Virginia Tech’s wrestling team saw two true freshmen, Aaron Seidel and Collin Gaj, secure podium finishes at the 2026 NCAA Championships in Cleveland on March 21. Seidel finished third in the 133-pound weight class, while Gaj took fifth place at 149 pounds. This marks the first time since 2023 that two Virginia Tech freshmen have placed in the top eight at the national tournament.
The strong performances by Seidel and Gaj highlight a promising future for Virginia Tech wrestling. Both athletes faced tough competition but managed to defeat several higher-seeded opponents during their debut appearances at the NCAA Championships.
Seidel, from Fredricksburg, Pennsylvania, joined the Hokies’ lineup late in the season after recovering from a broken hand suffered in September. He entered the championships with a 14-1 record and an Atlantic Coast Conference title. Seidel advanced to the semifinals with three technical falls before losing to Oklahoma State’s Jax Forrest. He rebounded with a major decision over Iowa’s Drake Ayala and secured third place by defeating Penn State’s Marcus Blaze.
Gaj also hails from Pennsylvania and took a different route to his podium finish. After winning his opening match but dropping his second-round bout to Nebraska’s Chance Lamer, Gaj won three consecutive matches on the consolation side of the bracket. His victories included wins over NC State’s Koy Buesgens and Cornell’s Jaxon Joy, as well as an avenging win against Penn’s Cross Wasilewski. Gaj ultimately finished fifth after defeating Iowa’s Ryder Block.
The results underscore Virginia Tech’s ability to develop young talent capable of competing at a high level nationally. The achievements of Seidel and Gaj suggest that both wrestlers could play key roles for the Hokies in future seasons.