Coming into a packed Cassell Coliseum is no easy task for any basketball team, but in a sport like wrestling, when it’s just you versus your opponent on the mat, hearing the loud home crowd can make all the difference.
That was evident Friday night, amidst a hectic evening for Virginia Tech athletics in which women’s soccer hosted an NCAA Tournament game, men’s basketball was playing a tough Penn State team on a neutral court in Baltimore, and the Hokies wrestling team competed in their second dual of the season - the home opener at Cassell against No. 8 Missouri.
It was a successful night all around for Virginia Tech Wrestling, as the evening started with 2024 national champion Caleb Henson being honored in front of the Hokie faithful, prior to a 23-10 victory over the Tigers in which No. 7 Virginia Tech moved to 2-0 on the young season.
“That’s special, obviously,” said head coach Tony Robie on Henson being honored prior to the first match of the dual. “Those moments don’t come around every year. Hopefully they start coming around every year, but to accomplish what both of those guys accomplished [Henson and Mekhi Lewis], and then have an opportunity to get etched in history at Virginia Tech - your name in the rafters…it’s really cool.”
For Henson, ranked No. 1 in the 149 lbs class, tonight was his season debut - and he did what Caleb Henson often does, winning in dominant fashion.
Up against No. 24 Logan Gioffre, Henson started the second period strong, grabbing a four-point near fall, as well as collecting nearly two minutes of riding time.
But it was the third period where the ‘Hitman’ showed why he’s a national champion, escaping and then taking down Gioffre, prior to clinching a major decision with a nearfall.
Henson made it clear after the dual that he has no fear of being a targeted wrestler in his weight class and still wants it more than his opponents.
“I feel like I’m hunting,” said the junior. “I’m hunting for pins and techs [tech falls]. Just getting back to where I was last year, falling back on the same things I was doing, but just getting better.”
This is a much different Hokies lineup than that of which fans have seen in recent years, with new faces all around. There’s no more Mekhi Lewis and Bryce Andonian, yet this is a deep lineup with a mix of both older and younger wrestlers - a testament to the program Robie has built in Blacksburg.
One class that really stands out is the redshirt freshman class, which includes No. 25 Rafael Hipolito at 157 lbs, Mac Church at 165 lbs, No. 15 Jimmy Mullen at the heavyweight spot, and Sonny Sasso at 197 lbs, although Sasso didn't wrestle tonight due to being a little banged up according to Robie. The Hokies' head coach had high praise for this redshirt freshman class after an impressive showing for them tonight, which included a major decision victory for Hipolito and a victory for Mullen over a top 20 opponent.
“That redshirt freshman class that we have is really special,” said Robie. “Those guys have a chance to be really good. I think they’re gonna be the next wave of great Hokie wrestlers.”
Of the class, both Hipolito and Mullen achieved ranked victories on Friday night.
Hipolito, a Brazil native has been very impressive thus far, and his major decision win over James Conway that put the Hokies up 17-0 in the dual may have been the closest match he’s had this season.
“I don’t really let that stuff [wins over big opponents in electric fashion] get in my head,” said Hipolito on his humble nature. “I honestly don’t even like listening to stuff like that…like I’m gonna be good, or I have potential because I feel like we hear so many people talked about like that. Let’s just wait for it, see what happens,” continued Hipolito on the hype he received coming into this season.
Virginia Tech won seven of ten matches tonight. The Hokies will host a talented No. 15 Rutgers squad in the annual Moss Arts Center dual next Friday.
Here's the rundown of tonight's results for the Hokies.
- 125: #13 Eddie Ventresca (VT) decision over Gage Walker (Mizzou) 6-5
- 133: #10 Connor McGonagle (VT) decision over #29 Kade Moore (Mizzou) 3-0
- 141: #18 Sam Latona (VT) decision over #13 Josh Edmond (Mizzou) 4-2
- 149: #1 Caleb Henson (VT) major decision over #24 Logan Gioffre (Mizzou) 9-0
- 157: #25 Rafael Hipolito (VT) major decision over #32 James Conway (Mizzou)11-3
- 165: #14 Cam Steed (Mizzou) decision over Mac Church (VT) 8-1
- 174: #1 Keegan O'Toole (Mizzou) major decision over #4 Lennox Wolak (VT) 13-5
- 184: #12 Colton Hawks (Mizzou) decision over #5 TJ Stewart (VT) 8-2
- 197: #13 Andy Smith (VT) decision over Aeoden Sinclair (Mizzou) 12-9
- HWT: #15 Jimmy Mullen (VT) decision over #20 Seth Nitzel (Mizzou) 4-2
