Wrestling Recruiting Update

(image courtesy of hokiesports.com)
(image courtesy of hokiesports.com)

TechSideline.com is pleased to welcome respected message board contributor Jerseyhokie29 on board as a wrestling writer. He joins Hokie576 and others who will be bringing you great wrestling content here on TSL.

Also, please note that we have added a new Wrestling Message Board for discussion of Hokie Wrestling as they pursue a national championship.


Let’s recap the state championship and all-star matches over the last month for Virginia Tech’s wrestling signees and commits.

Class of 2016 Signees

Note: Click here for the hokiesports.com signing announcement from last November

Kyle Norstrem: Norstrem capped off his senior season by winning his 5th FL state title at 126 lbs . Norstrem was invited to 2 all-star events, first competing at the Dream Team Classic for Team USA, then at the Pittsburgh classic (Formerly Dapper Dan) for Team USA. At Dream Team, he dropped a 6-5 decision to Adam Hedin (signed with St. Cloud State University) on a last-second reversal, and at Dapper Dan he faced nationally ranked Luke Karam (signed with Lehigh), losing 3-0.

Joey Prata: Prata wrestled at National preps this year, finishing in 2nd place nationally at 120 lbs after losing a tight 3-1 decision to a nationally ranked top 20 wrestler, Jack Davis.

Brent Moore: Moore took home his second OHSAA state title this year, winning a 12-1 major decision at 138 lbs. Moore was subsequently invited to attend the Cliff Keen Dream Team classic on Team USA, this year selecting Team Minnesota as an opponent. Minnesota sent Mitch McKee, setting up a top 10 matchup of 138 lb wrestlers. Moore dropped a 10-2 major decision, concluding his senior folkstyle season.

Jarrett Degen: Degen became a 4x Montana state champ last month winning Montana’s 145 lb bracket with 4 consecutive pins of 0:11, 0:20, 1:40, and 1:42. He had planned to attend FloNationals recently, but the snowstorm over the Rockies prevented him from making the flights. His weight was listed at 132, with a +5 lb allowance, meaning presently he stands as a more viable option next season at 141 than 157, depending on where Chishko goes.

TJ Allen: Allen finished his season in bittersweet 2nd place at the VHSL 4A state final at 182 lbs, losing 12-6 in the championship match. His opponent, John Borst is also another wrestler the Hokies have an eye on, and with the familiarity between the two, don’t put too much stock in the result. The Northern Virginia Daily had a good article on the result.

Other 2016 Recruits

Anthony “Shan” Helm (committed to VT): The man with the giant red afro, Anthony “Shan” Helm has been reported to have committed to the Hokies on Feb 21st in the Richmond Times-Dispatch: Three-peat for Matoaca Wrestling.

Helm is a 3x state champ at 285 in VA, with a wrestling club pedigree from Prestige Worldwide Wrestling, an up-and-coming wrestling club that multiple Hokie recruits have been a part of (most recently B.C. LaPrade). Helm fills out Tech’s heavyweight wrestling depth, which must replace both Brandon Taylor and Dan Garwood. Helm won his 3rd state championship in dominant fashion, pinning his opponent from Bethel in 1:14.

Here’s a video of Helm at Beast of the East this December against a Blair Academy opponent, winning a 4-2 OT decision with some nice defense.

 

Class of 2017 Recruits

Unfortunately there’s no good news here. On March 7th Noah Adams made the decision to flip his commitment from the Hokies to the West Virginia Mountaineers. While it’s tough to see the Eers get him, we can only wish Noah the best in his collegiate career.

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10 Responses You are logged in as Test

  1. Great to see TSL increase the coverage for wrestling. I am looking forwards to more great things from our wrestling team.

  2. Once you get invested in following wrestling & know what is happening there isn’t a more exciting sport to watch. I believe our wrestling team will bring VT it’s very first team national championship in the near future.

  3. Glad to see TSL stepping up the coverage of wrestling. Entirely appropriate given that wrestling has become our most successful team sport!

  4. Great article. Looking forward to seeing these new Hokies. BTW, Kyle Norstrem and his brother Kevin (a former VT wrestler) are only the second set of brothers to become 5x state champion wrestlers.

  5. This is a need for all varsity sports, including women sports. Thanks for the update.

  6. It is good to see write ups about Hokie wrestling Thanks for your contribution. I will look forward to reading more

Comments are closed.