133966Hokie

Got to finish the match and wrestle till that final whistle - usually the difference between the great wrestlers & the elite. He got a bit casual and left himself vulnerable. Bummer - he was in total control. I’m sure it stings & hopefully a great lesson learned & taken to heart. I was actually incredibly impressed he was able to not get teched out from that 6 point leg lace position. It was in super deep & could have been laced & rolled across the mat to defeat.

She is young (18 as someone noted) - so plenty of time to develop. Reading that article, those shooting stats are rough…. ** Edited by 133966Hokie at 6/17/2026, 11:27:47 AM

He is agreeing with me that by not giving up his leg to scramble as his primary offense is how he beat Merrill, Posada & Stout (definitely all top guys). His giving up the leg primary offense only worked against “inferior” guys - but when he went that tactic vs. top guys - he lost. At least I believe that is what he is saying!

I thought he exercised great discipline in not giving up a leg. I agree he kept moving his feet & created angles - looked awesome. Then in the NCAAT he reverted back to giving up the leg (and we saw what happened & the related results). I was surprised that he seemed to abandon what had helped him appear to have jumped a level. Maybe is was the pressure &/or not fully trusting it as an approach yet. Next season will be intriguing.

Noticed in his losses he gets in a bad position literally diving under his opponent. Address that and look out…

Has to be broader. Sometimes familiarity breeds strange results especially if it is a certain style to style match-up quirk not necessarily indicative of greater universe of wrestlers in the weight class.

in your statements. He has seemed to wrestle “down” to his level of competition lately. He is an absolute stud - but he had 3 tough close full matches - turns it on at the end every time (except Robideau who at this point Melvin would need to “wrestle up”) to get the win. Seidel & Bo - put the match away (& thus wrestle a significantly less amount of time). As I stated below, he did have 3 tough full matches prior while Robideau had none (perk of winning US Open). And Robideau Natty Champ and loss a close one to Zain 3-2 in the semis at the US Open. Henson vs Robideau for true 3rd & the Senior World team slot will be quite entertaining… Way to go Melvin!

Robideau who had none (perk of winning US Open). Oh & btw defending NCAA Champ at 157…. MM also tweaked his knee in those earlier matches. No excuses - he is 2 years younger and has room to improve with a highest of ceilings!

…this century (so since 2000 - the 25 NCAA Tourneys) - teams were 4-858 when trailing by 4+ runs heading into the 7th inning. And the Hokies are now the 5th to get a W… And yes - Texas Tech was the 4th earlier today. Wild stat they posted on the TV broadcast. ** Edited by 133966Hokie at 5/17/2026, 12:47:07 AM

another match would not be an issue as true 3rd place vs. Davino (if Seidel beat Desanto again) would be at Final X. Just like Henson vs. Robideau. ** Edited by 133966Hokie at 5/16/2026, 12:10:54 PM

he appeared visibly upset. Sucks. Zain got that one push out while on activity clock. Caleb took so many shots. Level changes, duck attempts, super duck etc… Zain is so strong literally just stayed in the middle & downblocked or head pinched the entire match. Bummer.

Unfortunate bc I believe they wrestle for 3rd & true 3rd at Final X as I believe Top 3 are officially part of the US team & get to train with the team.

& Caleb vs Ed Scott too! So intriguing. Robideau vs Retherford is spicy too…

Think if we had held onto James - middle group for a bunch of years - could have settled in somewhere from 133-184 over a few years: Aaron Seidel Bo Bassett Gaj(Ninninger) Melvin Miller Jayden James Ryan Burton Plus some solid to hammer recruits at 125/184/197/HWT (Sonny for 2 & Jimmy for 1 more year after this upcoming season). Then Carini & Konopka - and also Coluccio, Rozas, Fortier & Rocha. Not sure absolute hammers at all other weights in the above recruit group - but very solid & could be… Regardless - strong.

And we don’t have any HWT recruits in the ‘26, 27’ nor 28’ class at this time. Assuming Jimmy finishes strong - it would have been good to have a HWT overlap a year with Jimmy (and possibly redshirt that year with Jimmy as a senior). All the top 26 & 27 ranked HWT appear signed/committed. Looks like 3 ‘26 & 2 ‘27 unsigned (none are those elite hammers). Only see one 28’ HWT in Flo’s rankings - Kameron Hazelett out of Indiana - 11th ranked heavy. He doesn’t appear to be committed.(Edit another ‘28 is now ranked 20th). I realize more guys will come into the rankings over the next 2 years.We have all other weights committed/signed with ‘26 & ‘27 (or have a current fr on the roster). Maybe some 26’ or 27’ will want to be a part of the squad we are assembling & make a change to VT. HWT anchor would be special on those teams. Pulling for Big Jimmy to become that next level anchor the next 2 years.

Wonder what Joe Sealey is going to do? He only lost to James Green taking third at 74KGs. I believe he & James have a relationship & had he had been working with James as a Coach. Joe is in that major logjam at Penn St around 165lb weight classes. Is he going to wait it out & take his chances there? He would be a heck of a 165lber for someone… Thinking about heavy training partners/SERTC. A few 97kg/125kg proven guys like Jonathan Aiello (went to UVA & has really excelled post college/freestyle) & even Hayden Zillmer & Demetrius Thomas - wonder what their aspirations are? Btw - lost in the shuffle big Jimmy Mullen had a pretty strong US Open w/some nice victories including a win over Koy Hopke who had previously beaten him multiple times (believe both in folk & free). Yes Jimmy did benefit from a few MFF - but so did a lot of guys - part of it. Still tough getting by Kerkvliet but perhaps this tourney is a springboard… ** Edited by 133966Hokie at 4/27/2026, 11:33:39 AM

vs. Asher Cunningham

How can anyone not like that young man?!

