BLACKSBURG - The Virginia Tech wrestling team’s early signing class is ranked 11th in the country, according to InterMat Wrestling. The Hokies’ class is the only one in the ACC ranked in the top 20 with Virginia (21st), Maryland (22nd) and North Carolina (23rd) cracking the top 25.

From the site: “When Kevin Dresser inherited the Virginia Tech wrestling program after Tom Brands left for Iowa, there was concern about what would become of the Hokies. However, with solid recruiting the program has been rebuilt. This class, focused primarily on lower weights and upper-middleweights, will continue to increase the quantity of quality within the roster.”

Tech signed, in alphabetical order, Devin Carter, Tyler Eitel, Harrison Hightower, Sam Law, Angelo Malvestuto and Ty Mitch and also will have several walk-ons join the program. The late signing period takes place in the spring.

This weekend, most of the team will be in action at different tournaments across the country. The starters will head to the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Open in Primm, Nev., for a tough two-day tournament that starts Friday. The seven wrestlers slated for action are:

133: Erik Spjut (7-3)
141: #10 Chris Diaz (9-1)
149: #17 Pete Yates (7-3)
157: #15 Jesse Dong (8-1)
174: Anthony Trongone (9-2)
184: #19 Tommy Spellman (7-2)
197: Tim Miller (3-7)

Five Tech wrestlers will head to University Park, Pa., for the Penn State Open on Sunday. They are:

125: #9 Jarrod Garnett (2-0)
141: Nick Murray (4-2)
149: Brian Stephens - Unattached
149: Matt Rosen - Unattached

157: Taylor Knapp (3-4)

And finally, several members will head to North Carolina for the Davidson Open on Saturday. They are:

133: Jared Jones (2-0)
141: Cameron Hurd - Unattached
141: Cole Louks - Unattached
165: Daniel Fissmer - Unattached
174: John Dickson (0-4)