Welcome to Championship Weekend, Hokie Fans.
Eight Nine Hokies have qualified for the 2025 NCAA Wrestling Championships at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, PA.
Starting off, in the 125 lb bracket, Virginia Tech sends out Eddie Ventresca (#3) take on Gylon Sims of The Citadel in bout 19
In the 133 lb bracket, Connor McGonagle (#6) will be tested by Army's Ethan Berginc in bout 38
Sam Latona (#12) represents the Hokies in the 141 lb bracket, where he will face Dylan Chappell of Bucknell in bout 48
Defending champion and top seed Caleb Henson receives an automatic bye to the second round.
Rafael Hipolito (#4) will start his run in the 157 lb bracket against Harvard's James Harrington in bout 82
In the 165 lb bracket, Mac Church (#28) starts off in bout 95 against #5 Julian Ramirez of Cornell
In bout 109, Lennox Wolak (#24) will take on Carson Kharchla of Ohio State in the 174 lb bracket
The Hokies do not have a competitor in the 184 lb bracket, as TJ Stewart failed to qualify, though the finals should be the best match of the entire tournament with the likely bout being 4-time champ Carter Starocci and undefeated Parker Keckeisen.
Andy Smith (#19) will begin in bout 148, in the 197 lb bracket, taking on Zach Glazier of SDSU.
Rounding out the Round 1 competitors, in the 285 lb bracket, Virginia Tech will watch Jimmy Mullen (#11) take on Brady Colbert of Army in bout 165.
As a team, I saw somewhere that the Hokies were predicted to finish 5th, with 60 points, though a few upsets and bonus points could easily see the Hokies as high as 2nd, based on predicted final scores.
Prelims begin at Noon.
Comments
It's nine. 184 lbs is only weight class we don't have someone.
My bad. My first pass at this was just for those competing in the first round. I forgot to change it to nine for Henson.
I don't have much hope for our team score finish since we only have 9 wrestlers in this year, but I'm all in on Henson for the repeat!
Right now projections on team total would put us 5th, 2 points behind Nebraska. 62 vs 60
Penn State is projected to lap the field again though at 157 team points compared to Iowa at #2 with 70 points.
If Penn State wins it will be their 9th title in the last 12 years with no champion in 2020 due to Covid. Ohio State and Iowa have one each in last ten titles.
As you are well aware, we will not win a team wrestling title until we get our own regional camp/facility that we run. Penn State did this years ago- and certainly broke many ncaa rules, but that cat is out of the bag. Until we get this, we will simply not beat PSU, OSU, Iowa at the NCAA level.
Don't we already have a regional US wrestling facility that uses our VT facilities? Or do you mean something else.
I mean something else. Off campus, but we run it as a feeder program for the team.
yes https://www.southeast-rtc.com/
Starting up in several minutes. Anyone have a schedule on which mats each of our guys will be starting on?
Hipolito sporting a new look - almost didn't recognize him - but as long as he wrestles like he is capable of he can go deep.
LETS GO!
Eddie V starts us off with a WIN
The free side of Flowrestling has good resources for following along and also a good breakdown of each weight class. They are not very high on VT with only Henson making the podium.
https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/13959461-2025-ncaa-wrestling-championship-results-brackets-and-schedule
https://www.flowrestling.org/articles/13959725-2025-ncaa-wrestling-tournament-predictions-for-each-weight-class
They a clip of Lenox "upsetting" Kharchla on their now.
Latona with the early departure.
Round 2:
157- Hipolito (4) vs Chumbley (13)
149- Henson (1) vs Aba (17)
133- McGanagle (6) vs Frost (11)
125 - Ventresca (3) vs Moore (14)
6 wins, 3 losses in first round.
Mullen, Latona, Church all drop opening matches. Mullen and Latona were higher seeds.
Eddie Ventresca on to Quarterfinals with 6-3 decision
Connor McGonagle on to Quarterfinals with 5-0 decision
Henson on mat 4
Latona on Mat 1
Henson up 3-0 quick
Henson 3-1 after 1st and immediate escape to make it 4-1
Henson struggling. Guy has gotten to his leg three times. Still 4-1
Over 1 min RT
RT locked
Henson wins 5-1
Latona up 3-0
Escape made it 4-0
7-7 but RT locked late in 3rd
Latona blows it at buzzer gives up a take down and is eliminated
Was worth a challenge to see but Hokies don't throw it
You only get a certain number of challenges as a team (3 I think) so it's really not worth it for a consolation match. I think they would have lost it anyways.
