This was a great tournament! The top three schools finished as expected. StC entered the finals with 11 wrestlers on the podium (1st – 8th) while WFS & BOC had 10 & 9 respectively. In the end, the Saints came away with four 1st’s, three 2nd’s, two 3rd’s, one 5th & an 8th. This was simply too much for the Tigers to overcome who finished with a pair of champions, three 2nd’s, a 3rd, and four across 4th – 6th. My guess is that it was along about the time of Kevin Issac’s win at 152 that the Saint’s sealed their 7th consecutive championship. The complete team results are listed below. North Cross was recognized as the highest placing team with fewer than 125 students. Norfolk Collegiate received recognition as the highest placed school of less than 200 students.

The three outstanding wrestlers were Nam Dunbar (125) and Eric Kurtzke (140) from Bishop O'Connell, and Clarke Gottwald (171) from St. Christopher's. Gottwald also won the award for the most pins in the least amount of time.

1. 281.5 St. Chris


2. 246.0 Woodberry Forest


3. 193.0 Bishop O'Connell


4. 172.0 Liberty Christian


5. 147.0 Bishop Ireton


6. 144.0 Episcopal


7. 132.0 St. Stephen's & Ste. Agnes'


8. 122.0 Norfolk Academy


9. 121.0 Norfolk Collegiate (Highest medium school)


10. 119.0 Cape Henry Collegiate


11. 111.0 Paul VI


12. 101.5 Collegiate


13. 66.0 North Cross (Highest small school)


14. 64.0 Blue Ridge


15. 60.0 Randolph-Macon


16. 58.0 Virginia Episcopal


17. 50.0 Roanoke Catholic


18. 47.5 Fork Union


19. 38.0 Benedictine


20. 36.0 Hargrave Military


21. 34.5 Bishop Sullivan


22. 36.0 Hargrave Military


23. 26.0 Peninsula Catholic


24. 26.0 Potomac


25. 25.0 Massanutten Militrary


26. 21.0 Fishburne Military


27. 0.0 Miller School

103 – Congratulations to Taylor Whitt (NA); right off the bat, he proves Mr. Pundit wrong. Undersized (if you can believe it at 103) 8th grader Will Mason (CHC) was tough as nails taking 3rd. Wilkes Booth (LCA) did not place (DNP) at the VIC Tournament and Jacob Patrick (RoCa) placed 4th yet they managed to wrestle to 7th & 8th at states. This was going to be a pattern all day.

1. Taylor Whitt - Norfolk Academy (Prep / TCIS)
2. Dan Desenberg - Blue Ridge School (CAC)
3. Will Mason - Cape Henry Collegiate School (TCIS)
4. James Peebles - Woodberry Forest School (Prep)
5. Joel Hepting - Hargrave Military Academy (VIC)
6. Elliott Mondragon - Bishop Ireton High School (WCAC)
7. Wilkes Booth - Liberty Christian Academy (VIC)
8. Jacob Patrick - Roanoke Catholic School (VIC)

112 – These wrestlers finished pretty much as expected. The lone exception was Andrew Georgeiff (BI). After an 11-18 season and a DNP at the WCAC Tournament, he managed to make his way to 8th.

1. Bryan Whitt - Norfolk Academy (Prep / TCIS)
2. Duke Pickett - Woodberry Forest School (Prep)
3. James Young - Bishop O'Connell High School (WCAC)
4. Scott Cunningham - Cape Henry Collegiate School (TCIS)
5. Eric Richardson - Liberty Christian Academy (VIC)
6. Tyler Haley - St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School (IAC)
7. Brown Massie - Collegiate School (Prep)
8. Andrew Georgeiff - Bishop Ireton High School (WCAC)

119 – This was another 112 – not many surprises. Although...Marcus Miller (LCA) came into the tournament 43-0, but could only manage a 6th place finish. Collegiate's Chris Risch came in with a 5-14 record and a 3rd in the Prep Tournament, but he came away with 8th.

1. Tyler Spangler - St. Christopher's School (Prep)
2. Justin Murphy - St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School (IAC)
3. Jazz Rozier - Cape Henry Collegiate School (TCIS)
4. Ian Mondragon - Bishop Ireton High School (WCAC)
5. Kyle Mason - Bishop O'Connell High School (WCAC)
6. Marcus Miller - Liberty Christian Academy (VIC)
7. Jamie Costa - Massanutten Military Academy (CAC)
8. Chris Risch - Collegiate School (Prep)

125 – Nam Dunbar (BOC) proved his mettle with a dominating major decision over runner-up Aaron Runzo (NA). Dunbar earned OW for the light-weights; his second such award at states. Jabar Doraney (RMA) showed he was good enough for an 8th.

