VTDante

Flo confirmed last week that VT is one of the initial eight schools committed to the National Duals.

I’m planning on flying out to Tulsa with NCAA tix getting harder and more expensive.

There are rumors on the VT boards that TJ Stewart will return next season. His Dad confirmed on TSL a couple weeks ago that TJ is in school at VT. Desiante and TJ would compete for the starting spot. Rooting for the young man.

Virginia Tech TSL Board VT247.com Thread (Most Posts Behind Paywall) NC State Pack Pride Forum (They create an annual Wrestling Thread)

I think so. Robie announced it during the social at NCAAs.

Why Sasso?

I doubt Haught is the answer, but he's also had the least amount of resources at his disposal. Rightfully, VT has prioritized the program around middle weights during the Caleb era. The staff tried to keep Mekhi around after he exhausted his eligibility, but he was burnt out and needed time away from wrestling. For training partners, the middleweights have Frayer, Jordan Oliver part-time, Caleb on a redshirt, and Bryce. VT has been hosting a middleweight wrestler from Japan over the past month. The lower weights enjoy this benefit, too, plus Tanelli has been a big boost for 125-141. Our upper weights don't have the same resources, and to be fair to Haught, I'm also not sure the guys we've recruited had either the high-level talent or the desire as guys like Caleb, Eddie, Seidel, Gaj, Mekhi, etc. I would love to see Robie bring in a HWT athlete to the RTC. Jimmy and Sonny would benefit from an additional mentor pushing them or competition in the room. Apparently, Robie mentioned the SERTC received its largest gift ever last week. I would love to see some of the money allocated here. In addition to Jimmy and Sonny, we have high-level recruits coming in like Konopka, Carini, and Rocha, so properly staffing for the upper weights prior to their arrival is critical.

Robie was non-committal on next year’s lineup when asked two weeks ago, but Caleb was talking 149 at the Stanford dual which means Bo at 141 and Gaj (maybe Nininger) at 157. The hope is Seidel can still make 133. If not he might redshirt. Seidel redshirt is the only way Campbell sees the mat in Blacksburg next season. Robie will likely have talks with Caleb about 157, but Caleb’s Olympics plan has been 65kg. That’s a tough conversation and ask when the young man redshirted for the benefit of next season’s team. I worry about Eddie next season. He’ll be a sixth year coming off a disappointing NCAA whose attacking was non-existent most of the season. Will he have the desire to come back and change his approach? Seen too many guys stay too long and deal with injuries and burn out that final season. My guess is we will see him at an open, one home dual, National Duals and then enough ACC duals to get to a RPI qualifying 15 matches. Miller won’t reclassify but will be at the training center most of his high school season

Seidel. Robie isn't paying for a Bo RS. Robie avoided the next season lineup question a couple weeks ago. If Seidel can't make it back down, I could see the staff asking Caleb if he would go 157. That would make his transition to freestyle more difficult. I also think he's better 149 than a possible 157. If Caleb goes 157, then Dillon Campbell takes 133 and resolves the lower weight logjam. Gaj would be forced to RS, and Nininger would need to bump up two weights to compete for a starting spot.

Watching that room daily next season with those three would be so much fun.

Caleb was mic'ed up for Stanford dual meet last month. At 8:15, Caleb talks to Eddie about getting Aaron back down next season. Robie wouldn't predict his weight class on the recent Techsideline interview. Most Hokies expect Henson back at 149 next season, but things can change.

125 - Eddie (medical year) 133 - Seidel if can make weight. If not, Campbell is the starter and Seidel will RS 141 - Bo 149 - Henson: the lineup starts with Caleb choosing his preferred weight (149 or 157). He plans of 65kg for Olympic qualifying, so 149 makes the most sense. 157 - Gaj or Nininger. Gaj could redshirt. Small possibility Caleb chooses 165 - Church / Burton / Nininger: Speculation Nininger has the frame to jump to weights if Gaj is too good to RS at 157 174 - Burton / Desiante: Burton will likely get his choice at either 165 or 174. 184 - Bullock (medical year) / Desiante / Transfer: One month ago, I would have said transfer. Both guys have made strides since ACC season started. Jaxon Smith has been speculated as a possible transfer. 197 - Sasso HWT - Mullen Redshirt - Freshmen: Rocha and Rozas - Unlikely but possible: Seidel and Gaj Highly unlikely Melvin pulls a Jax. Pencil him at 157/65 in '27/28 season

StewCrew (TJ's Dad) tweeted that his wife is in remission! StewCrew also tweeted his wife had two surgeries, and he had a hip replacement surgery. Rough year for the family.

