, Henson, Bo Bassett, Melvin Miller etc. to have the strongest wrestling room possible and attract top end recruits. It is how Tech is going to jump levels from a Top 10 team to a Top 3-5 team.
Thanks for all of the explanations! Was this Robie's idea or did we just have the right foresight and be in a prime location with Roanoke to house the facility?
It started in 2017. I think Robie became HC in 2016. So I would think it was a Robie idea
My understanding was Dresser started it, but I dont know that for sure
Maybe he started the in roads. But Robie finshed it
It a wrestling training center where I send money. 😎
From the website
We're launching the Bring the Best to Blacksburg Campaign — a unified effort to strengthen the SERTC. We're asking our dedicated supporters to once again join our team and make a philanthropic gift. Our goal is to surpass 350 donors for the first time ever — a milestone that will directly impact our athletes and help us continue attracting and retaining the very best talent in the country. Every gift helps our athletes:
Chase excellence through international training and competition
Reach peak performance with elite nutrition and recovery resources
Learn from world-class coaches and mentors
Elevate their training by bringing in top-tier partners
Here is the link
https://www.southeast-rtc.com/
Alex Rozas posted a photo on his Instagram holding a poster commemorating his 200th win in HS.
In other news Jax Forrest debuted for Oklahoma State this weekend against Oklahoma and started his career with a pin in 45 seconds. Took down 2x NCAA Qualifier/former Pac-12 Champ Carter Schmidt
Carini is now number 1# in the country at 175. He joins Bo Bassett and Maximus Konopka as hokies recruits ranked number 1# in their weight
Who is ranked ahead of Miller?
Jayden Jones
Since he has won the only H2H meeting
Melvin Miller reclassifying to 2026 talks are heating up again. Personally I would love it. Just imagine starting a duel with
125. Eddie V
133. Seidel
141. Bo Bassett
149. Henson
157. Miller
That would be killer
Reclass Carini and Konopka too. Still too vulnerable at higher weights to be competitive at NCAA.
Nah we can get a portal. I think the weakest spots are 65(I think Burton goes up to 74 next season) and 84(If Gage Wright still hasn't reenrolled)
Unless Mullen and Sasso greatly improve I am not sold on them. Mullen just isn't consistent.
Well. Is it the wrestlers fault. Or is it the upper weight coaches fault
Both
I disagree. I think Haught hasn't been that good. Alot of his wrestlers regress under him
He maxed out Andy Smith and Catka got better too.
Hunter tearing up the Big10. Can't seem to find Mullens trigger
He really hasn't. Mullen has wins over number 10 and 11 this season. Catka's best win is against number 20
Eddie is a Redshirt Senior this year so he will be out of eligibility.
21-22 Redshirted
22-23 Wrestled full season
23-24 Medical Redshirt
24-25 Wrestled Full Season
25-26 Wrestled Full Season
26-27 will be eligible
To be fair, I thought he was done too until about a month ago
No sir. Eddie has another year.
Alex Rozas wins the Pittsburgh Classic at 121 lbs, taking down Dominic Deputy, an NC State commit, 4-0
And may he always be the deputy to our sheriff.
Max Konopka won his 3rd NHSCA National Championship, this time at 220 lbs. He went 6-0 with 5 pins to do it.
Last month he went 5-0 with 3 pins to win the Prep School National Championship at 215 lbs.
Us wrestling open is in a couple weeks. Bo already announced that he will be doing both the U20 and Senior events. And Mario Carini is signed up for the U20 already. Keep an eye out for more hokies and future hokies to sign up over the next couple weeks
From Coach Jared Frayer :
Welcome to the Post Season...
