Lightweight follows grandfather, Liberty’s first national champion, and uncle to wrestle for Flames

Jesse Castro Brodie Altman — Jesse Castro recruited Brodie Altman to build on his family legacy at Liberty.

Two-time Virginia High School League Group 5A state champion Brodie Altman, from Virginia Beach, is a prized 133- or 141-pound recruit for outgoing Liberty University men's wrestling Head Coach Jesse Castro.

He posted a career record of 126-27 at Kellam High School and is competing for a third consecutive summer on the Virginia High School National Team.

Altman, who helped lead Kellam to a second-place team state showing, will bring a tremendous pedigree to the program this fall. He follows in the footsteps of his grandfather, Wayne Smith, and uncle, Christian Smith, both standout wrestlers for the Flames.

Wayne Smith became Liberty's first national champion in 1976 and went on to win a second NCCAA title the next season, when Castro captured the first of his program-record four NCCAA national championships.

Smith's son, Christian, was Castro's first recruit as head coach when the program was reinstated after a 12-year hiatus for the 2006-07. He was a four-time NCAA Division I national qualifier at 125 and 133 pounds after starting his career at Duke and then Virginia Tech.

"That helped grab my attention, to look at Liberty with my long line of family lineage there," Brodie Altman said, noting his uncle still coaches him and encouraged him to continue his wrestling career at Liberty. "Coach Castro recruited me and with my family background there and it being a faith-based school, I felt it was the best fit for me to go there."

Brodie Altman Christian Smith — Brodie Altman won two state titles, one less than his uncle, Christian Smith.

He used to watch his uncle compete for the Flames at the Virginia Duals held at the Hampton Coliseum and has himself represented Kellam in the high school division of the past four Virginia Duals and VHSL state meets.

After winning the freestyle and Greco-Roman state titles at his weight class for the second year in a row the first weekend in May at the Virginia Wrestling Association championships at Heritage High School in Lynchburg, Altman visited Liberty and knew it was the place God had called him to go.

"I hope to win (NCWA Dual and Grand) national championships at Liberty, individually and as a team," Altman said.

He plans to pursue a B.S. in Business Administration: Finance or a B.S. in Business Administration & Data Analytics: Economics.

His father, Tommy Altman, is a financial advisor and owns a tattoo studio in Virginia with his mom, Krystal (Smith) Altman. She was a cheerleader at Liberty when Tommy proposed to her at halftime of a basketball game in the Vines Center in 2001.

Brodie Altman has a tattoo of the Latin proverb printed on the back of Kellam's wrestling shirts, "Si vis pacem, para bellum," which translates, "If you want peace, prepare for war."

Brodie Altman victory — Altman finished with a 126-27 record at Kellam High School in Virginia Beach.

After competing for Virginia's National team in the Junior National Duals in Milwaukee, Altman attended a national training camp at Virginia Tech this past weekend and is currently gearing up for the Fargo (N.D.) National Championships in two weeks.

He traveled to Azerbaijan last summer with former Kellam wrestler Aaron Runzo.

"It was a great trip, for the ... wrestling and being able to see other cultures, how everything is run in a different part of the world," Altman said. "In Azerbaijan and overseas, they only do freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling (unlike folkstyle in high school and college). It takes time getting used to but with the right group and support team around you, it's not that hard."

Altman's ultimate goal is to wrestle for Team USA at the Summer Olympic Games, in either discipline of the sport. For now, he is confident he is going where God is leading him.

"Wherever I end up going, God's got a plan and He knows where He wants me to be," he said. "I hope at Liberty I can do my best to be the best person I can be and help them to be the best they can be and help everyone to achieve the goals that they have."

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer

Brodie Altman wrestling action — Altman (in blue) throws an opponent onto the mat during a match for Virginia's State Team in the Junior National Duals in Wisconsin.

Lightweight follows grandfather, Liberty’s first national champion, and uncle to wrestle for Flames

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