Virginia Tech wrestler found dead in quarry

Very sad news from Mike Barber, Virginia Tech writer for the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

BREAKING: Body of #Hokies athlete has been recovered from water-filled quarry in Montgomery Co., sources said.

This is the official release from Virginia Tech:

Virginia Tech wrestling student-athlete Darren Hankins (Chesapeake, Va.) died in a drowning accident in Blacksburg, Wednesday night.
Hankins was pronounced dead at the scene. He was 21 years old.

“Darren Hankins was very special to our wrestling program and our entire athletic department,” head coach Kevin Dresser said. “As a father and as his coach, this is something that we would hope no family would have to go through. Our hearts and prayers go out to the Hankins family at this time. Darren was a wonderful young man. Virginia Tech Wrestling was a better place because of Darren Hankins.”

Virginia Tech Director of Athletics Whit Babcock offered support to the family and the Hokie wrestling team.

“The Virginia Tech Athletics family suffered a great tragedy this evening,” Babcock said. “Darren was a wonderful representative of the wrestling team and of this university. Our hearts go out to his family, our Virginia Tech family, and his countless friends during this difficult time.”

Hankins, a junior philosophy major, competed on the varsity squad for two seasons, but sat out the 2013-14 season due to injury.

Info from @CollegiateTimes editor-in-chief Cameron Austin:

BREAKING: Blacksburg rescue crews recovered a drowning victim from the quarry off Lusters Gate Rd.

This is from WDBJ (CBS in Roanoke):

A man in Montgomery County died while swimming in what used to be a rock quarry.
Investigators tell us he was swimming with other people on private property near Lusters Gate Road when he went under.
Bystanders attempted to save him but couldn't.
First responders recovered the body around 7:30 Wednesday night.
His name is not being released at this time.

People use the quarry for cliff-jumping, but it is private property.