Former Virginia Tech wrestler Rafael Hipolito commits to Oklahoma

Former Virginia Tech wrestler and 2025 NCAA qualifier Rafael Hipolito committed to Oklahoma out of the transfer portal. He wrestled two seasons with the Hokies.

Wrestling at 157 pounds, Hipolito went 11-4 in redshirt during the 2023-24 season before cracking the lineup. This past campaign, Hipolito went 17-5 overall, qualifying for NCAAs for the Hokies. He went 1-2 in Philadelphia.

Hipolito, who has a jiu jitsu background, is one of the more unique middleweights in college wrestling due to his style. Now, he has a new school for the 2025-26 season.

WrestleStat projected Hipolito at 165 pounds for this coming season, where there could’ve been logjams at Virginia Tech. Former Maryland wrestler Ethen Miller committed to VT out of the portal and is slotted at 157 pounds along with former top recruit Matt Henrich, a redshirt freshman next year.

At 165, Mad Church was listed as the projected starter now with Hipolito in the portal. But as it goes, someone would have to be left out of the lineup.

Rafael Hipolito finds new school for 2025-26 season

With Hipolito off to a new school, Virginia Tech had a logical replacement at 157 for next year. Former Terrapin Ethen Miller committed to the school in mid-April.

Miller went 23-5 this past season and qualified for the NCAA Championships for the third time in his career. He went 1-2 in Philadelphia.

Miller redshirted during his first year at Maryland and started at 149 in 2023 and ’24, qualifying for NCAAs. He moved up to 157 this year, where he’s expected to go next season.

Overall, Miller boasts a career record of 68-23 in three varsity seasons but is on the move. With one year left, he’s a podium threat in 2026.

“I’m just excited to wrestle the best guys,” Miller said earlier this year. “I think it’s gonna be fun to go out there and score a bunch of points and get good matches … I want to take out more dudes [and] keep my record going.”