Lynchburg, Va. -- The University of Lynchburg wrestling program is making major strides as it continues to establish itself under the leadership of head coach Vincent Barber and assistant coach Sammy Hillegas.
With state-of-the-art facilities, a growing roster, and a strong recruiting class, the Hornets are quickly building one of the premier Division III wrestling programs in the country.
Lynchburg recently unveiled one of the largest stand-alone wrestling facilities in NCAA Wrestling, a 12,000-square-foot complex highlighted by more than 7,200 square feet of dedicated wrestling space. The space includes four full collegiate mats, a team lounge, a weight room featuring four racks, two Olympic lifting platforms, and more than 2,000 pounds of weights, along with 10 assault bikes. The facility also houses locker rooms, five bathrooms with showers, and a fully equipped athletic training room stocked with recovery equipment including Theraguns, Normatechs and foam rollers.
Barber and Hillegas broke in the facility with the program's recent Prospect Day, which drew more than 90 wrestlers from across the country, ranging from high school freshmen to seniors.
"The prospect day went amazing", said Barber. "So many kids from all over the country made their way to Lynchburg to see what we have been doing these past few months. This facility, man, I'm speechless. It's amazing. If you want to pursue a great degree and put yourself in the best training facility and environment in D3, then Lynchburg is where you need to be."
The program's recruiting momentum has matched its facility growth. Lynchburg has already secured commitments from Avery Hall and Peter Savarino, along with four verbal commitments in the Class of 2030 and a transfer in the Class of 2029. Looking ahead, the Hornets expect to field a roster of 35 student-athletes by the 2026 season.
"This past month has been exciting as we have been out on the road recruiting and completing our facility", said Hillegas. "It's exciting to see how much support is behind us and the rest of our teams here on campus. I can't wait to get our first group of guys here on campus for the 2026 season and helping them chase down and accomplish their goals!"
The Hornets will continue to grow their staff and recruiting pipeline in the months ahead as they prepare for competition.
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