Really feel for Latona, you could see the heartbreak in his reaction. Tough end to a nice career. Will always remember his walk off win against NCSU back in 2021.
Hippolito up on mat 5
0-0 after 1.
Trails 1-0 after 2
Escape 1-1
Going to SV
Going to Rideouts
On top first
Hippolito rides out but brick challenge
They awarded the other guy a point for sonething
Hippolito loses based on RT. Not sure how because he had 30 seconds riding time to start a 30 second rideout
It was an illegal hold for locking hands. You can only connect your hands if both of the opponents knees are off the mat. I was worried about that challenge. Real bummer, thought he had a good chance to make a run, gotta do it on the backside now.
The ride outs are back to back 30 second periods and then after both the tie breaker goes to RT. Because of the illegal hold the score was 2-1 so the RT didn't matter. He would have won with an escape.
None of these guys seem to have the energy we are used to seeing from them.
Agreed. Really surprised by that performance but I think the NW wrestlers size really gave him trouble. Its extra bad because Fish would have been his next opponent who he had already easily beaten twice this season. Such a thin margin in the tourney.
Forget about a team podium finish
Wolak on mat 3
Church on mat 2
Wolak 0-0 after 1
Escape up 1-0
1-0 after 2
Allows escape 1-1
Going to SV
Wolak moves on with takedown in SV
Church up 6-2 in 1st
6-2 after 1
Church starts down in 2nd
Hits immediate reverse. 8-2 and injury check on his opponent
8-3 with 1 min RT
8-3 after 2
Start neutral in 3rd
Church takedown
11-3. Another injury check on opponent up to 1:17 in RT
Church with 12-4 maj decision in Consolation bracket
2 matches left tonight
Smith in the Championship Round vs #3
Mullen in the Consolation Round vs #27
Hokies Wrestling twitter said Hippolito is due to wrestle again in Consolation tonight
I am pretty confident that is a mistake. There's only 1 consolation round tonight. There are 2 consolation rounds tomorrow morning and tomorrow night.
Hokies confirmed Mullen last of the night now
Smith up on mat 4 against #3 AJ Ferrari
Smith gives up takedown with 3 seconds left in 1st. Trails 3-0
Opponent escape makes it 4-0
4-0 after 2
Starts down
Opponent over 1 min RT
Smith gets ridden almost entire 3rd. Loses 5-1
Another match with not enough energy. These guys look lethargic
Hokies not even in top 10 team standings right now
We are 11th but only 4 points away from 5th. Could really use some bonus points from Mullen.
Heavyweight, guy from Nebraska has been hit with 4 stalls.
Make it 5 and then forfeits
You forgot to add, in the 1st period!! Haha clearly just didn't want to deal with Steveson
Yeah looked like his shoulder was a mess anyway so probably best option
Mullen coming up on mat 6 faces #27 Connor Barket from. Duke
Early takedown for Jimmy 3-0
Jimmy 3-1 with 1:38 RT after 1st
3-2 after escape
Jimmy takedown makes it 6-2 but escape 6-3
Jimmy has RT secure, starts bottom
Escape makes it 7-3
Gives up takedown
7-6
Wins 9-6 but definitely ran out of gas in final 30 seconds
Damn Hendrickson from Okie St is a monster.
After Day 1, Hokies still have 8 wrestling
Latona is done.
Henson, Ventresca, McGonagle and Wolak in winners bracket
The remaining four in Consolation bracket
Currently in 11th in Team Rankings with 12 points. Michigan and Illinois with 16.5 tied for 9th ahead of Hokies
Wolak is in the winners bracket as well, we have 4 in each.
Yeah blanked on Wolak
Penn State won all 20 matches today. Their program is just on another level.
Scored 39.5 points. Nebraska in 2nd at 28.
Penn State is a remote literal cow college in a freezing cold climate. I have no idea how they compete in major sports with that hand tied behind their backs.
Big 10 TV deal and still living off the national brand that Paterno built. Strip those two things away and you get Virginia Tech.
