Mekhi Lewis announces return to Virginia Tech wrestling for final year

Mekhi Lewis announced his return to Virginia Tech wrestling for his final year of eligibility and to give it one more run for a national title.

The 2019 NCAA champion made it official when the Hokies released a hype video. Lewis is a three-time All-American and finished fourth at 174 pounds this past season.

But, he’ll be on the shortlist to get a national title at the weight during the 2024 tournament in Kansas City.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪, 𝙑𝙞𝙧𝙜𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙖 𝙏𝙚𝙘𝙝. 𝙁𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖 𝙃𝙤𝙠𝙞𝙚 🦃
– @M_lewiss22 #ThisIsHome #ALLINALLTHETIME #Hokies 🦃 pic.twitter.com/2Ojy1MHD0J

— Virginia Tech Wrestling (@HokiesWrestling) May 5, 2023

“Mekhi has done a tremendous amount for Virginia Tech Wrestling and I am grateful for the opportunity to spend a seventh year with him as he chases his goals,” head coach Tony Robie said in a statement. “In addition to being an incredible competitor on the mat, Mekhi always represents Hokies Wrestling with class and humility.

“We appreciate everyone that has supported Mekhi throughout his journey and is behind him as he puts on a Virginia Tech singlet for one more season. We are ecstatic that Keith, Charlotte, Keith Jr., and Mekhi Lewis will be back for the 2023-2024 season.”

Lewis’ return is a huge boost to the Virginia Tech lineup.

Lewis rose to superstardom in 2019 in Pittsburgh when he made a run to the NCAA finals and defeated two-time NCAA champion Vincenzo Joseph (Penn State) in the finals as a redshirt freshman.

The following year, Lewis took an Olympic redshirt, but all of that went on hold during the beginning of the pandemic. He returned to college competition during the shortened 2021 season.

However, Lewis went just 10-2 and battled injuries during the tournament and fell one win shy of the All-American podium, medically forfeiting his last two matches.

However, it was a return to glory in 2022 for Lewis. He went 24-2 en route to a second place finish when he went up from 165 to 174 pounds. 

In his first year at the weight, he dominated. But, he lost an instant class to Penn State’s Carter Starocci in the 2021 NCAA finals in St. Louis.

Lewis went 22-3 last season and lost in the semifinals to Nebraska’s Mikey Labriola and eventually lost to Cornell’s Chris Foca in the third place match.

With Starocci expected back this season for Penn State, Lewis is not the favorite to win it all at 174 pounds. But, he’s right there in contention.

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Lewis had the extra year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 waiver to return and decided to use it for one last ride.