LEXINGTON, Va. – It was announced Thursday that ESPN wrestling analyst, Rock Harrison, will visit Virginia Military Institute as part of his preseason wrestling tour later this month.
"I'm excited most for our wrestlers to have this opportunity," says VMI Wrestling Head Coach
Jim Gibson. "They are excited to share their cadet-athlete experience. VMI can be a great option for a lot of wrestlers out there, this kind of exposure will certainly help us spread that word to the wrestling community."
"To have an opportunity to collaborate with ESPN, the worldwide leader in sports, and promote VMI wrestling is a no-brainer," says VMI Athletic Director
Jamaal Walton. "VMI is a special place and I'm excited for our cadet-athletes to share their experiences on post and amplify the VMI brand."
Harrison, who was a former collegiate wrestler at the University of Virginia and a current wrestling broadcaster with ESPN, annually visits wrestling programs across college athletics before each season to debut on his social media platforms. In previous years, Harrison has traveled to elite wrestling programs and facilities from east to west coasts, telling the stories behind each school and its athletes.
The 2024-25 preseason tour includes VMI, the first Southern Conference program to be included on the tour. Other schools involved with this year's edition include Stanford, Utah Valley, Wyoming, Northern Colorado, NC State, University of North Carolina, University of Virginia, Pittsburgh, Muhlenburg, Brown, and Harvard.
"As always, my goal when visiting institutions is to learn as much about a school that exceeds a Google search," says Harrison. "Moreover, I want to bring attention to non-traditional wrestling programs to show that wrestling is important to these institutions and that there are plenty of programs for high schoolers to continue their athletic and academic careers. VMI fits this mold."
The Keydets will welcome the ESPN analyst on September 30. Media personnel who are interested in joining Harrison on his journey through the Institute are asked to communicate with VMI Athletic Communications Assistant Director
Nathanial Barbee before attending.
For more information, visit VMIKeydets.com or follow us on social media at VMI Athletics.
