Looking at the updated wrestling record book, I noticed that our last inductee into the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame was Sean Gray back in 2015. HOF rules say that an athlete needs to be 10 years out of school in order to be eligible for induction. Meaning that Gray, who graduated in 2002, waited an extra three years to be inducted into the HOF.

Looking at Gray’s career, it’s kind of crazy that he had to wait that long! He’s VT’s career pin leader (45), career wins leader (133), two-time AA, four-time NCAA qualifier and a 1999 Junior World Team member. To me, that’s first ballot HOF material. However, I understand how difficult it must be to get into a school’s hall of fame where they look for representation from multiple sports in every class.

This got me thinking. As we approach the eligible years for wrestlers that competed in the Dresser Era, I think it’s time to start thinking about which wrestlers should be considered for the Virginia Tech Athletics Hall of Fame.

For those that don’t know, there are currently 10 individuals representing the wrestling program in the Hall of Fame (nine athletes, one coach). Here their names and the years they were inducted: Milton Andes (inducted in 1994), Brandon Glover (1988), Frank Teske (1995), Sherman Vandevender (2001), Gene Breen (2002), Don Oakes (2001), Armand Taylor (2005), Ken Whitley (1990), Josh Feldman (2005) and Sean Gray (2015).

For this exercise, I created four categories: first ballot, will wait 1-2 years, will wait three or more years, and on the outside looking in.

First ballot is self-explanatory. These athletes are all-timers, whose accolades are on par with other VT first balloters like Angela Tincher, Bimbo Coles and Corey Moore. This is an elite group and I think only a couple of wrestlers fit into this category.

The guys that will wait one to two years are on the cusp of an all-timer but will see their induction a couple of years after they’re first eligible. If there was a VT Wrestling Hall of Fame, these guys would be first ballot.

The guys that will wait three or more years have great resumes but are a tier below the wrestling program’s legends. They will wait a little bit but they’ll eventually get their call.

The outside looking in group are guys that had good careers and were invaluable to the program but just don’t make the cut when mentioned with the greats.

A couple of other ground rules: 1. I did not include wrestlers currently on the roster. 2. I only included guys that were All-Americans which, I think, is fair (sorry Jesse Dong and others) 3. My decisions and where they rank are based on how I think the committee will vote. Not where my heart lies. To me, I think someone like Ty Walz should be inducted in his first year on the ballot. But (spoiler alert) I think he’ll have to wait a year or two.

So here we go!


FIRST BALLOT

Devin Carter - 3x All-American (5,2,3), 4x NCAA qualifier, 4x ACC champion, 2x Academic All-American, first NCAA finalist in program history

First year of HOF eligibility: 2025

If this resume doesn’t scream first ballot (and I left out a lot), I don’t know what does. You’re talking about a guy that completely changed the direction of the wrestling program and should be talked about (to me) as a top 10 athlete in Virginia Tech’s history with Tincher, Vick, Castlin, Coles, etc. He was a true student-athlete who excelled on and off the mat.


Jared Haught - 3x All-American (6,4,2), 4x NCAA qualifier, second NCAA finalist in program history, 2x ACC champion, 2018 ACC Scholar-Athlete of the Year

First year of HOF eligibility: 2028

I was debating whether or not to designate Jared as a first ballot candidate or a 1-2 year candidate. For me, I put him in first ballot territory because of his back story (unranked recruit in the class of 2013 who became a 3x AA and a finalist), the team’s success during his years, his academic success (I think this is something that pushes candidates over the top) and, of course, he made an NCAA final. Haught didn’t have the bonus point capabilities like Devin did and he didn’t get to 100 wins (finished with 97), but facts are facts. He was only the second Hokie to wrestle for a national title, he reached the semifinals twice in his career and VT won two ACC titles and three dual meet championships with Haught in the lineup. Moreover, Jared competed at NCAAs four times and VT finished 10th, 4th, 6th and 8th at those tournaments. His prowess in the classroom as a mechanical engineering major will push him through once 2028 comes around.


