Matoaca’s two-time defending state heavyweight champion Anthony Helm recently announced he will attend Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University this fall.
Helm chose VT over The University of Virginia. A lifelong Hokie fan, Anthony says he has always seen himself in Blacksburg.
“I have always been a VT fan from when I lived in North Carolina and here,” he said. “I have always grown up watching, hearing and knowing VT and I really enjoy the engineering program. I have just always seen myself as a Hokie.”
Helm has been a dominant force in Conference 12 and the state of Virginia since his sophomore year. The 285-pounder will be seeking a third state title this month. Anthony says his coaches and teammates around him at Matoaca have played a significant role in his success over the years.
“My coaches and team have had a huge impact on who I am and I owe a lot to them,” he said. “No matter what I did, who I had to wrestle or where I was, they pushed me to the limit; to the point of breaking to make sure I was doing everything I possibly could to be the best at whatever it was.”
Apart from aiding him in his work ethic, Helm also said that his coaches have always been there for him when the chips were down.
“When no one believed in me I knew my coaches knew I could do it and that I could be great. And my team, they helped me a lot on the days I kept messing up on a move. They kept pushing me by not letting up.”
Anthony’s coach at Matoaca is Hal Miles. When asked what makes the heavyweight such a special athlete, Miles had this to say.
“First of all, he is a smart, quick learner with a 3.5 GPA. He has all the attributes of a pro-level talent; quickness, mobility, agility, you name it. Where he’s at now, if he works with the right people, he could compete at an international level.”
The Hokies currently have three heavyweights on their roster; senior Dan Garwood (10-2 this season) and juniors Brandon Taylor (4-7) and Ty Walz (20-0).