Someone in the Twitter thread tweeted his close family member who was sick had passed away. I hope the latter isn't true. TJ's Mom had been battling cancer last year.

Thanks for starting this thread. Agree on most but I would update the 125. 125 1. Lilledahl 2/3. Seymour/Ventresca 4. Spratley 5. Bouzakis 6. Volk 7/8. Poulin/Provo Spratley losing to Eddie a few weeks ago hurts his top 3 chances. I think Seymour's undefeated record and conference championship pushes him above Spratley setting up a brutal top half of the bracket with Lilledahl, Spratley, and Bouzakis. Provo beat Robinson twice. Robinson looks like a 9/10 seed at this point. I think Lilledahl is on another level than the other contenders, but he might have a Provo/Robinson | Spratley/Bouzakis | Ventresca/Seymour/Volk path to the title. I'd take Spratley is he ends up in the bottom half.

Highly doubt Robie is going anywhere but let’s play along. Robie takes the Iowa job. VT AD would offer the HC job to Frayer. Tanelli would likely get a big bump and leave for Iowa City if Iowa allows Robie to build his own staff. Good chance the VT Athletic Dept would give more resources to Robie if there is war for his services. We couldn’t compete with a potential Iowa offer, but the hope is Robie would stay for less as long as there is an increased commitment to the program. Frayer would likely get the same kind of support in the event we lose Robie. Good chance Frayer keeps most of the middleweights including Caleb which is the strength of the lineup. Maybe Iowa would poach lighter weights with Tanelli. Doubt Robie would take Haught, so the upper weights would stay in Blacksburg. Also, Robie would go the Dresser route and not gut the program like Brands did.

I don’t see it. Cael is running his program at an historic level. Despite the influx of high-end talent, we are way behind PSU. Our upper weight program leaves a lot left to be desired. Maybe Sonny and Jimmy jump levels next season. Would be nice to have more coaching/resident athlete support for those guys to develop. Still wouldn’t be enough. I’ll gladly take podium finishes and multiple guys wrestling for national titles on Saturday night. Think that it is realistic starting next season.

Robie mentioned on State of The Program call this week with SERTC donors that the plan is for Caleb to go 149 next season.

I will try to manage expectations as year to year but today is a great day for Hokies wrestling.

Hope both men have successful surgeries. Prayers up. The Latona's have been a part of VT wrestling for nearly a decade. Everyone knows Sam, but his older brother Dom started wrestling at VT in 2016. The Brothers have always been hard working, humble and selfless. Sam sacrificed a couple years with a severe cut to help VT get the best lineup on the mat. Nice to see the family receive a wonderful gift from Coach Robie. VT Wrestling Tweet

The hint from TSL is VT fans are very familiar with one of the coaches [at Hip’s new school]. I would guess Maryland (Brascetta) before Iowa State (Dresser).

I enjoyed StewCrew posting on TSL. He did drop interesting nuggets and made the board more entertaining. His presence on the board this season definitely minimized the amount of criticism TJ received. Now, Robie and Frayer could not have been happy about him posting injury news (TJ's MCL injury) or conversations StewCrew held with the staff.

The Techsideline.com site owners migrated over to a more modern (imo better design), but the old fart posters resisted the change. TSL reverted back to the outdated version you currently see.

I skimmed your post initially and saw "VT's Mullen." My initial thought was "Dear God, please let this week end"

DT allegedly went hard after Ryan Burton last year, but we were able to hold onto him.