One of the greatest wrestlers in program history and among the best athletes to have represented Virginia Tech, Devin Carter will be enshrined into the school’s Sports Hall of Fame on Friday, Sept. 19, announced this past week by Director of Athletics Whit Babcock. Carter joins six other former student-athletes slated for the Hall of Fame Class of 2025 induction next fall.
The seven-member class increases the Virginia Tech Sports Hall of Fame to 240 members. The seven new members will be officially inducted Friday, Sept. 19 at The Inn at Virginia Tech, and will be recognized during halftime of the Hokies’ football game against Wofford on Saturday, Sept. 20 at Lane Stadium.
A student-athlete from 2011-2015, Carter rewrote the record book at Virginia Tech. He won 121 career matches with 38 pins and became the school’s first NCAA finalist when he advanced to the finals at the 2014 NCAA Championships.
The Christiansburg native was the first three-time All-American, first four-time ACC Champion, and his 19 NCAA Championship tournament wins rank second in program history. Carter’s .883 career winning percentage (121-16) ranks second in Tech history. He was named ACC Wrestler of the Year in 2012-2013 as well as the conference’s Co-Rookie of the Year for 2011-2012.
“A four-time ACC Champion, three-time All-American, and Virginia Tech’s first NCAA finalist, Devin Carter is among the very best wrestlers to have ever put on a Virginia Tech singlet. Devin came to us from Christiansburg High School and immediately made an impact on our program with how he approached every part of his life. Devin believed that how you do anything is how you do everything,” said Hokies wrestling head coach Tony Robie.
During his tenure in Blacksburg, Carter was pivotal to Tech capturing three conference team titles as well as instrumental in the Hokies’ finishing eighth at the 2013 NCAA Championships – the highest finish in program history at the time.
“He left Virginia Tech with five degrees: a bachelor’s, three masters’, and a doctorate. Through his work ethic, toughness, and leadership he elevated Hokies wrestling to a level the program had previously never seen and set a new standard of what success could look like for our student-athletes. During his junior season he tore two of his hamstring muscles completely off the bone in December. This injury typically sidelines an athlete for six to eight months. Devin had surgery in late December and miraculously returned to wrestle at the ACC Championships in early March. By way of sheer determination and mental toughness Devin not only won an ACC Championship, but advanced to the NCAA finals before placing second in the country. I honestly can’t express how highly I regard Devin. He is truly among the best competitors and people I have ever come across. Although he is probably not aware of it, he made a tremendous impact on my life. I am grateful to call him a friend,” Robie concluded.
Having a hand in helping shape program history yet again, Carter served on the coaching staff in 2019 – the first NCAA finalist in program history helping guide Mekhi Lewis become the program’s first national champion.
Not only a force on the mat, but Carter was also a two-time Academic All-America selection. He’s collected five degrees from Virginia Tech – bachelor’s in psychology in 2014, his master’s in curriculum and instruction in 2015, his second master’s in industrial/organizational psychology in 2017, his third master’s in data analysis and applied statistics in 2018, and his PhD in industrial/organizational psychology in 2019.
He is also a prep wrestling coach in New York, where he now resides.