David McFadden - 4x All-American (6,5,5,NA), 4x NCAA qualifier, 2x ACC champion, 2016 ACC Freshman of the Year, 107 career wins

First year of HOF eligibility: 2030

The program’s first and only 4x All-American. This speaks for itself. I know it wasn’t the same as actually competing at nationals because so much can happen at that tournament, but you can’t punish the athletes for what happened back in March. Virginia Tech recognizes Dave as its first 4x AA and that’s that. He also produced so many signature moments; beating Shakur Rasheed in the dual vs. Penn State, getting on the podium at Madison Square Garden as a true freshman on a torn ACL, pinning Evan Wick at CKLV, pinning Alex Marinelli in the 2018 fifth place match, reversing Labriola in the final seconds of the 2019 fifth place match. Dave’s 2018 season produced the best single season winning percentage in program history at .946 (35-2) and his 15-7 record at the NCAA Tournament is tied for third all-time at VT.

Kevin Dresser - 2016 NCAA team trophy, 2016 NWCA National Coach of the Year, four NCAA top 10 finishes, five-time ACC Coach of the Year, five combined ACC championships (dual and tournament), four top-two finishes at ACCs, 25 individual ACC champions, 20 All-American medals

First year of HOF eligibility: NA

I cheated here a little bit but once Dresser retires I think VT needs to induct him into the HOF right away. The accolades speak for themselves. But what they don’t show is that Dresser brought the Virginia Tech wrestling program back from the grave and he instilled a wrestling culture in Southwest Virginia. We scored one point at NCAAs in 2007 and came home with a team trophy nine years later which, at the time, was the first trophy for an ACC wrestling program. Not much else needs to be said.


WILL WAIT 1-2 YEARS

Nick Brascetta - 3x All-American (8,4,3), 4x NCAA qualifier, 3x ACC champion, 2012 ACC Freshman of the Year

First year of HOF eligibility: 2026

Nick matches McFadden in a lot of areas (same NCAA Tournament record, ACC Freshman of the Year) and it wouldn’t shock me if his candidacy is considered first ballot by the time 2026 rolls around. I think it depends on who else is eligible that year. One of the toughest guys in program history, Brascetta was the program’s second three-time All-American upon graduating and was one of two guys who placed third en route to the Hokies placing fourth at the NCAA Tournament in 2016.

Ty Walz - 3x All-American (7,4,4), 4x NCAA qualifier, 2017 ACC Champion, 109 career wins

First year of HOF eligibility: 2027

Ty went from cleaning mats his freshman year to the best heavyweight in program history. A two-time semifinalist, people always waited until the end of a dual just to see Ty wrestle. He was the main event for 2-3 years. How often does that happen for a heavyweight? It was so much fun having a big guy that scored a ton of points. The voters who might not have been attune to wrestling will probably know who Ty Walz was because of his notoriety. Not a bad resume either for a guy that wrestled on some of the best teams in VT history.

Joey Dance - 2x All-American (4th, 5th), 4x NCAA qualifier, 3x ACC Champion, 114 career wins, 2014 ACC Freshman of the Year

First year of HOF eligibility: 2027

Dance was only a 2x AA but his overall accomplishments will push him over the top and put him in the 1-2 year range. Joey is one of only two VT true freshmen to AA (McFadden), he won both the Midlands and the Cliff Keen, ranks seventh all-time with 114 wins, has the most dual meet wins in program history (69) and ranks fourth with an .851 career win percentage. Impressive stats. Dance was a part of four teams that finished in the top 10 at NCAAs (2014-17). Him, Haught and Walz are the only Hokies to accomplish that feat.

Pete Yates - 2x All-American (5th, 4th), 4x NCAA qualifier, 2x ACC champion, 2012 ACC Championships Most Valuable Wrestler, 2013 ACC Wrestler of the Year, 131 career victories 64 career dual meet wins

First year of HOF eligibility: 2023

Like Dance, Yates missed out on being in that elite 3x AA group but don’t let that fool you. He finished two wins shy of matching the program’s all-time wins record. The guy got his hand raised 131 times. He was the best wrestler at the 2012 ACC Championships, he advanced to the third place match at NCAAs as a senior (the Dake-Taylor year) and was named 2013 ACC Wrestler of the Year. Yates made it all the way to the semifinals at nationals that season, Tech’s first since Chris Martin in 2000. If you want to look at the intangibles, I’ve heard many people call Yates the toughest wrestler in program history. Bar none. I think Robie and other program supporters will really push for Yates in his first year of HOF induction. However, I think he gets the call in 2024.


