Virginia Tech Wrestling 2022-2023 Weight Preview: 197 and 285Virginia Tech Wrestling 2022-2023 Weight Preview: 197 and 285
Wrestling

Virginia Tech Wrestling 2022-2023 Weight Preview: 197 and 285

Opens in a new window 2022-2023 Wrestling Roster

BLACKSBURG - With the 2022-2023 season right around the corner, let's take a look at the final weight classes as familiar faces return at 197 and 285 pound for the Hokies.

197:
 
The first Tech wrestler looking to represent the Hokies in the upcoming season is junior Andy Smith. Born and raised right down the road in Christiansburg, Virginia, Smith wrestled for Christiansburg High School where he made it to the state finals twice, claiming the 220-pound title in 2019. In addition, Smith was a five-time All-American, placed fourth at Ironman in 2018 and fifth at the Beast of the East in 2018.
 
In his grayshirt year, Smith went 9-4 while competing for the SERTC. He claimed the title at the 2020 Southeast Open at 285 pounds, went 3-2 at the ARMS Software/GMU Patriots Open, and 2-2 at the Appalachian State Open. Of his nine wins, Smith picked up two falls and a major decision.
 



As a true freshman, Smith made his way down to 197 pounds for his first appearance in the Hokies' starting lineup. Going 4-6 on the season, his first win of the season came at the dual against Campbell over Levi Hopkins by a score of 12-7. Smith competed at the 2021 ACC Championships where he went 0-2.
 
In his sophomore season, Smith improved to a 9-4 record, four of his wins coming by major decision. The highlight of Smith's season was a fifth-place finish at the 2022 Southern Scuffle going 5-2 on the weekend. Both of his losses came to three-time NCAA qualifier Cameron Caffey of Michigan State by decision.
 


 
The next Hokie looking to get Tech loyals on their feet once again is fan-favorite, redshirt senior Dakota "The Junkyard Dog" Howard.
 



Wrestling for the legendary St. Edward High School in Cleveland, Ohio, Howard was a two-time state finalist, a two-time Ironman placer winner, three-time NHSCA All-American, and a Fargo All-American. At the end of his high school career, Howard was ranked No. 10 in the country by FloWrestling and No. 11 by Intermat at 195 pounds.
 
In his true freshman season, Howard went 9-2 with two pins and three tech falls. Howard finished 3-1 at the 2018 Hokie Open, 3-0 at the Storm Open and 3-1 at the Appalachian State Open.
 
In his redshirt freshman year, Howard finished the season with a 14-8 record. Over the course of the season, Howard accumulated five major decisions and five tech falls, the most notable being his 23-6 tech fall over Duke's Kai Blake at 184 pounds in the Moss Arts Center dual. He finished fifth at the 2019 Southeast Open after battling back from a first-round loss, went 2-2 at the Wolfpack Open, 2-2 at the Navy Classic, 3-2 at the ARMS Software/GMU Patriots Open, and finished second at the Appalachian State Open wrestling at 184 pounds.
 


 
In his redshirt sophomore campaign, Howard made his way down to 174 pounds and went 5-7 on the season including a 21-6 tech fall over Jared McGill of Pittsburgh. The highlight of Howard's season was a third-place finish at the 2021 ACC Championships where he avenged a loss against Vic Marcelli of Virginia with an 11-9 win in sudden victory in the bronze medal match. His ACC performance automatically qualified him for the NCAA Championships where he went 0-2.
 


 
Howard made his way back up to 197 pounds for his redshirt junior season, going 13-10 on the season including three major decisions, five tech falls - three of them coming at the Southeast Open - and one fall. In tournament action, Howard finished second at both the Southeast and David Lehman Opens and went 0-2 at the ACC Championships.
 
285:
 
With the departure of two-time conference champion and five-time NCAA qualifier in Nathan Traxler, the young heavyweights proceeding him are excited to fill those big shoes. 
 
The first heavyweight returning to the lineup and closing out duals for Tech is redshirt sophomore Hunter Catka. Hailing from Brookhaven, Pennsylvania, Catka was among the top recruits in a stellar class for the Hokies. Over the course of his high school career, Catka collected two state titles for Sun Valley High School, won the Beast of the East, Super 32, and made the 2019 Cadet World Team.
 


 
In his true freshman season, Catka went 10-4 on the season, picking up three major decisions and three tech falls in the process. The highlight of Catka's season was an upset victory over second-seeded Quinn Miller of Virginia in the semifinals of the ACC Championships. He went on to finish second at the tournament, falling to Deonte Wilson of NC State in tiebreakers. His ACC performance earned him a spot at the 2021 NCAA Championships where he went 1-2. His lone win at the tournament came in sudden victory over North Carolina's Andrew Gunning.
 



Catka redshirted his second collegiate season, going 10-6 on the year. He showed his ability to score bonus points once again, claiming two major decisions, three tech falls, and two falls. Catka finished second at the Southeast open, picking up his first collegiate pin over Jalen Stephens of Columbia, went 3-1 at the Wolfpack Wrestling Club Open, 2-2 at the ARMS Software/GMU Patriots Open, and 2-2 at the Southern Scuffle.

The other Hokie looking to compete for Tech is true freshman Alex Rosenbaum. Coming from Goochland, Virginia, Rosenbaum didn't start his wrestling career until his junior year of high school. Despite his late start, Rosenbaum made major leaps quickly wrestling for Goochland High School. In his senior year, Rosenbaum finished the regular season with an undefeated record and finished fourth at the state championships.