The CAC, TCIS & VIC Tournaments

This weekend brings us the CAC, TCIS and VIC Tournaments. I have not had much this week to analyze the matchups (Don't you just hate it when work gets in the way?), but I am going to at least take a shot.

In the CAC, Blue Ridge is a class above Benedictine & Massanutten. BRS's Dan Desenberg (103), Ryan Dick (152), Brent Parrish (160) and John King (285) are all solid. All but Parrish will challenge for a state championship. I think Massanutten gets the nod for 2nd because of a more complete team. Jamie Costa (119) and Mathew McCormick (145) are two wrestlers worth noting. Benedictine's Fort could challenge BRS's Dick at 152.

The TCIS championship comes down to a three-way battle between Norfolk Academy, Cape Henry and Norfolk Collegiate. NCS can count on 1st place finishes from David Kirkland (130), Tom Markey (140), Stephen Cosgrove (152), Andrew Blythe (160) and Donald Brown (285). NA counters with the Whitts (103 & 112) and Runzo (125) with 1st's, and Ben Alberico (130) and Bill Parker (135) with 2nds. CHC brings forth Jazz Rozier (119), Sam Law (135) and Henri Noordanus (171 or 2nd at 160) as their champions supported be a number of 2nd's: Will Mason (103), Scott Cunningham (112), Drew Mason (125). In the end, it will be NA and CHC in a pitched battle for the championship. Sorry folks, but this one is too close to call. The difference could be who can get more points from 3rd's & 4th's. Elsewhere, I expect BSC's Chase Lynch to challenge Markey (NCS) at 140. PenCa's D. Davis (103) and Charles Jorgenson (160) could very well make a run at the leaders. Look for PenCa to take 4th.

The VIC Tournament is held this year at Fishburne Military School. This promises to be an exciting meet with eight teams and a host of stong individual wreslters. Liberty Christian has the deepest team; I expect them to take the championship clear of the field. Hargrave looks to be in a good place for 2nd, while Roanoke Catholic, Covenant and VES battle it out for 3rd. North Cross, Miller and Fishburne will round out the field. 103 is very competive with Lahti (HMA), Patrick (RoCA) and Booth (LCA). COV's Hooper (112) may be a shade better than Richardson (LCA) and J. Hepting (HMA). Marcus Miller (LCA) is the class of the field at 119; he could be the meet's OW. 125 promises to be a showdown between Heiny (HMA) and Leffew (LCA). Steven Hepting (HMA) stands out at 130; Burdeaux (LCA) and Campbell (RoCA) fight for 2nd. 135 is a toss-up between Shen (RoCA) and Halsey (LCA). COV's Ellis and VES's Girling are well matched at 140, while Blevins (RoCA) and Arnold (HMA) are similarly paired at 145. 152 is probably the most wide-open class with no clear favorite; Ring (NXS - unless he goes to 145), Johnson (HMA) and Eldridge (RoCA) lead the group. I think Higginbotham takes 160 and challenges for OW, while Tesi (LCA) and Villio (Cove) follow. Shanahan (RoCA) may be the class at 171 but don't be surprised if Crefeix (Miller) challenges for 1st. McCanna (LCA), Vergera (VES) & Ferguson (FMS) make 189 one of the more competitive classes. 215 will be taken by LCA's Hagner while 2nd is a battle between Atwell (COV) and Witting (FMS). Hagner will also be in the running for OW. And finally, I expect Jones (LCA) to be the coup-de-grace, capping off LCA's championship run with his own at 285.