Five grapplers set to join the Hokies in fall of 2017

Recruiting class boasts multiple top 100 prospects

November 29, 2016

BLACKSBURG – Virginia Tech head wrestling coach Kevin Dresser announced on Tuesday that five student-athletes have signed their National Letters of Intent and will join the No. 6 Hokies in the fall of 2017.

Stanley Smelzter, CJ Manley, Mekhi Lewis, John Borst and Hunter Bolen make up the signees in the fall 2016 recruiting class. Four of the five signees are among FloWrestling’s top 100 on their 2017 Big Board.

Stanley Smeltzer – Smithfield, Va. (Smithfield HS) – Projected Weight Class: 174 or 184

2016 4A VHSL State Champion at 170 pounds … 2016 FS/Greco Junior Division champion at 170 pounds … Took first place in the 170-pound weight class at the Interstate 64 Final 4 National Open in Virginia Beach … Placed third at 160 pounds in 4A at the State Wrestling Championships as a junior … Reached the quarterfinals of the 2016 FloNationals at 160.

CJ Manley – Altoona, Pa. (Altoona Area HS) – Projected Weight Class: 125 or 133

Has compiled a 93-14 overall record through three seasons at Altoona Area HS … Ranked No. 15 in the country at 126 pounds by FloWrestling and No. 10 at 132 by InterMat … Ranked No. 88 overall in the class of 2017 by Flo Wrestling and No. 77 by InterMat … Third place finisher at 126 as a junior in the state of Pennsylvania … Second place finisher at 106 as a sophomore at the Pennsylvania state wrestling tournament … Three-straight district championships … Region champion 2015 and 2016.

Mekhi Lewis – Bound Brook, N.J. (Bound Brook HS) – Projected Weight Class: 165 or 174

Has compiled a 70-6 record through three seasons at Bound Brook HS … New Jersey state champion at 145 as a junior … Ranked No. 12 at 160 by FloWrestling … Ranked No. 11 at 160 by InterMat … Went 4-1 and placed second at the 2015 Powerade Wrestling Tournament … Slotted 61st on FloWrestling’s Class of 2017 Big Board … Also considered offers from Lehigh and Nebraska.

John Borst – Stephens City, Va. (Sherando HS) – Projected Weight Class: 184 or 197

Has compiled a 149-17 record in three years at Sherando HS … Two-time VHSL State Champion … Ranked 21st overall on FloWrestling’s 2017 Big Board … Ranked No. 4 at 195 by FloWrestling … Ranked No. 4 at 195 by InterMat … Champion at 182 pounds at the NHSCA Junior Finals … 2016 All-American at FloNationals … Also had offers from NC State, North Carolina, Virginia, Pitt and West Virginia.

Hunter Bolen – Christiansburg, Va. (Christiansburg HS) – Projected Weight Class: 165 or 174

Has compiled a 66-4 record in four seasons at Christiansburg HS … Two-time VHSL state champion … Rated as the 49th overall recruit in the class of 2017 by FloWrestling … Ranked sixth at 160 by FloWrestling … Ranked No. 5 at 160 by InterMat … Placed second in the 152 weight class at the 2016 FloNationals … Took first at 152 at the 2016 Beast of the East.

The Hokies return to action this weekend at the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational that runs from Dec. 2-3.

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