1. Nam Dunbar - Bishop O'Connell High School (WCAC)
2. Aaron Runzo - Norfolk Academy (Prep / TCIS)
3. Trey Tarr - St. Christopher's School (Prep)
4. Drew Mason - Cape Henry Collegiate School (TCIS)
5. Bobby Leffew - Liberty Christian Academy (VIC)
6. Ethan Axenfeld - Bishop Ireton High School (WCAC)
7. Andrew Heiny - Hargrave Military Academy (VIC)
8. Jaber Doraney - Randolph-Macon Academy (DAC)

130 – This proved to be one of the more competitive weight-classes, not without its upsets. Bobby Burg (WFS), hardened from the Tiger’s tough schedule proved too much for Kaison Tanabe (POT) in the semis on his way to the final. David Wesley (STC) probably had the upset of the day by defeating Jonathan Carpenter (BOC) on the other side of the bracket. The final went four overtimes before Burg managed the one point victory.

1. Bobby Burg - Woodberry Forest School (Prep)
2. David Wesley - St. Christopher's School (Prep)
3. Jonathan Carpenter - Bishop O'Connell High School (WCAC)
4. Kaison Tanabe - Potomac School (MAC)
5. Michael Slabinski - St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School (IAC)
6. Robbie Burdeaux - Liberty Christian Academy (VIC)
7. Galen McCleary - Episcopal High School (IAC)
8. Ben Alberico - Norfolk Academy (Prep / TCIS)

135 – I pretty much nailed this one.

1. Johnny Motley - Episcopal High School (IAC)
2. Loren Phillips - St. Christopher's School (Prep)
3. Chris Curtin - Bishop O'Connell High School (WCAC)
4. Sam Law - Cape Henry Collegiate School (TCIS)
5. Drew Middleditch - Woodberry Forest School (Prep)
6. Tim Shen - Roanoke Catholic School (VIC)
7. Don Baumgart - Paul VI Catholic High School (WCAC)
8. Caleb Halsey - Liberty Christian Academy (VIC)

140 – But this ranks as a miss, although Tyrek Jones (WFS) and Robert Friddell (COL) did scratch before the tournament. Eric Kurtzke came away with his 4th State Championship on his way to the middle-weight outstanding wrestler award. TJ McLaughlin (BI) and Morgan Moskal (NXS) turned 4th place conference finishes into 6th & 8th places.

1. Eric Kurtzke - Bishop O'Connell High School (WCAC)
2. Spencer McKenna - Episcopal High School (IAC)
3. Rennie Merhige - St. Christopher's School (Prep)
4. Charles Bull - Paul VI Catholic High School (WCAC)
5. Tom Markey - Norfolk Collegiate School (TCIS)
6. TJ McLaughlin - Bishop Ireton High School (WCAC)
7. Charles Blevins - Roanoke Catholic School (VIC)
8. Morgan Moskal - North Cross School (VIC)

145 – About a month ago Andrew Mertens (COL) was in a full leg cast; today he is a Virginia State Champion. He also is another one who turned 4th place at the conference championship into a medal at states.

1. Andrew Mertens - Collegiate School (Prep)
2. Chris Cirenza - Woodberry Forest School (Prep)
3. Brent Ring - North Cross School (VIC)
4. Conor Furey - Bishop O'Connell High School (WCAC)
5. Kevin Molloy - St. Christopher's School (Prep)
6. Smith Marks - Episcopal High School (IAC)
7. Ben Pfotenhauer - Paul VI Catholic High School (WCAC)
8. Matthew McCormick - Massanutten Military Academy (CAC)

152 – This was a great weight-class with a lot of parity from 1st through 8th. Gulianno Freeo (VES) recently came back from illness, but he came up one bout short in his pursuit of a state title. Kevin Issacs (StC), in a bit of a surprise, turned his 3rd at Preps into a state title. This was especially sweet as he spent most of the year toiling away as Joe Munno’s understudy (Munno moved to 145 for the post-season, but was injured last week at St. Alban’s.).

