BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech wrestling team finished eighth along with three All-America honors at the 2022 NCAA Championship in Detroit to finish off another strong season. Paced by All-American finishes by Mekhi Lewis, Korbin Myers, and Bryce Andonian, the Hokies scored the fourth most ever points in program history at the national championship.
8𝙩𝙝 𝙄𝙉 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝘾𝙊𝙐𝙉𝙏𝙍𝙔 🦃
— Virginia Tech Wrestling (@HokiesWrestling) March 20, 2022
Capping off a strong season with 3 All-Americans, a whole lot of effort, and all heart. Proud of our guys. Grateful for all of #HokieNation. #Hokies #ALLINALLTHETIME🦃 pic.twitter.com/ddD0DnmQtW
Highlighted by Virginia Tech wrestling's first national champion Lewis' runner-up finish, two other All-Americans in now two-time All-American Korbin Myers and first-time All-American Bryce Andonian extended Tech's three or more All-American streak to nine straight seasons. Only three other programs feature the same claim – Penn State, Iowa, and Cornell.
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES.
— Virginia Tech Wrestling (@HokiesWrestling) March 20, 2022
HEART OF A CHAMPION, FOREVER @M_lewiss22 👑 #Hokies #ALLINALLTHETIME🦃 https://t.co/13Fmhw6KSg pic.twitter.com/Tlji1l4ahL
In his first season at a new weight and returning from injury after medically withdrawing from the 2021 NCAA Championship, 2019 national champion Mekhi Lewis made the finals for the second time in his career by pinning No. 3 Logan Massa (MICH) in the third period of their semifinal match on Friday night. Lewis made history once again as he became Tech's first two-time finalist in program history. Lewis' path to the finals included wins over #31 Dennis Robin (WVU), #18 Lance Runyon (UNI), #10 Clay Lautt (UNC), and #3 Logan Massa. Lewis fell in the finals to defending national champion, No. 1 Carter Starocci of Penn State on Saturday night via 5-4 sudden victory rideout criteria in the most entertaining final of the night. The Hokie is only the program's third finalist and made history in 2019 when he became Tech's first national champion by dethroning two-time, defending national champion of Penn State, Vincenzo Joseph.
The pin and the celebration...Mekhi Lewis is back in the NCAA FINALS!!
— NCAA Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 19, 2022
📺 ESPN#NCAAWrestling x @HokiesWrestling pic.twitter.com/VSeyQsYkgY
Bryce Andonian had a breakout year culminating in a third-place finish in his second trip to the national championships. Andonian was on brand with his must-see TV, putting on arguably the top-three most entertaining matches throughout the tournament. The Hokie was electric all weekend – picking up wins over Max Brignola (LEH), Jon Jon Millner (APP ST), Austin Gomez (WISC) before falling to Ridge Lovett (NEB) in the semifinal. Andonian secured his first career All-American status by pinning No. 3 seeded Austin Gomez in an exhilarating bout start to finish. Andonian then took Lovett to the wire in the semifinal match but fell just short as time expired. The Hokie secured his third-place finish with a second win over Austin Gomez on the backside to put an exclamation point on his year that started with a Junior World bronze medal finish back in September 2021.
HE BROUGHT ⚡️ TO DETROIT AND HE DELIVERED.
— Virginia Tech Wrestling (@HokiesWrestling) March 19, 2022
BRYCE ANDONIAN.
2022 NCAA ALL-AMERICAN.
LET'S GO #HOKIES #ALLINALLTHETIME🦃 pic.twitter.com/DhE61oShHx
Korbin Myers ended his illustrious career as a two-time All-American with a sixth-place finish in Detroit on Saturday. Myers made it to the quarterfinals of his fifth NCAA tournament before falling to Austin Desanto of Iowa. Myers handled Matt Ramos (PUR) in the consolation bracket to secure his second All-American honor and help propel the Hokies to a top-10 finish – the first since 2018 and the third in head coach Tony Robie's time at the helm.
𝐊𝐨𝐫𝐛𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬.
— Virginia Tech Wrestling (@HokiesWrestling) March 19, 2022
Two-Time All-American.
Thank you for choosing us to be your family these last four years. One of the best to ever represent Virginia Tech. What a career for Korbanzo Beans!
Once a Hokie, always a Hokie 🦃 🧡 pic.twitter.com/JNzN1Errw9
Full brackets from the championship can be found at top of the page.