Virginia Tech finished in fourth-place at the 2016 NCAA Wrestling Championship over the weekend. That marks the best finish in school history, as well as the only top-four finish in the history of the ACC. The top four teams in the Championship get trophies, so the Hokies returned to Blacksburg from New York with some hardware.
A total of 72 teams were represented in New York City, so obviously Tech's fourth-place finish is noteworthy. Overall, this was the school's fourth consecutive appearance in the top 10. Iowa, led by former VT coach Tom Brands, finished just behind the Hokies in fifth-place. Penn State was first, Oklahoma State was second, while Ohio State placed third.
Virginia Tech head coach Kevin Dresser was voted National Coach of the Year by the other wrestling coaches at the conclusion of the event.
Six Hokies earned All-American status, which tied Penn State, Oklahoma State and Iowa for the most. Zach Epperly (174) and Nick Brascetta (157) both finished in third place at their weight class, while Ty Walz (285) came in fourth. Solomon Chishko (141), David McFadden (165) and Jared Haught (197) all finished in sixth place.
Of all the Tech wrestlers who took part in the NCAA Championships, only Brascetta is a senior.