Three Hokies advance to World Team Trials

Molinaro, Walz, McFadden move on after strong weekends at the U.S. Open in Las Vegas

May 1, 2017

BLACKSBURG – The Virginia Tech wrestling program saw three Hokies record top eight finishes in their respective weight classes at the U.S. Open this past weekend as assistant coach Frank Molinaro, redshirt senior Ty Walz and sophomore David McFadden all clinched spots at the U.S. World Team Trials next month in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Molinaro, the top seed at 65 kg, went 3-1 at the Senior Men’s Freestyle Championship where he fell just shy in the final against Jordan Oliver, who eked out a 4-4 criteria victory. Considered by many to be the darkhorse at 97 kg, Walz outscored his opponents 37-15 and turned in a respectable fifth place finish after falling in the quarters and going 2-1 in the consolation bracket.

At UWW Junior Nationals, McFadden rattled off three consecutive victories in the 74 kg bracket and nearly reached the championship match but Iowa’s Alex Marinelli used a couple of late points to get by the sophomore with 7-5 decision. McFadden would later go 1-1 in the consolation bracket to place fifth.

Also competing for the Hokies at UWW Juniors were freshmen Andrew Mehrholz, who went 2-2 at 63 kg, and Andrew Dunn, who fell in both of his bouts at 120 kg.

World Team Trials will be held in Lincoln from June 9-10.

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