Ocean Lakes wins wrestling region title

CHESAPEAKE

Ocean Lakes is a dual team. It’s a tournament team, too.

The Dolphins capped a season that included their first district title, and a two-year stretch with a 55-2 dual-match record, by wrapping up the school’s first Eastern Region championship before the finals even started.

And in a season of firsts, the Dolphins may have heard a last.

No longer will anyone question their tournament pedigree.

“We’re a tournament team,” 119-pounder Eddie Bracy said. “We warm-up together, we work hard together. We’re a tournament team. We don’t have the studs, but we have the best team.”

That might have been true before, but the Dolphins showcased a couple of stars as well.

Bracy (119 pounds) and teammate Dalton Henderson (112) both won their first region championships and are among a tournament-best eight Ocean Lakes wrestlers headed to next weekend’s state tournament.

Ocean Lakes finished first with 175.5 points, Kellam took second with 155 and Great Bridge was third with 109. Salem and Cox rounded out the top five.

“I think everyone had to grow up a little bit and realize these tournaments are about you as an individual,” Henderson said. “It’s about taking care of yourself.”

Before the finals began, an Ocean Lakes parent sidled up to head coach Chris Barnhart.

"Can I be the first to say it? Congratulations," said Jack Ogburn's father.

"Not yet, not yet," said Barnhart, ignoring the mathmatical certainty in favor of focusing four finalists.

The Dolphins owned a lead heading into the final day of the tournament and pulled away before lunch.

Henderson and Bracy advanced to championship matches minutes after wrestling started Saturday morning and 145-pounder Tony Maiorano all but clinched things with a semifinal upset of Kellam’s Tim Antonelli.

“I thought Chas Blais sparked us yesterday and Tony Maiorano did the same thing today,” Barnhart said. “Dalton and Eddie, they always spark us. They’re fire-starters.”

The Dolphins’ recent run of success has occurred during Barnhart’s two years as head coach, during which he’s created believers out of his wrestlers and assembled a staff of seven assistants, who he constantly praises.

“I knew it was a good group,” Barnhart said. “It’s a wonderful school. I knew if the kids lifted and were willing to travel to get the extra matches that we’d be good. You don’t expect it to be this good.”

Second-place Kellam crowned a tournament-best three champions, Sean Button (106), Christian Olanowski (132) and Ross Benzel (138). Salem also had multiple champions in Zach Kechter (145) and Torrance Brown (160), the only repeat winners.

Olanowski was the only wrestler to win every match by pin, while Benzel wrestled the match of the tournament just to get to the final, beating Grassfield’s Taylor Misuna 8-6 in overtime in his semi.

Misuna, who missed time late in the year with a sprained knee, beat Benzel decisively earlier in the season and is ranked No. 2 in the state. Benzel is ranked No. 4.

Misuna grabbed an early lead and Benzel rallied back to take a 6-5 lead into the final seconds, raising his arms as the clock ticked to zero.

As he turned, though, Benzel realized he was celebrating alone. A stalling call with two seconds left had tied the match at 6.

“I had no idea they called stalling,” Benzel said.

The senior settled himself quickly, earning a takedown in overtime for a sudden-death win.

“I’ve been in a lot of overtime matches,” Benzel said. “That’s something my coaches talk to me about.”

Notes: Other region champions included Hickory’s Steven Cotnoir (126 pounds), Grassfield’s Ryan Fairbee (152), First Colonial’s Ryland O’Brien (170), Oscar Smith’s Stacey Kennedy (182), Indian River’s Aaron Rowe (195), Kempsville’s Brandon Hubbard (220) and Great Bridge’s Tony Williams.