State College has a metro area population of +/- 158,000
Blacksburg has a metro area population of +/- 180,000
Penn State has an enrollment of nearly 88,000
Virginia Tech has an enrollment of just over 30,000
Penn State has graduated over 775,000 people over the years
Virginia Tech has graduated around 292,000 people all time.
Compare these numbers, ask yourself your own question "I have no idea how they compete in major sports with that hand tied behind their back..." and then ask how VT is supposed to win a Natty in every single sport that is brought up in this forum according to you.
In today's world if VT really wanted to win a Natty they just need to pick a sport and invest __ millions in it for a couple of years to buy the best team and staff.
"VT is supposed to win a Natty in every single sport that is brought up in this forum according to you."- never said this. Just pointing out that its so impossible to do that Rice and Coastal Carolina have done it recently.
Penn St. system 89,000 students 2024
Main Campus 46,000
VT students 2024 39,000
VT system 39,000
As for weather. You have to look at this in a comparative basis.
For in-state, State College, PA is about average by the state with Philadelphia having the balmiest weather in the state. IYKYK, I am editorializing with that word choice. Philly area having the bulk of the population.
The bulk of the in-state population in VA is Richmond, Northern VA and VA Beach.
Blacksburg's weather is nowhere near the weather of those areas, especially the semitropical VA Beach (region 9). Hell, Blacksburg is colder than Roanoke.
Also, State College is a hop skip and jump from everywhere in PA. They even named the town after the school.
TLDR- thinking Blacksburg, VA is comparable to State College, PA has me considering the post was a troll but I took the time to respond anyway.
Eddie Ventresca wins in OT = 2 Time All American!!!!
Mcgonagle loses, on to Consolation bracket
The Hitman will be coming up on Mat 3
Fan base can be heard as Caleb HEN-SON wins in OT!!!!
Currently in 3 way tie for 6th with Iowa and Northern Iowa... one point behind 5th
Now two way tie for 8th with Iowa
Henson wins 8-5 in SV
Mac Church on mat 8
Hipolitos on mat 2
Hipolito a couple of attacks but nothing to show for it.
0-0 after 1
On top to start 2nd
Escape trails 1-0
Gets pinned and is eliminated.
Really poor showing for Hipps
Wolak coming up on Mat 3. Faces #1 seed
Wolak loses 13-1. Drops to Consolation bracket
Church gives up late takedown in first
Trails 3-0
Starts down in 2nd
Gives up another takedown, trails 6-1
Opponent has over 2 min RT and escapes 7-1
Hit with stall 8-1
Now hit with illegal hold. Loses 10-1 and is eliminated
Only surprise today is Nebraska is hanging tough with Penn State.
67.5 to 62
OK St in 3rd at 45 points
Smith up on mat 2
Both given early stall warnings
0-0 after 1st. Starts on top in 2nd
Trails 1-0 after 2
Escape makes it 1-1
Smith gets beaten on takedown in final seconds and is eliminated.
Running theme. Giving up late points
Mullen coming up on mat 3
Mullen is hurt. Hokies appear to be challenging and illegal hold. Mullen up 1-0 and back on mat
Gives up late takedown. Trails 3-1 after 1st
Neutral in 2nd
Stall warning on Mullen
Gives up another takedown in final ten seconds. Trails 6-1
Escape makes it 7-1
Another takedown makes it 10-1
11-1 on stall
Loses 12-1 and is eliminated. Utterly embarrassing
Hokies have two remaining in winners bracket and two in Consolation bracket.
Five have now been eliminated.
Thanks for the updates. What are the odds of having an individual champ?
Two have a chance. Ventresca at 125 and Henson at 149. Both in the semifinals.
Ventresca faces #7 Spratley so "favored". Win that and will face either #4 Vincent Robinson (who he beat in ACC Championship) or #8 Sheldon Seymour from Lehigh. Eddie is highest remaining seed.
Henson is #1 so favored. He faces #13 Demilio from Ohio State. Win puts him against winner of #3 Van Ness from Penn State or #2 Lovett from Nebraska.
