VMI Wrestling’s Ryan Vigil ended his collegiate wrestling career on March 19 at the 2026 NCAA Championship held at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
Vigil was VMI’s first conference champion since 2020 and the program’s first automatic qualifier for the national tournament since 2024. His participation in the championship marked a significant achievement for both himself and the VMI wrestling team.
In his opening match in the 165-pound pigtail round, Vigil faced No. 32 Cody Walsh from Drexel. Despite narrowing the score to 3-2 with an escape, Vigil ultimately lost by a major decision, sending him into the consolation bracket. There, he met Thomas Snipes of The Citadel, ranked No. 30 nationally and top-seeded in the Southern Conference. Although Vigil had previously upset Snipes during their conference tournament matchup, this time Snipes secured a win with a major decision.
Vigil finished his senior season with fourteen victories, earning a Southern Conference title and being named SoCon Tournament Most Outstanding Wrestler. He also achieved status as an NCAA Championship Automatic Qualifier.
The conclusion of Vigil’s postseason run highlights his accomplishments throughout his senior year and marks an important milestone for VMI Wrestling.
