Lynchburg, Va. -- The University of Lynchburg men's wrestling team and head coach Vinny Barber are excited to welcome the addition of Sam Hillegas as an assistant coach on the wrestling coaching staff.

"I am beyond excited to join the Lynchburg University wrestling program as an Assistant Coach," said coach Hillegas. "This is an incredible opportunity to help build this program with Coach Barber and contribute to the growth of our athletes both on and off the mat. Wrestling has shaped who I am, and I look forward to helping these student-athletes push their limits, develop their skills, and strive for greatness."

Hillegas joins Lynchburg following a distinguished collegiate wrestling career as an NCAA Division I student-athlete at Virginia Tech and West Virginia University. During his stints with both programs, Hillegas was a key piece on top-25 nationally-ranked squads. Last year with the Mountaineers, Hillegas placed seventh at the Big 12 Wrestling Championships at 149 pounds. In his junior season, his first at WVU, Hillegas was one of the top performers in the nation, ranking within the top-33 in the country at 149 pounds throughout the season across multiple notable publications.

"I couldn't be more excited to have a guy like Sammy on staff as we build Lynchburg Wrestling," said coach Barber. "Sammy is a great technician and will add a huge network for recruiting in the premier wrestling state, Pennsylvania. He has been around wrestling at the highest levels his whole life and will be a great asset for our program and athletes."

Prior to his time in a top-tier college wrestling landscape, Hillegas was a star student-athlete in the PIAA at North Hills. He became the first state champion in program history, finishing his high school career as a two-time state champion in 2017 and 2018 and two-time Powerade Tournament Champion in 2017 and 2019. Additionally, he took fourth place at both Fargo and Super 32. Hillegas ranked within the top-20 pound-for-pound as he finished his high school career and was the top recruit in the country at his weight class. 

Off the mat, Hillegas served on the executive board of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee at West Virginia. He took part as the Social Media Chair and was selected to represent the university at the 2024 NIL Summit. Along with elite experience as a collegiate wrestler, he brings a strong foundation of leadership as well as a wide range of coaching experience through wrestling internships and camps with him to the Lynchburg wrestling program. 

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