Trio of Hokies head to Lincoln for World Team Trials

All three qualified for Trials after registering top eight finishes at the U.S. Open in April

June 8, 2017

BLACKSBURG – Three grapplers representing the Virginia Tech wrestling program will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska this weekend for the Junior and Senior Freestyle World Team Trials that will run from June 9-10. Every bout will be broadcast on FloWrestling.com.

Rising redshirt sophomore David McFadden will compete in the junior field while 2017 graduate Ty Walz and assistant coach Frank Molinaro will wrestle for a spot on the senior World Team.

Molinaro, a 2016 Olympian who placed fifth in the world at 65 kg, went 3-1 at the U.S. Open where he fell in the finals on criteria, 4-4, to Jordan Oliver. Oliver withdrew from this weekend’s competition on Thursday. After weigh-ins on Friday, USA Wrestling will announce the seeds and the bracket with Oliver no longer competing. FloWrestling projects Molinaro to be the No. 1 seed in the field.

After recently wrapping up a career that saw him become only the third three-time All-American in program history, Walz has impressed many in his first go on the senior freestyle circuit. He was considered by many to be a dark horse in the 97 kg field at the U.S. Open and he went on to outscore his opponents, 37-15, and place fifth after falling in the quarters and going 2-1 in the consolation bracket. The Cleveland native is projected to be seeded seventh by FloWrestling.

McFadden looks to build off of a strong redshirt year and a true freshman season that saw him claim ACC Freshman of Year and All-America honors. His comeback started in April at the U.S. Open where he went 3-1 in the main bracket and 1-1 on the backside at 74 kg to place fifth.

Both the Junior and Senior World Championships will be held in August with Junior Worlds taking place in Finland and Senior Worlds taking place in Paris.

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