My wrestling knowledge is limited to such topics as: the history of the nWo and what a 'stunner' is. But one doesn't need to be a grappling aficionado to know this — Mekhi Lewis' national championship win is a big deal. Both for himself, and the Hokies (wrestling and at-large).
"It means a lot because Virginia Tech wrestling has been really good," said Lewis. "It's just that we never really had good finals, good end results. So to be the first one is really special. It means a lot to me. I'm just so happy that I'm a part of the program."
Mekhi Lewis becomes the first national champion in @HokiesWrestling history! #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/0gu2errdhe— NCAA Wrestling (@ncaawrestling) March 24, 2019
The No. 8 seed captured the 165-pound championship. His impressive path through the bracket included dispatching both the top-seed and a two-time national champion, Vincenzo Joseph of Penn State.
"I always wanted to be a national champ, so to have this opportunity and go out there and wrestle and try to become one, I'm just so grateful for it," Lewis, a redshirt freshman, said.
🚨UPSET ALERT!!🚨 Mekhi Lewis of @HokiesWrestling defeats two-time national champion, Vincenzo Joseph of Penn State! #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/MS3MG5bWWU— NCAA Wrestling (@ncaawrestling) March 24, 2019
Lewis' efforts earned him most outstanding wrestler honors.
"Everybody other than my teammates, family, coaches and fans thought that I was the underdog," said Lewis. "I didn't think I was an underdog. I just thought that people didn't have a chance to see me wrestle, at a big stage, like in folkstyle, because they only saw freestyle. And I just felt like, I was prepared and ready to win a national title. So I felt equal to everybody I wrestled."
The champ! #NCAAWrestling pic.twitter.com/7uZXr8ToPF— NCAA Wrestling (@ncaawrestling) March 24, 2019
Comments
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.
Please join The Key Players Club to read or post comments.