Next session starts at 8pm
Ventresca on mat 4 now
0-0 after 1. On top in 2nd
Gives up reverse just short of 1 min RT
Trails 2-1 going to 3rd
2-2 Hokies throw brick. Claiming Eddie should have gotten a takedown. Not sure I see it
Challenge fails
Going to SV
Going to RO
Ventresca got great escape but then allowed takedown and loses 6-3
Will say the OK st guy should have been hit with 5 or 6 stalls that went uncalled. Basically ran away from Eddie the entire match
McGonagle on mat 6
Up 3-0 in 2nd with 1:34 RT
Going to 3rd on bottom
Allowed escape 4-0
Hit with stall. 4-1
McGonagle wins 5-1, locks up AA status.
Henson coming up on mat 3
DEmilio hit with stall warning
0-0 after 1. On top in 2nd
Gave up a reversal.
Trails 2-1
2-1 after 2. On bottom
Escape 2-2
Henson takedown. 5-2
Henson wins 6-2
Wolak coming up on mat 5 as well
Wolak down 5-0 early Hokies challenge near fall points for being out of bounds
Challenge successful. Trails 3-0
Proceeds to give up near fall again. 5-0
Gives up 3 point near fall. 8-0
Escape taken away by whistle
8-1
Official whistles out too early costing Wolak a takedown
Now official gives NC STALL another point saying Wolak rammed his head
Official take away another escape from Wolak. This is unbelievable
Now officials at table for something else but have awarded NC STALL another point right now. 10-1. Hokies challenge ongoing now.
Wolak now hit with Stall warning and NC St has RT locked
Now hit with stall, 10-2
Somehow Wolak on bottom in 3rd too
Wolak loses 13-8. Deck was stacked against him from first whistle. Officials gave NC STall at least 6 points
Hokies have Ventresca and McGonagle in Consolation bracket and Henson wrestling to repeat tomorrow.
Nebraska continues to surprise.
Penn State 101
Nebraska 98
Hokies in 9th right now
Welp by end of session, Penn State jumps away.
PSU 128.5
Nebraska 101.5
Ok St 84
Iowa 63
Ohio State 44
Illinois 40.5
Virginia Tech 40
Minnesota 39
Northern Iowa 37.5
Cornell 36.5
5th is unlikely but highest Hokies could get
Dang was hoping for a trophy again
They updated scores again after I checked last night. Hokies dropped to 10th. 7th is now highest we can probably finish.
Penn State has clinched title I believe
PSU 155
NEB 105
Ok St 94.5
Iowa 77.5
Minnesota 50.5
Ohio state 47.5
Cornell 46
Northern Iowa 44.5
Illinois 40.5
Virginia Tech 40
NC STALL. 38
What's insane is by all realistic expectations the football team is closer to wining a natty the the wrestling TEAM title. And the football team is bad. That's just how much better pedo state is
I can live with beating NCStall at this point.
Now we just gotta get better at winning more consistently at the NCAA tournament
Ventresca finished in 5th
McGonagle finished 6th
Another not so stellar day for Hokies.
NC STALL has moved ahead of Hokies in Team points
Henson on deck. 141 championship about to go. Then it's all the marbles at 149
0-0 after 1. Thought ref had awarded Henson a point for a dangerous shove by Lovett but nothing on board
Henson awarded takedown but Nebraska challenge Huge call upcoming
I think they'll overturn it
Fuck overturn
Triple fuck
Holy whizzer bat man
Expert level stalling Nebraska. Congrats
Bullshit he didn't get called for it
It's frustrating but it's a key part of wrestling at this level. Stalling without getting the call. Nevraska dude didn't take a single shot I don't think tho.
Fuck, Caleb loses literally just to a coin toss
why did caleb choose neutral instead of down?
Afraid he couldn't escape from bottom and more confident in ability to get a take down from neutral. He was close 3 times. One take down would have won that match.
That loss punctuated about the worst possible outcome as a team. Let downs at every level.
...did that Purdue wrestler literally run away from the mat crying?
Wouldn't know, after the farce of Hensons match, turned that shit off
That heavyweight match was incredible. What an ending to the tournament. Can't believe Gable lost.
Daniel Cormier has zero ability to be impartial. To call a OK State #2 over #1 the greatest upset he's ever seen. After the guy goes and grovels at trump is just despicable
I mean dude just beat an Olympic gold medalist
to be fair, going into it, it looked like the gap between 1 and 2 here was the grand canyon
And to double the fair, Gable Steveson hadn't been taken down the entire year. Is he biased, sure, but it's as big of upset there has been.
That was a hell of heavyweight final.