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Wrestling

Robie signs multiple nationally ranked prospects on signing day

BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech wrestling head coach Tony Robie announced that five student-athletes have signed their National Letters of Intent to wrestle for the Hokies beginning in the fall of 2019.
 
The class features two grapplers from Ohio and one wrestler each from the states of Alabama, Pennsylvania and Virginia.
 
"As a staff, we feel very good about this recruiting class," said Robie. "We targeted a handful of the top wrestling prospects on the East Coast and I feel like we came away with an exceptional group. It's perhaps the best one in my time here in Blacksburg, but only time will tell. I think there are multiple wrestlers in this class that have the potential to win NCAA titles and that should be very exciting for Hokie wrestling fans."
 
Bryce Andonian – Kirtland, Ohio (St. Edward)
 
Two-time Ohio state champion … Fargo freestyle national champion at 145 pounds … Ranked 20th on FloWrestling's Class of 2019 Big Board … Ranked No. 4 in the country at 145 by FloWrestling entering his senior season … Ranked second at 145 by Intermat.
 
Robie on Andonian
 
"I think Bryce is a guy that our fans are going to love to watch. He has a super-exciting style of wrestling. He is incredibly aggressive; goes out and scores points and tries to pin guys the entire match. He's had a tremendous amount of success through his prep career at St. Edward High School in Lakewood, Ohio, and we're obviously excited to get another guy from St. Edward. We're very excited to get Bryce in the program."
 
Connor Brady – Powell, Ohio (Olentangy Liberty)
 
2018 Super 32 champion … Placed third in freestyle at Fargo nationals … Ranked second in the nation at 152 by Intermat and third by FloWrestling … No. 9 overall recruit in the nation by FloWrestling …
 
Robie on Brady
 
"Connor Brady is one of the top wrestlers in the country. He's an incredibly strong, powerful athlete whose style translates well to the college level. We're really excited to have Connor. He's not only one of the best kids in the state of Ohio, he's among the best kids pound-for-pound in the entire country. The sky is the limit in terms of Connor's potential at Virginia Tech."
 
Sam Latona – Alabaster, Alabama (Thompson)
 
Two-time Fargo national champion … 2018 Super 32 finalist … 2017 Alabama state champion … Ranked sixth in the country at 120 pounds by both FloWrestling and Intermat … Ranked No. 51 on FloWrestling's Class of 2019 Big Board.
 
Robie on Latona
 
"Sam Latona is going to be an important part of our program in the future. He projects at 125 pounds, maybe 133 pounds at some point in his career. He's been on the big stage several times and he has a great work ethic. Wrestling is incredibly important to Sam and we expect big things from him. We're also excited to have another Latona in our program. We already have his brother Dom and they're both great kids raised in a great family."
 
Dan Mancini – Pottstown, Pennsylvania (Owen J. Roberts)
 
2018 Pennsylvania freestyle state champion … Placed at both Fargo nationals and in the state of Pennsylvania this past season … Ranked 85th in the class of 2019 by FloWrestling … Ranked 10th in the country at 160 pounds by Intermat.
 
Robie on Mancini
 
"Dan, out of Southeast Pennsylvania, kind of came on to the scene a little bit late with us. Dan projects as a 149-pounder. He's a guy that's really going to help our program. Dan really wanted to come to Virginia Tech. He basically came here on an unofficial visit and fell in love with the place. I think at that point in time he made up his mind that this is where he wanted to be. We love those kinds of guys that want to be Hokies."
 
Brandon Wittenberg – Haymarket, Virginia (Battlefield)
 
Three-time Virginia state champion … Placed at Escape the Rock and Powerade tournaments … NHSCA All-American.
 
Robie on Wittenberg
 
"Brandon is one of the top kids in the state of Virginia. A priority for us every year is to get the best kids in the state and Brandon fits that mold. He's going for his fourth state title and projects between a 125 and 133-pounder. Brandon is another good little guy that will help us in the lower weights in the future."