Hokie ClubKANSAS CITY, MO – Virginia Tech wrestling takes to Kansas City, Missouri for the 2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships from Thursday, March 21 – Saturday, March 23 live on ESPNU and ESPN. The Hokies are one of seven teams to send a full lineup – one of three to send all starters in back-to-back championships – and field three top-ten seeds along with four All-Americans, a national champion, and a battle-tested squad ready to make a statement at the season finale. Additional championship details can be found at top of page.
𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙆𝙣𝙤𝙬 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙏𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙄𝙩 𝙄𝙨 🏆#ALLINALLTHETIME #Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/BxbEkRIs2x
— Virginia Tech Wrestling (@HokiesWrestling) March 18, 2024
Hokies vs Everybody
When: Thursday, March 21 – Saturday, March 23
Where: T-Mobile Center, Kansas City, MO
Time: www.ncaa.com/championships/wrestling/d1/daily-schedule
How to Watch: www.ncaa.com/championships/wrestling/d1/broadcast-info
Live Updates: vthoki.es/q9EsA
Fan Attire Coordination: Thurs.-White, Fri-Orange, Sat-Maroon
Returning All-Americans
Tech boasts four wrestlers with a total of eight All-American honors led by national champion Mekhi Lewis, two-time All-Americans Bryce Andonian and Sam Latona, and 2023 All-American Caleb Henson.
At 133-pounds, the veteran Sam Latona takes the mat for this fourth postseason appearance. A staple in the Hokies' lineup, the two-time All-American will once again look to do his best wrestling when it matters most and become Tech's sixth three-time All-American. Still with another year of eligibility, the Alabaster, AL native enters as the 12-seed with sights set on climbing the podium.
Caleb Henson took the country by storm as a freshman phenom last season en route to ACC Champion, a fifth-place All-American finish, and ACC Freshman of the Year honors and has continued to look the part in orange and maroon. The Cartersville, GA product has put together a strong year two campaign to the tune of 25-2 record and the number four seed when action begins in the T-Mobile Center. The sophomore sensation looks to navigate 149-pound bracket and wrestle for a title come Saturday night.
At 157-pounds, the nation's most exciting wrestler, Bryce Andonian, competes in his final NCAA Championship after five years donning the orange and maroon. The two-time All-American hailing from Kirtland, OH looks to end his highlight-filled career on top of the podium after third-place (2022, 149-pounds) and seventh-place (2023, 157-pounds) in his previous championship trips. A five-time NCAA Qualifier, four-time ACC finalist, Andonian takes the mat in Kansas City as the 12-seed in a loaded weight class that features 10 All-Americans.
More history made by the most accomplished wrestler in program history as Mekhi Lewis became just the second-ever Hokie to claim the top seed as he enters his fifth and final NCAA Championship. The first national champion and two-time finalist in program history will look to become the first four-time NCAA All-American in program history in his career curtain call. Lewis holds a 15-0 record with Entering as the No. 1 seed, Lewis will have to navigate his side of the bracket that features 2021 national champion Shane Griffith (Stanford, now at Michigan) and Lewis' rival, three-time national champion Carter Starocci (Penn State) as the Hokie looks to end his legendary career the way he started: on top.
𝘽𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙖 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙡𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙛𝙪𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙥 💼
— Virginia Tech Wrestling (@HokiesWrestling) March 19, 2024
📸 @ahartsell5 #HokieNation, let's ride 🛩️#ALLINALLTHETIME #Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/EzYvsSOnIc
The Debuts
Making their NCAA Championship debuts this weekend are Cooper Flynn and Thomas Stewart, Jr. at 125-pounds and 184-pounds, respectively.
Flynn takes the mat after entering the lineup in late January for the Hokies after an injury sidelined returning All-American Eddie Ventresca. Flynn made the most of his opportunity in a highly volatile weight class that saw multiple top-five rankings change throughout the season. Flynn has inserted his name into podium contention with three wins over top-five opponents since entering the lineup and an ACC finals appearance. The redshirt sophomore from Seymour, TN begins his first NCAA competition as the 11 seed in Kansas City.
Stewart enters the season finale as the seven seed at 184-pounds after a stellar backend of the season after starting at 197-pounds. Stewart won the starting job for the Hokies in a crowded room that saw both Sam Fisher and Dakota Howard ranked at points during the season. The Triangle, VA native holds a 10-1 record including three-top ten wins on the season with adding an ACC title to his resume. The redshirt freshman looks to continue his blazing run in his debut season in the Tech lineup.