WILL WAIT THREE OR MORE YEARS

Zack Zavatsky - 2x All-American (6th, 8th), 4x NCAA qualifier, 3x ACC champion, 108 career wins

First year of HOF eligibility: 2029

My first one out of the 1-2 year range. ZZ’s resume is similar to Dance’s outside of Joey placing higher at nationals and a few more career wins. ZZ won’t have to wait long though and I wouldn’t be shocked if he gets inducted in 2031. ZZ is one of six Hokies to win three or more ACC titles and he finally broke through at NCAAs as a redshirt junior. He was a part of some great teams as well.

Jarrod Garnett - 1x All-American (6th), 4x NCAA qualifier, 3x ACC champion, 2013 ACC Championships Most Valuable Wrestler, 2010 ACC Freshman of the Year, 126 career wins

First year of HOF eligibility: 2023

Some may stare too long at Jarrod Garnett’s lone appearance on the podium but they really need to look at the rest of his resume. It’s really impressive and definitely HOF worthy. He’s tied for third in program history with 126 career wins, he was the best wrestler at the 2013 ACC Championships, he was a three-time conference champion, won Midlands in 2012, ranks fourth all-time with 63 career dual meet wins and ranks seventh with 24 career falls. From a team perspective, we finished 39th and scored 12.5 points his freshman year at NCAAs in 2009. By the time he was a senior, the Hokies had their first top 10 finish in program history. I think the committee will eventually give Jarrod Garnett his day.

Zach Epperly - 2x All-American (7th,3rd), 3x NCAA qualifier, 2017 ACC Champion

First year of HOF eligibility: 2027

For me, this was the toughest case to debate. Epperly really borders the “eventually will get in” group and the “outside looking in” group. The positive: getting on the podium twice and his legendary run on the backside in 2016 at Madison Square Garden where he scored bonus points in six of his seven wins, propelling Tech to a fourth place finish. He also finished his career with the second-best winning percentage at NCAAs in program history (13-5, .722). The negative: he only wrestled three seasons and left with a year of eligibility remaining. That’s another year that could’ve boosted his resume. But, of course, that’s not how life works. Zach felt like it was time to move on and the program respected his decision. Don’t be surprised if Zach doesn’t get the call to the Hall, but don’t be surprised if he gets inducted further on down the road as well.


OUTSIDE LOOKING IN

Solomon Chishko - 2x All-American (6th,6th), 2x NCAA Qualifer, 2017 ACC champion

First year of HOF eligibility: 2028

A sad case of a kid who got burned out by the sport, IMO. Solomon showed flashes of brilliance in his first two seasons but he couldn’t stay down at 149 and he eventually left the sport entirely. He was a part of two really great teams and contributed to a team trophy as a redshirt freshman but I don’t think he’ll ever get into the HOF.


Chris Diaz - 1x All-American (8th), 3x NCAA qualifier, 106 career wins

First year of HOF eligibility: 2021

Dresser/Robie’s first All-American; an important distinction. He qualified for nationals three times and won 106 career matches but I don’t think he did enough to impress the committee for induction. Regardless, he was an important piece in the modern history of the wrestling program.

Zach Neibert - 1x All-American (8th), 3x NCAA qualifier, 2014 ACC Champion

First year of HOF eligibility: 2024

Similar to Diaz, a solid performer that helped bring the program out of the dungeon. Neibert was an ACC champ as a senior, a runner-up as a junior and was a part of some great team success. Tech finished t-11th, 10th and 8th in Neibert’s three trips to nationals.

Sal Mastriani - 1x All-American (8th), 2x NCAA qualifier

First year of HOF eligibility: 2027

Capped off a great senior season with a podium finish for the first time in his career. Always loved seeing him get swipes with that killer bow and arrow.

Chris Penny - 1x All-American (6th), 2014 ACC Champion

First year of HOF eligibility: 2024

One trip to nationals and he made it count. Beat Penn State’s Morgan McIntosh and Iowa’s Nathan Burak en route to the semifinals as the No. 14 seed. His performance coupled with Devin’s trip to the finals made it a memorable tournament for the Hokies.



What do you all think? Apologies for typos or botched research (I think I got most of it right but let me know if you have any corrections).