11th Place and both ACC Titles, if you told me that beginning of the year, knowing what we knew RS wise and loosing a couple starters to the portal... I would have called you a liar. This teams personality coupled with staying the course and trusting the process, allowed us to probably win some duals that we weren't supposed to and snowballed into an awesome ACC tournament. And with having a good season and a great tournament, the expectations were on, for the last weekend in Cleveland. So unfortunately we come back from Cleveland a little bit disappointed, all while knowing we were right there to finish much higher in a couple instances. One thing I can say, is that throughout the entire season, until each one of their last matches, our team fought and brought the effort just about every time out. And as a coach, that is about all we can ask of them. Proud of our guys this year, and incredibly excited for what is to come!
Some quick updates for the next couple weeks:
-Sr. US OPEN Probables: Henson, Andonian, Bassett, Sasso... and maybe a couple more
-Jr. US OPEN Probables: Burton, Bassett.... Seidel and Gaj are the other possibles for U20
-Most likely a couple Hokies will enter the portal, they will always be Hokies and we love them.
-Team Camp June 25-28 Still a couple spots left, if your hometown team wants in. Robiewrestling.com
-SERTC is looking hard for another resident athlete, so hopefully we will have some news in the next 2-3 months
-I get to speak at the Blacksburg Sports Club tomorrow, so if you are there be sure to say "Hi!"
-The portal also opens tomorrow. April Fools day, so be aware.
-We should know golf tournament dates in the next week or so.
Appreciate all you guys do for our program and the support you give us throughout the year, win or lose. We have a lot to be proud of, and I am humbled every year as a look back at the 9 seasons we have been here. The best is yet to come and I can not wait to experience it with the best fans in America! Go Hokies!
Happy Early Easter!
Hokies looking for a late 2026 flip. Nicholas Gracia from Illinois. The number three wrestler at 132 pounds. And the 25th overall recruit in the class of 2026
GOT HEEEM
Bo Bassett beats Aden Valencia, 149 lb NCAA Champ at US Open
https://youtu.be/vN4JYH9GE7k?si=coPlBSNCWONOH-vk
Caleb Henson beat Melvin Miller 7-3 at US Open as well.
Henson loses in final 13-12 after several controversial scoring decisions go against him. Review went against him so instead of being up 8-7, he trailed 7-6. Had Lovett down, Lovett reestablished defensible position and then Henson put him on his back at end but only got the 4 points instead of 4+2.
Jesus
Bo techs Beau Bartlett 10-0 is into the us open finals. So is Caleb Henson
Bo teched Joey McKenna 10-0 in the final.
He will next face Real Marshall Ray Woods in the Finals X.
BB putting on a show. This guy is for real!
He beat the current NCAA champion from Stanford.
So today is the u20 tournament. Alot more young hokies and hokie commits are wrestling today. Bo and Melvin are doing the double. Here's the full list
57 kg - Alex Rozas
61 kg - Owen McMullen
65 kg - Bo Bassett
65 kg - Aaron Seidel [SCRATCHED]
70 kg - Melvin Miller
74 kg - Blake Jacobson
79 kg - Ryan Burton
79 kg - Mario Carini
97 kg - Max Konopka
Plus Keegan Bassett at 55KG for the U17
Bo and Ryan Burton win the U20 US Open tournament at their respective weights. They'll sit in for a best 2 out of 3 series against the winner of the U20 WTT champion that is determined at the end of may
Hokies with four 1st Team All Americans from Flowrestling
Bassett
Miller
Carini
Konopka
Also had a Third Team with Nicholas Garcia
They got a guy named "Rylin Seacrist". I wonder how often people call him Ryan Seacrest? ;^)
Real Woods hospitalized with a knee infection, has requested a delay of Final X match with Bo Bassett
Henson has withdrawn from Finals X to deal with some personal matters.
Coach Green wins his first Finals X match with David Carr at 74KG
Lost his second match but won his third.
Coach Green will represent USA in Freestyle at 74KG
Gage Wright at 184 lbs has left for Ohio State
Was that expected?
Not sure. Wright had several issues. Injury and academic. Guess he had a path with Ohio State to fix that.
Bo Bassett was named the 2026 MaxPrep Pennsylvania Male Athlete of the Year across all sports