The Veterans
A quadruplet of Hokies return to the championships hoping to improve on their previous trips. Tom Crook will take to his second NCAA championship as the No. 20 seed at 141-pounds. The sophomore from Tampa complied a 18-7 record in his second season for the Hokies including a top-five win and multiple top-20 wins to boost his resume.
Connor Brady makes his fourth championship appearance for the Hokies, claiming the 18-seed at 165-pounds. The two-time ACC finalist from Powell, OH looks to have a breakthrough performance in what could be his last season.
Tech will see the two upper weights as both the No. 26 seed in two-time qualifier Andy Smith and three-time NCAA qualifier Hunter Catka at 197-pounds and 285-pounds, respectively.
Follow Hokies Wrestling on X, Instagram, and Facebook to keep up with all the action this weekend and all the latest Virginia Tech Wrestling news and updates.
2024 NCAA Wrestling Championships
Kansas City, Missouri
Virginia Tech Hokies Seeds
125 – No. 11 Cooper Flynn, r-So
- Seymour, TN
- McDonough High School
- First-time NCAA Qualifier
- Season Record: 14-4; Career Record: 41-13
- First Round Opponent: No. 22 Brayden Palmer (Chattanooga), 18-2
133 – No. 12 Sam Latona, r-Jr
- Alabaster, AL
- Thompson High School
- Four-time NCAA Qualifier (2021-2024), Two-time All-American (6th, 2021; 7th, 2023)
- Season Record: 20-7; Career Record: 89-29
- First Round Opponent: No. 21 Ethan Oakley (App St), 26-7
141 – No. 20 Tom Crook, So
- Tampa, FL
- Tampa Jesuit
- Two-time NCAA Qualifier (2023-2024)
- Season Record: 18-7; Career Record: 34-18
- First Round Opponent: No. 13 Jordan Titus (West Virginia), 24-4
149 – No. 4 Caleb Henson, So
- Cartersville, GA
- Woodland High School
- Two-time NCAA Qualifier (2023-2024), All-American (5th, 2023)
- Season Record: 25-2; Career Record: 52-7
- First Round Opponent: Alek Martin (South Dakota), 20-10
157 – No. 12 Bryce Andonian, Sr
- Kirtland, OH
- St. Edward's High School
- Five-time NCAA Qualifier (2020-2024), Two-time All-American (3rd, 2022; 7th, 2023)
- Season Record: 17-5; Career Record: 68-23
- First Round Opponent: Lucas Revano (Penn), 21-9
165 – No. 18 Connor Brady, r-Jr
- Powell, OH
- Liberty High School
- Four-time NCAA Qualifier (2021-2024)
- Season Record: 15-8; Career Record: 54-39
- First Round Opponent: Brevin Cassella (Binghamton), 28-7
174 – No. 1 Mekhi Lewis, Sr
- Somerset, NJ
- Bound Brook High School
- Five-time NCAA Qualifier (2019, 2021-2024), National Champion & Three-time All-American (1st, 2019; 2nd, 2022; 4th 2023)
- Season Record: 15-0; Career Record: 121-11
- First Round Opponent: No. 32 Brody Bauman (Purdue), 12-14 OR No. 33 Cael Valencia (Arizona State), 11-13
184 – No. 7 Thomas Stewart, Jr., r-Fr
- Triangle, VA
- Blair Academy
- First-time NCAA Qualifier
- Season Record: 10-2; Career Record: 24-7
- First Round Opponent: No. 26 Maximus Hale (Penn), 21-8
197 – No. 26 Andy Smith, r-Jr
- Christiansburg, VA
- Christiansburg High School
- Two-time NCAA Qualifier (2023-2024)
- Season Record: 15-9; Career Record: 42-28
- First Round Opponent: No. 7 Zach Glazier (Iowa), 24-2
285 – No. 26 Hunter Catka, So
- Brookhaven, PA
- Sun Valley High School
- Three-time NCAA Qualifier (2021, 2023-2024)
- Season Record: 14-6; Career Record: 53-24
- First Round Opponent: No. 7 Taye Ghadiali (Campbell), 32-3