Virginia Duals Coverage (5th Part of 5) -- Iowa State Wins National College; Smithfield 3rd in B&B

Update - As of 2/24/2016, VA Tech is now ranked #3 in the NCAA heading into this weekend where they will compete in the ACC tournament, facing, among others, #2 N.C. State.

At about 9:45 on Saturday evening, after about 13 rounds lasting two days and almost 28 hours, the Duals concluded at Hampton Coliseum. Coupled with the basketball games that I covered on Wednesday and Thursday evening, the sports blitz for me added up to four days and about 35 hours of work (plus going to my regular job as a GED teacher with the Virginia Department of Corrections on Wednesday and Thursday). Exhausting indeed, but always a fun ride. Here's the last bit I wrote about the Duals.

HAMPTON – The 36^th Virginia Duals concluded late Saturday evening with the crowning of five new champions. While none came from Peninsula teams, the winners included Iowa State (National College), Kutztown (American College), Nazareth (National High School), Eastern View (American High School), and Grassfield (Black and Blue High School).

Iowa State defeated Virginia Tech 16-14 in the championship match.

The Apprentice School continued their tournament with a 44-9 loss to Liberty in the American College Division. Aaron Bright (133) won by fall for the Builders, while Chris Kennedy (184) earned a 2-1 decision over Liberty’s Taylor Westlake.

The Builders’ ended with a 44-6 loss to Ferrum to place 6^th. Tyson Tiller’s pin at 197 accounted for Apprentice’s only points.

HS BLACK AND BLUE DIVISION

Smithfield captured third place in dramatic fashion, with a 38-37 win over Oscar Smith. John Swartz (138) scored a 45-second pin over Kwuan Crafton in the next to last bout to seal the victory.

Poquoson and Smithfield had a match for the ages earlier in Saturday evening’s consolation semifinals. Smithfield led early, but Ross Graham (182) scored a 42-second fall, his second in a row under a minute. Robert Henesey (195) also won by fall, and Bryce Buchanan (220) scored a 9-4 decision over Smithfield’s T.J. Pope.

Ross Manfred (285) turned things around for Smithfield, scoring his own pin in 48 seconds. But the Islander lightweights, Brett Poultney (106), William Campbell (113), and Patrick McCormick (120) won consecutive matches – Poultney and McCormick by fall, giving Poquoson a 33-22 lead.

But Smithfield was not done, and confident with the knowledge that they would earn six points at the end by forfeit. Brett Deese won a 2-1 decision over Hunter Darouse to put a three-point dent into the lead, now at 33-25.

Franklin Blatt delivered the crushing blow, pinning Noah Hunter in the second period to cut the margin to 33-31. The forfeit followed, securing a 37-33 win for the Packers.