Christiansburg High School graduate Cody Gardner, a Virginia Tech freshman who was one of the most acclaimed wrestling recruits in the country last season, has quit the sport.

Gardner's father, Keith Gardner, said Tuesday his son has left the team because his heart is no longer in wrestling.

He does not expect his son to return to the sport.

"He didn't have that burning desire to wrestle," Keith Gardner said. "If you talk to him, he's not going to wrestle [ever again]. He's kind of hung up his shoes. It's kind of a shock, but I knew something was wrong. His heart wasn't in it. It was his choice to leave.

"At this point in time, I would say his wrestling career is over."

Tech coach Kevin Dresser, who was Gardner's coach at Christiansburg until taking over the Hokies in April 2006, is holding out hope that Gardner will change his mind. He is keeping the heavyweight on the roster.

"He's got to work out some stuff academically. He's got to work out some stuff personally," Dresser said. "I don't anticipate him helping us this season, but when we get some things straightened out, he's too valuable to walk away from."

Dresser is gaining the services of another one of his former Christiansburg wrestlers, though. Redshirt freshman Jantzen Minton said he will transfer from Indiana to Tech for the spring semester.

Cody Gardner, who could not be reached for comment, was 6-1 for the Hokies at 285 pounds before leaving the team last weekend.

"He just said he needs a break," Dresser said.

A three-time Timesland wrestler of the year, Gardner was the greatest wrestler in Timesland history.

He won four Group AA titles at Christiansburg and claimed the 2006 National Junior Freestyle championship at 215 pounds.

He was rated the nation's No. 1 heavyweight in the 2006-07 senior class by InterMatwrestle.com. He did not lose his final two seasons with the Blue Demons.

"Their schedule was so intense in high school; it was 11 months a year," Keith Gardner said. "There was no break."

Keith Gardner said his son will remain a Tech student next semester. But he said his son will probably transfer next summer to a "more affordable" college because he will lose his full scholarship after this school year if he doesn't return to wrestling. He doesn't expect his son will join another wrestling team.

Cody Gardner's loss of interest in wrestling first surfaced in the fall when he skipped a few practices. Dresser suspended him from the Hokies' season opener as punishment.

"He came back on his own [that time], so that's what we're hoping will happen again," Dresser said.

Gardner has been living at home this semester.

"It was hard to get him to go to practice," Keith Gardner said.

Minton was the Group AA champ at 171 pounds as a senior. He took sixth at the 2006 Senior Nationals, earning prep All-America honors.

Minton had orally committed to Tech, but when Tom Brands left to become Iowa's coach in the spring of 2006, he changed his mind and signed with Indiana.

After redshirting last season, Minton wrestled in just one tournament this season at 184 pounds before leaving the Hoosiers last month.

"I wasn't real comfortable with the coaching staff here," Minton said from Indiana. "I felt I would be more successful closer to my support system, with all my family right there in Christiansburg and knowing Kevin."

Hoosiers coach Duane Goldman said it was Minton's choice to leave. Minton received his release, so he will be eligible to wrestle for the Hokies this season.