Over the last decade, Virginia Tech wrestling has emerged as a recruiting power, routinely landing the top high school talent in the country. Head coach Tony Robie has used this recruiting edge to his advantage, leading the Hokies to five ACC Championships since his tenure began in 2017.
Robie has a proven ability to sign high-level wrestlers who can make an immediate impact in their freshman seasons, as numerous grapplers have won ACC titles during their inaugural campaigns in Blacksburg under his watch. The current group of freshmen came to campus as the No. 4 nationally in the class of 2025, according to FloWrestling, continuing the legacy of elite recruiting under Robie.
Of the members of the 2025 class, Aaron Seidel, Collin Gaj, Noah Nininger, and Ryan Burton have stood out the most in what has proven to be a loaded freshman class.
Seidel has been nothing short of spectacular. He currently holds a record of 11-0, including nine technical falls and two pins, a supremely impressive mark for the young wrestler. In his debut at the Midlands Championships, he won all five of his matches by technical fall or fall, including over Big 10 Champion Dylan Shawver and No. 32 Marcel Lopez, and pinning two-time U-23 World Champion Reineri Ortega in the finals.
