The kid’s only a sophomore but his name has been in the rankings and in the news for so long that one could believe he’s a senior.

And the way Virginia Tech’s Caleb Henson wrestles very easily could lead one to that same assumption.

Henson, the nation’s second-ranked 149-pounder, is 17-1 thus far this season after compiling a 27-5 record that included an ACC title and a fifth-place NCAA finish last year. He became the first freshman in Virginia Tech history to win a conference title and achieve All-America status.

With 50 matches already on his win-loss spreadsheet, to say winning has become the standard for the Cartersville, Georgia, native would be an understatement. He went 6-2 at last season’s NCAAs, beating the numbers 6, 7, 8 and 11 seeds from his 4-seed slot. And he built a 16-bout win streak this season before coming out on the short end of a 4-3 decision against Nebraska’s top-ranked Ridge Lovett in the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational finals.

“That's the top competition, so that's what I'm striving for and that's who I'm looking to wrestle, and I definitely think it's a good thing to wrestle the guys I’m gonna wrestle at the end of the year, so it doesn't bother me,” Henson said. “I enjoy it.”

The key to the CKLV final, Henson said, was not being able to finish shots consistently. 

“I just have to wrestle my match and make it my style. And when I go out there, execute on a high level on all my attacks,” he said.

Virginia Tech coach Tony Robie said the Henson-Lovett match was helpful. 

“It’s good to get our hands on that guy. It benefits us to wrestle him one time because that’s obviously a potential NCAA finals match,” he said. “I was pleased, like I always am, with Caleb’s attack rate and how he competes.

“Caleb, he's fantastic. We expect big things from him. His consistency, his toughness, his work ethic, his leadership are all at a high level.”

For Henson’s part, he’s pleased with his hot start this season but not complacent. 

“Just some of the work showing off so far and a lot more to come,” he said. “It’s just to look at the holes and know that there's places I can get better and continue to improve on those and work every day for the big goal to win the national title.”

The individual portion of Henson’s agenda will come later, but it’s most advantageous to train with teammates who have attained a #10 dual-meet ranking and a #5 slot in the team tournament ratings.

“Yeah, I think it brings a lot of good energy into the room,” Henson said. “I had a good team in high school and I came to Virginia Tech knowing that we were gonna have a good squad in my first year and all through my career at Tech, so of course it's more fun when a bunch of guys on the team can go out and chase the same dream that you're chasing.”

The Hokies didn’t have a good showing in a season-opening loss to Ohio State but bounced back against American and Rutgers and put a new-look lineup on the mat in a Dec. 17 win over Stanford. Up next are #4 Missouri (Jan. 2) and #6 Cornell (Jan. 7) — and both on the road.

“I love duals, and I think we all do; duals are exciting and it's fun to bring your squad versus someone else and go into their territory or make them come to yours,” Henson said. “And I think we have a solid dual team now and I think we're just now starting to put the pieces together. So when all the pieces are together, we have a good squad and we can go against anyone.”

The Hokies pulled Cooper Flynn’s Olympic redshirt at 125, Cody Howard returned to the squad at 184 and Mac Church (141) and Sonny Sasso (197) entered the lineup against Stanford as true freshmen. 

“I think (the young guys) are starting to figure it out, especially Sonny Sasso. He’s a hammer and it’s fun to watch him and watch him grow,” Henson said. “It's all a big practice until March so that's what really matters and I think they've got the mindset and the work ethic to get to the point they need to.”

Before that grind begins, it’s time for a holiday break. Henson said he’d be in Georgia for a few days “for some good family time” but training throughout. Some “good food” is on his Christmas list, he said, but staying focused on his goals is on the everyday list. 

“It’s a good mental and physical break, but you’ve got goals and you’ve gotta work toward them,” he said.

The sophomore business management major and 2023 ACC Freshman of the Year said a 2024 NCAA title would mean the hard work is paying off. 

“And I’d get to do it for the people who support and love me, too, which is where I get a lot of my energy from,” Henson said. 

He knows he’s in the right spot. 

“I’m here for the next three or four years, and maybe some time after,” he said. “Every one of my teammates and coaches that I've got with me, I think they're awesome for me, and we just clicked well. 

“It’s where God's put me and I'm overly happy with it; I couldn't be any more happy with it, and I believe I'm in the best spot to give myself the best chance to have my full potential — 100 percent.”