Wrestlers’ transfers denied by Va. Tech

By Andy Hamilton
Iowa City Press-Citizen

A Virginia Tech faculty appeal committee has upheld its athletic department’s decision to deny the immediate transfer release of five wrestlers who hoped to follow coach Tom Brands to Iowa.

Joey Slaton, Jay Borschel, Dan LeClere, Brent Metcalf and T.H. Leet — all freshmen who redshirted this past season at Virginia Tech — asked to be released from their scholarships after Brands was hired last month to lead the Hawkeyes.

Brands was a top drawing card at Virginia Tech for Slaton, Borschel and LeClere, all Iowa natives, and Metcalf, who was widely considered one of the nation’s top three prospects in the Class of 2005.

“We are very, very upset,” said Slaton’s father, Matt Shaver. “We’re considering our options.”

Virginia Tech officials announced last month that they would release the wrestlers following the 2007 season if they still wanted to transfer. The wrestlers could still leave the school immediately, but they would not be eligible to compete next season at an NCAA institution.