Wrestling: Cox's Whitt wins fifth state title

FAIRFAX

Slim, soft-spoken and sporting blond hair that comes down to his eyes, Cox senior Bryan Whitt looks as though he’d be more comfortable on a surfboard than on the wrestling mat.

“He’s tall and lanky – doesn’t look that strong,” Falcons coach Matt Small said. Opponents “see this shaggy-haired kid walk out to the mat – before they know it, they’re wrapped up.”

After trailing early to Hopewell’s Jonathan Gay in Saturday’s Group AAA 119-pound final, Whitt locked in a pair of takedowns in the second and third periods, almost scored a near fall in the third and cruised to a 9-2 victory to become the first Virginia wrestler to win five state titles.

“Now I’m done and it feels good,” Whitt said. “I was expected to win and it’s hard to wrestle when everyone expects you to win.”

Whitt made it look easy as he stormed through his three prior tournament opponents with a pin-fall victory and two major decisions.

“His style is innovative,” Small said. “He’s hard to score on. He’s always got the potential to get takedowns and his defense is so tough.”

And when Whitt jockeys into top position, he’s virtually unstoppable with his size, physicality and leg-riding ability. “It’s hard to get out from under him,” Small said.

Whitt was a four-time private-school state-title winner during his days at Norfolk Academy.

As a junior, he finished second at the National Prep Championships, where he previously had finished in fifth place twice.

He was close to the Virginia record in career wins, which he broke at this year’s Virginia Duals.

On Saturday, Whitt, who will wrestle at the University of Virginia next year, finished his high school career with a 235-15 record.

Whitt quickly answered any questions Small had about adjusting to the rigors of the Falcons’ wrestling room.

“Coming in, we knew he was good,” Small said. “He bought right into the training. And with the conditioning we do and the amount of time he gets with all the coaches, it’s helped him.”

Whitt said working out with the Falcons was more intense than he’d previously experienced, but the better competition in the training room made it easier to pick up his game.

With which, he claimed his first public school state championship. “All the pressure (to win) is there until you get out there on the mat,” Whitt said. “Now, I’m just relieved – that’s a weight off my shoulders.”

Darrell Cuenca, (757) 446-2039, darrell.cuenca@pilotonline.com