The Virginian-Pilot
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While students took the holidays off, wrestlers didn’t.
A host of matches and tournaments kept teams in top shape as many of them prepare for this weekend’s Virginia Duals at the Hampton Colliseum.
In one of the bigger events over the break, Cox and Norfolk Academy each made impressive statements at the 35-team Tiger Holiday Classic in Chapel Hill, N.C.
The Falcons finished third in a tournament that featured teams from six states. Cox was led by 135-pound champion Ben Dorsay. Tejovan Edwards (140) and Jack Burbank (285) both placed third.
Norfolk Academy was 15th in the team standings, paced by yet another quality tournament from sophomore stars Bryan Whitt and Aaron Runzo. State private school champions last season, the duo proved again that if they were in public schools, they both would be legitimate Group AAA title contenders.
Whitt won the 112-pound title with a double-overtime finals victory, and Runzo cruised to the top of the 119-pound medal stand. Whitt’s younger brother, Taylor, finished sixth at 103 pounds.
A unusual wealth of talent at 189 and 215
South Hampton Roads wrestling is typically strongest in the lower and middle weights, but this year’s Eastern Region tournament ought to be a battle at 189 and 215. In the past three weeks, a fist full of contenders have emerged at each weight.
At 189, earlier this season, Cox’s Chris Penny edged Kempsville’s Pierce Embry 6-4. But Embry went on to win the Colin E. Baker Invitational with a convincing victory over Great Bridge’s Billy Curling. Hickory’s Kyle Gress is another contender, along with Booker T. Washington’s Jayvon Smith, who is top-ranked in South Hampton Roads at 189.
The 215-pound pool is equally deep. Granby’s David Wilson is the clear favorite, but he’ll be tested. Grant Chapman from Hickory has lost only twice this season, both times to out-of-state competition. He edged Kempsville’s Daniel Brian in the Colin Baker finals at Great Bridge. Western Branch’s Ace Callwood is a returning state place-winner, but he was defeated 10-3 by Tallwood’s Kennan Harris, who moved into the South Hampton Roads rankings this week.
What’s it all mean? Some very good wrestlers in those weights won’t make the state tournament.
Four locals No. 1 at their weights in state rankings
The area is well-represented in the latest state rankings at virginiawrestling.com. Four wrestlers are pegged No. 1 at their weight: Kellam’s Mike Holcomb (125), Great Bridge’s Louis Johnson (140) and Jared King (160), and First Colonial’s Cory Bartolo (140).
There are 17 South Hampton Roads wrestlers rated top-four in the state, including five who are No. 2. In fact, the area has the state’s top two wrestlers at 140, 145 and 160, where Cox’s Tejovan Edwards, Great Bridge’s Joey Grainger and Kellam’s Sean Abrams are behind the guys previously mentioned.
Another notable from the state rankings: Their reflection of the changing of the guard, with Great Bridge falling solidly to second behind defending Group AAA champ Colonial Forge. The Eagles have eight wrestlers ranked top-eight at their weight, including five who are No. 1 and two more who are No. 2. The Wildcats, whose streak of nine state titles was halted by Colonial Forge last season, have seven ranked wrestlers but only two who are No. 1 and one who is No. 2.
Tallwood, Hickory engaging in charitable activities
Even though the holidays are over, two local teams are still in the giving spirit.
Tallwood teamed with Martin Screen Printing to donate 80 black Tallwood wrestling T-shirts to SEAL Team 2, currently deployed in Iraq. Several of the Lions have family connections in the military and the team finds ways each season to honor the armed forces. The artwork for the T-shirts was designed by a member of SEAL Team 2, who is also a tattoo and graphic artist.
Meanwhile, Hickory is hosting a pin-a-thon Jan. 19, the team’s Senior Night. The Hawks’ wrestlers solicited pledges to sponsor the team for various amounts of money, which totaled about $285 per pin. They’ve already raised more than $10,000 and will present a check to the Virginia Special Olympics at their final home match.
Singlets
Granby won the Suffolk Duals, going 5-0 with a key victory over then-No. 5 Western Branch. The 37-33 victory vaulted the Comets ahead of the Bruins in the South Hampton Roads top 10. Marcus Chevres, Anthony Walker and David Wilson each won all five of the matches in the tournament. … Eight of South Hampton Roads’ top 10 teams will compete in the Virginia Duals. No. 1 Great Bridge and No. 2 Cox are both in the brutal National bracket. No. 3 Kellam, No. 4 Kempsville and No. 5 Granby are in the American Division. Finally, No. 6 Western Branch, No. 7 Hickory and No. 9 Grassfield are in the Black and Blue, where the Bruins are the top seed. …
A sign that the Great Bridge dynasty might not be dead: The Wildcats’ middle school team won the Virginia Challenge middle school state title by 37 points at Hampton University over the weekend. The tournament is the largest youth wrestling event in the state, and its past champions include eventual four-time Group AAA champs such as Patrick Bond and Collin Dozier. … Third-ranked Kellam will host No. 4 Kempsville tonight at 6, a dual match that will feature several marquee match-ups and one that has major Beach District implications.
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