Photo Credit: Dave Knachel/Virginia Tech Athletics
Current Virginia Tech wrestler Mekhi Lewis and assistant Ty Walz qualified for the 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials at the U.S. Senior Nationals this weekend.
🚨MEKHI LEWIS earns a berth to the Olympic Team Trials! Congratulations @M_lewiss22 🦃 pic.twitter.com/G2BkiHClvV
— Virginia Tech Wrestling (@HokiesWrestling) December 21, 2019
TY WALZ is headed to the Olympic Team Trials! Congratulations to the template of what hardwork is and what it'll get you @T_wiggity_walz❗️ pic.twitter.com/K8qAkHYBsb
— Virginia Tech Wrestling (@HokiesWrestling) December 22, 2019
Lewis locked up a spot in the Olympic Trials on the first day advancing to the finals at his weight class while Walz earned a spot today on his way to finishing 3rd. Both Hokies comfortably got the job done with the top 5 wrestlers in each weight class earning spots in the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Mekhi Lewis was impressive in particular reaching the final of the U.S. Senior Nationals before coming up just short losing to Logan Massa 5-3 at 74kg. The fact that Lewis, at his age, has done as well as he has wrestling against former collegiate stars and full-time wrestlers is quite impressive. More importantly, Lewis has shown that he is a serious threat to earn a spot in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Meanwhile, Walz continues to get better as he focuses primarily on wrestling while also operating as an assistant for Virginia Tech Wrestling. Walz may be the greater underdog than Lewis, but his experience showed in wrestling back for third today and should prove valuable going forward.