Kellen Wolbert - current Flo #1 at 150.

Yes - son of PSU Coach Casey Cunningham

Faces Chase Karenbauer (fellow PA state champ & current Flo#8 at 113). ** Edited by 133966Hokie at 4/26/2026, 3:01:00 PM

That would be an incredible move & perfect for both Paddy & VT!

thing. But to say who we have in the room at 165 is as good or better is a big stretch. Schubert has wins last year against Wask, Gaitan & Steed! All top level guys/AAs. And a close 2-1 loss to Patrick Kennedy. No one in our room for 165 has a win anywhere close to any of those.

Prefer Garvin as he has already proven he can perform in March as a 2X AA. Carter Schubert appears to be on the cusp & about to break-out… Some big wins last year up at 174.

Bit surprised on that one… Edit - ok good to see original post mistakenly had the incorrect Carter from Oklahoma - actually Carter Schmidt so Schubert still in play. ** Edited by 133966Hokie at 4/15/2026, 10:28:28 AM

But help me understand why he is a great coach for our HWTs?

He actually destroyed Eddie a few years ago (major or even a TF) - believe it was in the Ohio St/VT dual.

He majored Pitzerr once. It’s in Jimmy - need to “release the Kraken” within…

Close - but going to need some more firepower as detailed above in order to have a solid shot at a Team Trophy… I think Sonny & Jimmy can do it BUT: 1) They need competition to push them. 2) They need training partners with different skill sets/tactics.. 3) Ideally at least augmenting Coach Haught - maybe a resident athlete heavy. 4) Jimmy appears to need to really dedicate to his craft - hoping Henson, Bo, Seidel can inspire/drive these guys on the cusp up another level. Diet & strength. Looks the same as he did as a true freshman. 5) Sonny gets in his own head. He adapted & didn’t just let people get to his legs & scramble on his end of season hot streak - then NCAAT he reverted (for some reason) back to that strategy & it cost him… 6) Assuming Burton goes 174 as Mole stated the other day. 157, 165 & 184 are potential portal options. Unless Gaj can add good/weight & strength and be as effective at 157 as he was at 149 (early last season he wasn’t as good at 157 as 149). And/or Noah can jump a level plus be an AA guy at 157/165 or needs another year to adjust. And I mean like a solid AA guy - they knew Seidel was going to be Top 4. There are going to be guys - especially one year guys - available here very shortly…. Go Hokies

What’s going to happen to Kasak? He’s already redshirted now too. Henckel redshirted as well. Same for Asher Cunningham… Oh & Jayden James as well (maybe he redshirts as Messenbrink will be a senior next year and then 165 is “open” among their others… Going to be fascinating…

What about Haught actually?! Probably Gus & Sal as well.

Some context/discussion. College wrestling is a bit “unfair” in that you are really judged on NCAAT results. AA is the goal - then Natty Champ obviously the ultimate prize. I think EV had a darn good year - just a rough weekend - actually a few bad seconds - MAMcG gifted him a point and victory to the semis & Eddie changed his escape plan & it cost him. I’ll bet EV would trade his ACC Champ this year (which is a great accomplishment) & his 2 other victories vs VRob this season for a win in the Blood Round this year vs. VRob to AA. I’ll bet he would even trade last year’s ACC Champ & victories vs VRob for VRob’s Natty last year. Do you think Jesse Mendez considers his season a success? I hope he does (I do) - but I doubt it. Not getting that 3-timer probably stings & people will remember Vega as the 141 Champ. Back to current Heavies. Do you really think Jimmy had a good year? Improving? I think Jimmy could be great & I’m pulling for him - lot has to come from within him & change - but again, we need to change something with the overall HWT regimen - including training partners & some coaching. Bolen regressed, Catka & Jimmy were both #1 HWT in their classes. Andy probably hit his ceiling. TJ… Lot of variables but don’t think you can just ignore coaching - coaching is involved in a lot of these variables. Love Haught - Great Hokie & good Coach - met him multiple times as well - his loss to MikeMach in NCAA Finals (after beating him 2/3 times that year was tough). I think it’s ok & fair to at least augment CJH/training partners & change up some things. Maybe at least consult w/some outsiders. Someone had a great post on here listing some creative thinking for some training partners/different perspectives. Sonny is a peculiar case. He looked great at the end of the year & ACCT. He changed his approach - setting up attacks vs letting guys get to his legs and looking to scramble- but he seemed to inexplicably revert back to that in most of NCAAT & it cost him imo. Good discussion - I personally feel we have a great opportunity next year - but if we go w/the status quo & approach at Heavies - we are going to fall short of our potential as a Team. I look forward to Sonny & Jimmy (& the rest of the squad) taking steps forward next season, hopefully jumping levels & becoming the best versions of themselves. Go Hokies!

the 2 best wins of his career. Huge Catka fan (awesome family too), watched him through HS. Watched most of his matches this year - he looked better to me. Could it just have been just a change of scenery? Maybe. And yes he obviously hurt that leg in that R12 match. A bit different of a match - he did secure the first TD and had the lead only he gave up a TD w/15 secs left (unfortunately familiar) - but instead of giving up he fought hard & got an escape at the buzzer to send it to SV - giving up that TD about a min in. Felt bad for him - wanted him to win & AA. So close. ** Edited by 133966Hokie at 3/24/2026, 6:49:52 PM