VAtoSC

Robie came out last week in a VT podcast saying Latona was bumping to 141 next year. A redshirt is not on the table right now- pretty sure he doesn't even have one available unless it would be a medical one. He redshirted in in 19-20, wrestled in 20-21 (free year), wrestled in 21-22, 22-23, and 23-24. Will utilize the free covid year from 2021 next year for his last year of eligibility. 2x AA in both 2021 and 2023 which were his 1st years in the lineup at 125 and 133. The second year at 125 in 2022 he struggled with the weight cut and probably would have moved up to 133 if VT didn't have Korbin Myers there. The second year at 133 in 2024 he again struggled with some injuries and the weight cut-he is almost 6 feet tall and will still be a large 141 length wise. Think he can do very well there next year, and the ACC should be super entertaining at the weight with him, McNeil from UNC and Jack from NC State.

With the recent portal activity, Virginia Tech should look like the following now: 125-Eddie Ventresca (Rumors are he is getting close to being 100% healthy again and should be good to go by October which is great news and they need him back to the March 2022 form when he was an All-American with Cooper Flynn hitting the portal) 133-Connor McMonagle (Big time transfer from Lehigh who should contend for AA status) 141-Sam Latona (Moves up a weight again and will be still be tall and long for 141) 149-Caleb Henson (Returning NATIONAL CHAMPION) 157-Rafael Hipolito (Bright future for this kid) 165- ? (I have no idea honestly. I have heard rumblings they are looking to the portal after Connor Brady and Clayton Ulrey elected to enter the portal. Maybe Hipolito goes 165 and Mac Church goes 157?, but I had heard Rafe is a very natural 157. Maybe Luke Robie goes on a big weight gain up from 149/157 where he was this year? Big question mark right now) 174-Lennox Wolak (All American transfer from Columbia) 184-TJ Stewart (Returning All American. There were some rumblings about him entering the portal but he has confirmed he is ALL HOKIE) 197-Sonny Sasso (Andy Smith had a very good NCAA tournament losing in the blood round and is back his last year, but Sasso is so athletic for a 197, and he had a super impressive redshirt season. This was the first time in his career he focused soley on wrestling and he improved a ton so look for continued growth from him) 285-Jimmy Mullen (Very similar situation as 197 with Hunter Catka returning for his last year after a good showing at NCAAs by making the blood round. Mullen though has stopped playing football for VT and is entirely focused on wrestling now. Very good redshirt year and I think he has a big year in 2025) Very deep lineup with 5 previous All Americans in Stewart, Wolak, Ventresca, Latona, and Henson. McMonagle certainly has the ability to AA if he is healthy. Sasso and Mullen are both super athletic for their weights. Big question mark at 165, but this team if healthy could challenge for a team trophy.

I don't think Mekhi is anywhere near healthy enough currently to try and wrestle on the SR Level. Do they look to bring back a former Hokie like Brascetta from Maryland or Dance from American? Or do they go outside the program?

Bartlett back is big for them in terms of allowing some flexibility. I think you see Davis redshirt and bump to 133 the following year. Also think you see Kasak redshirt and drop to 141 the following year.

Surprised on Brady-I thought he was done competing. Hopefully he does well next year, great athlete and great kid.

Been rumored for a long time that Haines has had a tough cut to 157 this year and MM is a natural 157. Lots of folks around the program now have confirmed they will swap next year. Keckeisen bumping up is more of projection, big 184 who probably has senior level aspirations and might deem his better future for senior level freestyle at the higher weight. Rumors were he struggled with the cut this year at times, but his wrestling certainly didn't show that. For my predictions I went with it, but if he stays 184 he is the HEAVY favorite and 197 is a free for all similar to 125 this year I think.

125-Lilledahl (PSU) over Stanich (Lehigh) 133-Crookham (Lehigh) over Frost (ISU) 141-Mendez (Ohio State) over Bartlett (PSU) 149-Henson (VT)over Lovett (Neb) 157-Messenbrink (PSU) over Shapiro (Cornell) 165-Haines (PSU) over Caliendo (Iowa) 174-O'Toole (Mizz) over Welsh (Ohio State) 184-Plott (Oklahoma State) over Stewart (VT) 197-Keckeisen (UNI) over Little (Little Rock) 285-Kerkvliet (PSU) over Feldman (Ohio State)

Penn State will be the heavy favorite again next year, but before things get crazy with the portal I wanted to see what people think their favorite programs lineups look like next year: Virginia Tech 125-Eddie Ventresca or Cooper Flynn (Ventresca dealt with a nerve issue that forced him to the sideline but I've heard good reports on him coming back healthy). 133-Cooper Flynn or Portal (Think Flynn bumps up but this could be a portal addition) 141-Sam Latona (one more year for Latona-he bumps up again to 141 where he will still be very tall and long for the weight) 149-Caleb Henson (HITMAN) 157-Rafael Hipolito (not a super heralded recruit but the staff loves him, very inexperienced wrestler but will grow by leaps and bounds over the next few years) 165- Clayton Ulrey (Connor Brady has another year but I think he said he wasn't going to use it-Ulrey will be undersized at 165 but is tough) 174-Lennox Wolak (All American transfer from Columbia) 184-TJ Stewart (All American) 197-Sonny Sasso (Very strong redshirt year, uber athletic and long 197) HWT-Jimmy Mullen (Very strong redshirt year)