1. Kevin Issacs - St. Christopher's School (Prep)
2. Gulianno Freeo - Virginia Episcopal School (VIC)
3. Stephen Cosgrove - Norfolk Collegiate School (TCIS)
4. Ford Schwing - Woodberry Forest School (Prep)
5. Michael Maroulis - Randolph-Macon Academy (DAC)
6. Chris Boucher - Bishop Ireton High School (WCAC)
7. Tim Beasley - Fork Union Military Academy (Prep)
8. Alex Fort - Benedictine High School (CAC)

160 – Before the tournament, I thought the top four were pretty much even, but Ted Gottwald (StC) showed that he is the class of this class with a pin over Andrew Blythe (NCS) in the final. With an 11-10 record and a DNP at the VIC championship, Covenant’s Brandon Bunce turned in a great weekend by earning 5th place. Is it just me, or did Davd Mongellow move to 171 at the last minute.

1. Ted Gottwald - St. Christopher's School (Prep)
2. Andrew Blythe - Norfolk Collegiate School (TCIS)
3. Winston Tesi - Liberty Christian Academy (VIC)
4. Win Higginbotham - Virginia Episcopal School (VIC)
5. Brandon Bunce - The Covenant School (VIC)
6. Trent Parrish - Blue Ridge School (CAC)
7. Henri Noordanus - Cape Henry Collegiate School (TCIS)
8. Trevor Crest - Episcopal High School (IAC)

171 – Ditto. Clarke Gottwald (StC) dominated this weight-class on his way to earning OW for the heavy-weights and “most pins in the least time.” Collegiate’s Jake Ragsdale finally put it together on his way to a 5th place finish. Pat Weingart (BI) – I’ll abbreviate this time – 10-11, 4th @ WCAC, makes it to the podium in 8th.

1. Clarke Gottwald - St. Christopher's School (Prep)
2. Chuck Carlton - Paul VI Catholic High School (WCAC)
3. Jonny Fitzsimons - Woodberry Forest School (Prep)
4. David Mongellow - Randolph-Macon Academy (DAC)
5. Jake Ragsdale - Collegiate School (Prep)
6. Ben Drumm - Fishburne Military School (VIC)
7. Edward Pritchard - Episcopal High School (IAC)
8. Pat Weingart - Bishop Ireton High School (WCAC)

189 – What a difference a week makes. Brian O’Donnell (BI) finished one-place ahead of Wilson Maclin (WFS) at last week’s St. Alban’s tournament. This week they exchanged places. In an exciting match that looked like it was going the other way, Maclin jumped on an O’Donnell mistake to win by fall. Although he was pinned by Russ Leggett (SSSA) in 20 seconds in the consolation final, Ryan Schoepke (BEN) has to be pleased with his “who is this guy” 4th.

1. Wilson Maclin - Woodberry Forest School (Prep)
2. Brian O'Donnell - Bishop Ireton High School (WCAC)
3. Russ Leggett - St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School (IAC)
4. Ryan Schoepke - Benedictine High School (CAC)
5. Robby McCanna - Liberty Christian Academy (VIC)
6. George Jamerson - Collegiate School (Prep)
7. Hill Debose - Episcopal High School (IAC)
8. Sammy Ojjeh - Paul VI Catholic High School (WCAC)

215 – Ethan Hagner (LCA) won, but I am sure not in the way he would have wanted. Hagner was unable to continue after he was on the receiving end of a body-slam from Jackson Freeman (StC). Because it was ruled an illegal & dangerous move, Hagner was awarded the victory. Elsewhere, Chris Straubs (BOC) earned a nice 5th after a workman-like, in not spectacular season to date.

1. Ethan Hagner - Liberty Christian Academy (VIC)
2. Jackson Freeman - St. Christopher's School (Prep)
3. Everett Epstein - St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School (IAC)
4. Daniel Hughes - Paul VI Catholic High School (WCAC)
5. Chris Straubs - Bishop O'Connell High School (WCAC)
6. Luke Schwartz - Woodberry Forest School (Prep)
7. Reed Barton - Collegiate School (Prep)
8. Zach Johnson - Norfolk Academy (Prep / TCIS)

285 – T. Moore Evins (WFS) turned the tables on Nick Demith (FUMA) in one semi-final, but could not get past Champion John King (BRS). Pat Ryan (BI) surprised no one but me on his way to 4th. And don’t forget late season addition Lon Nunley (StC), the smallest of the big men, who came in 8th.

1. John King - Blue Ridge School (CAC)
2. T. Moore Evins - Woodberry Forest School (Prep)
3. Donald Brown - Norfolk Collegiate School (TCIS)
4. Pat Ryan - Bishop Ireton High School (WCAC)
5. Alex Henry - Episcopal High School (IAC)
6. Nick Demith - Fork Union Military Academy (Prep)
7. James Williams - St. Stephen's & St. Agnes School (IAC)
8. Lon Nunley - St. Christopher's School (Prep)