A Strong Sense of Commitment

Virginia Tech wrestling continues to build despite tragedy

April 23, 2007

By Elliot Olshansky

CSTV.com


	ELLIOT OLSHANSKY Elliot is CSTV.com's hockey editor and runs his Rink Rat hockey blog on CSTV.com. E-mail here!

BLACKSBURG, Va. - At 1:30 p.m. Friday afternoon, Virginia Tech wrestling coach Kevin Dresser sat at a table in the middle of Buffalo Wild Wings on Prices Fork Road in downtown Blacksburg.

The second year coach of the Hokies wasn't eating alone, either. He was joined by assistant coach Tony Robie, but more importantly, two recruits were at the table as well.

"We had two recruits in," said Dresser, who coached at nearby Christiansburg High School before taking the reins of the Hokies. "One from Florida and one from New Jersey. We communicated with them earlier in the week that if they were uncomfortable coming, we understood, but at the same time, we were going on."

As this university goes through the early stages of the healing process following the horrific attacks that took place here a week ago, it's only natural to wonder what difficulties the coaches of Virginia Tech's 16 varsity teams will have in recruiting young student-athletes to come here.

So far, though, it seems things will be fine in that department.

"They were excited to come to Virginia Tech," Dresser said of the two recruits. "They had a great visit, they had a good time, and we're just going forward."

While the weekend visit was certainly encouraging, the best sign for recruiting at Virginia Tech came on Thursday, when Chris Diaz signed a National Letter of Intent to attend the school this fall.

Projected as a 141-pounder in college, Diaz wrestles at 135 pounds at Caesar Rodney High School in Camden/Wyoming, Del., and has won two consecutive Delaware state titles. Add a championship victory at the NHSCA Nationals in Virginia Beach, Va., earlier this month, and it's easy to see how Diaz, ranked fifth in the nation at 135 pounds by W.I.N. Magazine, would have his choice of schools to attend.

That Diaz chose Virginia Tech speaks volumes about the strong allure of the school and the town of Blacksburg, which he visited last weekend.

"Chris had a great visit," Dresser said. "He loved the campus. I actually did a home visit on Wednesday, and he signed on Thursday. This is a special place, and I think the whole United States got to see Virginia Tech up close and personal, and I think what came across is that this is a really special place and this is as tight-knit of a community as you can get."

The announcement that Diaz will be a Hokie this fall was followed by a number of congratulatory phone calls to Dresser's office.

"I did get some calls from some coaches congratulating me on landing Chris Diaz," Dresser said. "He's such a good wrestler and a great kid and a great student, everything you want in a kid. I think everybody out there in the recruiting world of wrestling knew Chris Diaz's credentials. I think at the same time, they just wanted to say they were thinking about us, and that we were in their prayers."

The reality, of course, is that any of the coaches who have called to congratulate could be in the same position themselves.

"I think everybody realizes that what happened at Virginia Tech could happen anywhere," Dresser said. "As much as we like to control things, we can't control everything that happens in this world. It's an unfortunate incident, but this is a great place."

And, as Diaz has shown, it's a place that student-athletes, and students in general, will continue to fall in love with.

"When I met with them Saturday night, they just raved about the place," Dresser said of his recruits. "I think that says a lot about Virginia Tech."