Virginia Wrestling Announces 2024-25 Newcomers
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – The Virginia wrestling program will welcome a group of 10 wrestlers to the squad for the 2024-25 academic year as head coach Steve Garland announced the group of newcomers to the program on Monday (July 1).
The class of newcomers features five state champions and multiple All-America honorees. The class was ranked No. 25 nationally by FloWrestling.
“This is a deep class this year,” Garland said. “We brought in guys we think can make an impact right away. These guys will be pushing for starting spots and that type of competition is only going to make everyone better in the long run.”
The group of newcomers join a group of 26 returning wrestlers, including a pair of NCAA qualifiers in Nick Hamilton (165) and Marlon Yarbrough (133). Hamilton was the 2024 ACC Champion at 165 pounds and was named the ACC’s Most Outstanding Wrestler at the ACC Championships.
Aiden Allen | 133 | Cincinnati, Ohio | La Salle High School
• 2023 NHSCA All-American
• 2023 Third Place finish at Ohio State Championships
• 2023 Super 32 qualifier champion
• First Team All-Conference selection
• LaSalle High School Most Outstanding Wrestler
Anwar Alli | 165 | Marion, Ohio | Wyoming Seminary
• Posted a 125-22 record in high school
• 2023-24 Olympic Training Center Elite Athlete Program resident
• 2023 National Prep All-American – sixth place finish in 2023
• 2x Fargo Ohio Junior National team member (2022, 2023)
• 2022 Beast of the East eighth place finish
• 2x Ohio State Championship qualifier
• 2x First Team Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference selection (2020, 2022)
• Third Team All-Metro Athletic Conference selection (2020)
• 2x Ohio Sectional Champion (2020, 2022)
• 2021 16U Ohio State Champion in Greco and Freestyle at 132
• 2022 Ohio Junior Champion in freestyle and fourth place finish in Greco at 145
• 2021 16U Fargo National Dual Team member
Braden Blackorby | 174 | Johnston, Iowa | Johnston High School
• Posted a 107-17 career record
• 30 pins in 2023 was second most in Johnston program history in a season
• 2x place winner at Iowa State Championships
• 2022 Iowa State runner-up at 145 pounds
Jack Lasher | 184 | St. Charles, Illinois | Marmion Academy
• 2x place winner at Illinois State Championship
• 2023 Illinois State Champion at 182 pounds
• Fourth place finish at 2022 Illinois State Championship
• 2x Conference Champion (2022, 2023)
• Also lettered in football
• 2x All-Conference and 2023 All-State selection at linebacker
Brenan Morgan | 197/285 | Aliquippa, Pennsylvania | Central Valley High School
• Ranked No. 16 by FloWrestling and No. 15 by TrackWrestling at 220 pounds
• Ranked No. 117 overall on 2024 Track Wrestling’s Big Board
• Posted 112-13 career record
• 3x NHSCA All-American
• 2024 NHSCA National Champion as a senior
• 2024 Pennsylvania State Champion
• 2023 NHSCA National Finalist as a junior
• 2023 Pennsylvania State Runner-Up
• 2022 NHSCA Nationals seventh place finish as a sophomore
• 3x Pennsylvania State qualifier (2022, 2023, 24)
• 2x District and Regional Champion (2023, 2024)
• 2x Team Captain at Central Valley High School (2023, 2024)
Jack Myers | 149 | Morristown, N.J. | Morristown High School
• Posted 131-15 career record
• 2x New Jersey State place winner
• 2024 Fifth Place finish at New Jersey State Championships
• 2023 Third Place finish at New Jersey State Championships
• 2023 Beast of the East – Seventh place at 138 pounds
• 2x Region Champion
• 3x District Champion
• 2x Team Captain at Morristown
Chase Nevills | 125 | Copenhagen, N.Y. | Copenhagen Central School
• 2x New York State Champion at 124 pounds (2023, 2024)
• 3x New York State Championships qualifier
• 2022 Third Place Finish at New York State Championships
• 2021 All-State selection
Nathan Rickards | 157 | Pottstown, Pennsylvania | Malvern Prep
• 3x National Prep All-American (2022, 2023, 2024)
• 2024 National Prep finalist
• 3x Pennsylvania State Finalist (2022, 2023, 2024)
• 2023 Pennsylvania State Champion at 150 pounds
• 2x Escape The Rock place winner
• 2023 Escape The Rock finalist
• 2x Powerade medalist
• 2023 Beast of the East Fourth Place Finish
Anthony Rossi | 125 | Flemington, New Jersey | Hunterdon Central Regional High School
• Posted 125 career wins
• 43-1 record as a senior tied Hunterdon single-season win record
• 2024 third place finish at NJ State Championships
• 2023 NHSCA All-American
• 2x third place finish at Northeast Regionals
• 2024 Hunterdon County Wrestler of the Year
• 2022 Journeymen Fall Classic All-American
• Ranked in the top 25 at 120 pounds by Sports Illustrated
Max Shulaw | 197 | Columbus, Ohio | Saint Francis DeSales
• Ranked No. 36 overall on FloWrestling’s Top 100 Big Board
• 2x Ohio State Champion (2023, 2024) at 215 pounds
• Went 51-0 on his way to the 2023 Ohio State Championship
• 3x finalist at Ohio State Championships
• 4x place winner at Ohio State Championships
• 2023 Ironman Third Place finish
• 2022 Ironman Champion