Virginia Tech has a very good team this year. By very good, I mean they could very well challenge for a team trophy. They do lose two to the ends of eligibility & one to the transfer portal, but whatever they lost, they're more than making up for. When the late Jim Weaver, one of the best athletic directors the sport of wrestling has ever known said he wanted V.T. to be a wrestling school, by gawd he meant it. The Chicago maroon & burnt orange is most certainly a wrestling school.
Before we get to just how loaded the Hokies at in 2026-2027, let's first get out of the way what has been lost...
Jaden Bullock capped off his stellar career at two-time NCAA DI All-American. An ACC champ this year, he also took 7th at the Southern Scuffle.
Ethan Miller, a transfer of Maryland ended his career a four-time NCAA DI All-American. An ACC runner-up this year, he was 5th at the Midlands.
Tom Crook, a three-time NCAA DI qualifier will compete for Indiana this year.
Now for what is back...
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| 125 Eddie Ventresca |
When Eddie Ventresca's '25-'26 season ended one match shy of NCAA DI All-American honors, the first thing I said was that I still thought he could win the 2027 NCAA DI national title. I still think that. 7th-5th-R12-1st? Yes, I think that's a very real possibility, and Yes, I know how insanely loaded 125 is going to be this year. A two-time ACC champ, Ventresca also won the Southern Scuffle last year.
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| 133 Aaron Seidel Or Dillon Campbell |
To be blunt, I was quite shocked when I discovered that Virginia Tech held onto Dillon Campbell this season. As talented as he is, it just doesn't look like there's a place in the lineup for him in '26-'27. We're talking about a guy that went 18-5 last year, 4th at Cliff Keen Las Vegas & 6th at the Southern Scuffle. Wins over Zach Redding & Tyler Ferrara. Who knows? Maybe he might give me a slice of sweet potato pie & shut my mouth with a win over Aaron Seidel.
Be a Hell of a win, considering how good Seidel is. 22-2, he was champion at the ACC, the Lehman Open & the Midlands, taking 3rd place All-American honors in the DI nation.
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| 133 Nick Garcia |
I was rather shocked when Nick Garcia decommited from Illinois & decided to go to Virginia Tech. It's not like the Hokie's aren't already loaded with talent at 133 as it is. Nevertheless, with pretty much no more room, they somehow made room from another outstanding talent.
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| 141 Bo Bassett Or Drew Gorman |
I've been around collegiate wrestling now for about 35 or 36 years now & I can remember some very hyped debuts. Steve Mocco was a big deal, Hell even some of the debuts last year were a big deal, but I don't know if there has ever been a debut in the history of college wrestling that fans are more excited about than Bo Bassett. I would imagine the week before his first official appearance; it might be all college wrestling media talks about. The things this guy did while still in High School are unheard of. I mean he took out Jaxon Joy 11-1 last year! Then when Caleb Tyus was ranked like #2 or #3 in the country at the time, he tech'd him 21-6! At 41 years of age, I wonder if I'll ever see someone capture the fans interest in the way that this young man seems to.
With that said, I'm not going to overlook or completely ignore the fact that Drew Gorman is a Hell of a good talent in his own right. 3rd at the Midlands last year, he had an 8-3 win over Dylan Chappell.
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| 149 Caleb Henson |
Taking a redshirt this past season, Caleb Henson, one of the best wrestlers to ever come out of the state of Georgia has thus far been 5th-1st-2nd in the DI nation as he'll go for his fourth All-American honor, his third NCAA DI finals appearance & his second National title.
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| 157 Collin Gaj |
If Collin Gaj can have the kinda season at 157 that he had at 149, then that's gonna be a great '26-'27 for the Hokie. Last year he won both the ACC & the Midlands, taking 5th in the DI nation & 7th at CKLV.
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| 165 Noah Nininger Or Mac Church |
We have a good wrestle-off here at 165 lbs. Noah Nininger redshirted this past season, placing 6th at the Midlands & earning a 7-6 decision over Jackson Arrington. Mac Church, a two-time NCAA DI qualifier for the Chicago maroon & burnt orange has thus far been 3rd & 2nd in the ACC. He won 24 matches last year.
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| 174 Ryan Burton |
Redshirting this past season, Ryan Burton took 3rd at the Midlands.
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| 184 Sergio DeSiante |
The Tampa, Florida native earned ACC runner-up status last year, also placing 3rd at the Midlands.
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| 197 Sonny Sasso |
The ACC champ won 26 matches last season, heading into '26-'27 with Southern Scuffle finishes of 3rd & 6th.
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| HWT Jimmy Mullen Or Parker Ferrell |
2nd & 3rd thus far in the ACC, Jimmy Mullen will be looking to win a conference title this season, as he'll also be looking to become a two-time Southern Scuffle champion. He has a very strong backup in Parker Ferrell, who was 4th at last year's Midlands. Owns a 6-4 win over Rocco Dellagatta.
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