In one of the more impactful roster departures under Tony Robie, Virginia Tech Wrestling lost its starting 157-pounder in Rafael Hipolito, Jr. to the transfer portal yesterday.
The redshirt freshman from Manaus, Brazil was crowned ACC Champion in Durham this past March and earned the #4 seed in the NCAA Championships in Philadelphia, where he went 1-2. Hipoilito, Jr. was a stellar 28-9 in his time in Blacksburg, including a 17-5 overall record during the 2025 season, knocking off four All-Americans and earning nine wins by bonus points in his first campaign in the Hokies’ starting lineup.
Hipolito, Jr.s departure undoubtedly will be a blow to Tony Robie’s lineup, however, thanks to stellar offseason work in the transfer portal, the Hokies will have a more than capable replacement for the 157-pound slot. Last month, Virginia Tech welcomed to its ranks Maryland transfer Ethen Miller: a 3-time NCAA qualifier who earned the 1-seed in the 2025 Big 10 tournament thanks to his record-setting 20-0 record during the regular season. In Hipolito, Jr. 's absence, Miller presumably will get the starting nod next season. When Miller first arrived on campus, many speculated that he may move up a weight class to 165 pounds to preserve the 157-pound slot for Hipolito, Jr.
Tony Robie has proven capable of overcoming adversity throughout his tenure in Blacksburg, earning him ACC Coach of the Year honors six times, most recently during the league’s annual awards presentation last month. This most recent personnel setback, while certainly impactful, is not insurmountable for the Hokies under his leadership.