Poquoson Wrestling Earns Black & Blue Runner-up at Virginia Duals

Both local high school teams fell short in their bid to win division titles at this weekend’s Virginia Duals, but for Great Bridge coach Steve Martin, there may be some valuable lessons learned.

“We have a brutal schedule, and right now everyone is sick, tired, and hurt,” said Martin. “But the teams that can wrestle though it are the ones that end up winning state titles. When you lose, you tend to look back and re-evaluate yourself. There are lessons to be learned from losing.” 

The Wildcats faced a powerful Butler (PA) team in the American High School Division finals and took the lead 9-8 when William Marsh won by fall at 126-lb. The match went back and forth, and the Wildcats trailed 29-26 with two bouts remaining. However, Butler would win by fall at 215 and 285-lb. to pull away with a 41-26 win.

Great Bridge used exactly one minute to build a 12-0 lead in the semifinal match over Hempfield (PA) as Jack Sawyer (106) and Kyle Kuhlmey (120) needed 27 and 33 seconds respectively to score falls. Marsh followed with a 15-0 technical fall to give the defending Virginia Class 4 state champions a 17-6 lead which they would not relinquish, holding on for a 44-30 victory to reach the final.

Black and Blue Division

Poquoson fell short in its effort to win the Black and Blue Division as Staunton River rattled off four straight falls at the 150-175-lb weight classes to turn an 18-15 deficit into an insurmountable 39-18 lead.

The Islanders earned an early 12-6 advantage after James Withrow scored a fall at 1:22 in the 120-lb. class. But the Golden Eagles chipped back before pulling away in the middle weight classes to win 45-30.

One day after overcoming a 29-point deficit to upend Virginia Class 2 rival Strasburg 37-36, the Islanders had a stronger start in the semifinals against Landstown, jumping to a 15-0 lead on the strength of pins by Kam Harrell (106) and Jared Goodson (113), followed by a 13-6 decision at 120 as Withrow topped Landstown’s Jacob Rivera.

Blake Latta (157), Caleb Hogge (175) and Samuel Villasenor (190) also won by fall for Poquoson, while the Eagles’ Ethan Farrell (150) and Jayden Young (215) pinned their opponents for Landstown.