Wrestling notebook: Four champs spur Bayside

Bayside brought home four champions – Jerrell McCabe (112), Marcelle McCabe (125), Brandon Diggins (140) and Bradley Hodges (145) – from the Lake Taylor Invitational, finishing third behind Deep Run and First Colonial.

Bayside’s Maurice Johnson was second at 215.

“We’ve been up and down, but we had a good workout (before the tournament) and they wrestled pretty well,” Marlins coach John Stukes said. “I’m hoping to take those five guys to regionals.”

His team wraps up the regular season Saturday against No. 2 Kellam (10 a.m.) and No. 3 Kempsville (noon) at Princess Anne.

“I told the kids this is the most important week of the season,” Stukes said. “Finish off this week and carry us into the district tournament.”

Howell paces Lakeland at Big Blue Invitational

Justin Howell took second place at 215 pounds to help Lakeland’s seventh-place effort at the Big Blue Invitational at Christiansburg.

“I only took nine guys,” coach John Bostwick said. “We improved nine places over last season.”

Cory Beale was fourth at 171 and senior 152-pounder Alex Sari placed fifth and was awarded a $1,000 scholarship from the Jackie Toney Scholarship fund.

Bostwick expects his team to be at full strength when the Cavaliers close the regular season by hosting No.9 Nansemond River, No.10 Indian River and York at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Cox wins six crowns at Ultimate Challenge

Six weight-class winners fueled Cox’s win at the 11-team U.S. Marine Corps Ultimate Challenge. Host Colonial Forge, the three-time defending Group AAA state champion, was second.

Cody Stageberg (103), Caleb Richardson (112), Bryan Whitt (119), Michael Chalfant (130), Ben Dorsay and Conor O’Hara (215) combined for 254 of the Falcons’ 414 points. Five others finished in the top four for the victors.

Grassfield’s Ryan Fairbee (119) and Verino Ruggerio (130) placed fourth. The Grizzlies finished ninth as a team.

Back points

Great Bridge finished fourth at the Big Blue Invitational. Johnny McLanahan won the 130-pound division, Chris Mansfield (135) and Joey Grainger (171) were second and Jules Whitehurst (152) was fourth. … Sari clinched his 109th career victory at the Big Blue Invitational to surpass Jonathan Thompson’s former school record of 106 set in 1995. … Norfolk Academy senior Stephen Nusbaum notched his 100th win at the Phantom Duals at Phoebus; the four-year starter has 103 wins.

This week in wrestling

Best dual Kellam vs. No.7 Salem at noon Saturday highlights a multi-team Beach District finale at Princess Anne. Cox, Kempsville, Bayside, Green Run and Landstown are also competing with additional matches at 10a.m. and 2 and 4 p.m.

Best matches St. Christopher’s David Wesley and Cape Henry’s Sam Law, the top 160-pound private school wrestlers, should meet at the Ocean Lakes Invitational on Saturday.

On a roll Norview is 6-0 in the Eastern District and closes the regular season at Granby at 11 a.m. Saturday. The Pilots feature three returning district champs – Antonio Barnes (25-8 at 112), Brian Lee (21-2 at 125) and Adrin Taylor (38-0 at 160) – and coach Robert Toran said 145-pounder Leonard Roberson (27-9) has made strides from last season and is undefeated in the district.

– Darrell Cuenca