The second weekend of regional championship wrestling will be chock full of matches all over Hampton Roads as four team champions will be crowned in different Virginia classifications, while 16 grapplers in each of 14 weight classes will also advance to one of two state finals at Salem Civic Center (Classes 1-3) or Virginia Beach Sports Center (Classes 4-6), which will take place next weekend.
All four tournaments will take place on Saturday.
Region 6A (at Oscar Smith HS)
Four teams will be represented here, including 757Teamz.com's top-ranked Grassfield. The Grizzlies finished the regular season with dual-match victories over Cox and Kellam, and they are undefeated (18-0) against Virginia opponents this season. Still, as coach Patrick Shuler points out, “The job is not done.” The Moore brothers, Nick and Nate, provide a boost for the Grizzlies with a combined 67-12 record at 157 and 165. They are bookended in the Grassfield lineup by juniors Simeon Barrett (25-8 at 144), Hunter Johnson (31-7 at 150) and Brady Greene (28-9 at 175).
#7 Landstown has its own pair of brothers wrestling back-to-back, with sophomore Elijah Phoutasen sporting a 29-7 record at 132, and Michael following with a 24-4 mark at 138. They follow Hayato Otero in the lineup, with Otero claiming the team’s best record at 28-3 in the 126-lb. division. Freshman Lucas Bundy (29-7) should travel deep into the 106-lb. bracket.
#11 Western Branch counters with their lone undefeated wrestler as Brandon Cynar has dominated in the 120-lb class, winning all 41 of his bouts. Kyler Swenson (37-2 at 175) and sophomore Ben Viola (27-3 at 106) should also place high on the podium.
Host Oscar Smith (ranked #12 by 757Teamz) brings plenty of senior experience to their lineup, headed by six wrestlers with at least a 64 percent win record, including Amir Elliott (21-3 at 215) and Cameren Holley-Wingfield (19-4 at 144). Junior Johntae Moye is 18-4 in the 132-lb. class.
Region 2A (at Poquoson HS)
#4 Poquoson and Bruton are the two local entries, with the Islanders favored to win.
The Islanders scored seven champions at the Bay Rivers District tournament two weeks ago. Kam Harrell (106), Brayden Bunting (113), Logan Keese (120), Jared Goodson (132), Reed Booth (150), Christian Leonard (157), Nathaniel Quiroz (175) all reached the top of the podium and most are expected to do the same on Saturday.
Bruton’s Cre’Shawn Keitt was the only gold medalist for the Panthers, but with a 19-3 record, mostly against high class competition, he will be a tough out at 215. Freshman Jamin Davidson (14-6) has had a strong rookie campaign in the 106-lb. division and should also advance to states.
Region 5B (at Granby HS)
#6 Granby, with three undefeated wrestlers – Keith Fernandez (25-0 at 113), senior Alex Rippel (25-0 at 157), and Joseph McAuliffe (18-0 at 175) , as well as Jonah Burrus (19-1 at 138) are the favorites. They should be challenged by Nansemond River, Warwick and Bethel.
The Warriors are strong throughout the lineup, with six potential champions, including the Falkenstein brothers, William (29-6) and Charles (27-6), who like their Moore counterparts at Grassfield wrestle 157 and 165. Warwick is led by Erick Marentes (17-3 at 113), Joshua Barnhart (25-3 at 144), senior Robert Tucker (23-4 at 165), and Jackson Robbins (23-4 at 190). Bethel should see state qualifiers with Zachariah King (31-4 at 138), Mharcelus Van Horsten (29-7 at 215) and Austin Nguyen (21-8 at 106).
Other squads with potential state advancers include Maury, who bring 106-lb. ace Arturo Luna to the mat with a 17-1 record, and freshman Kostek Trochanowski (15-5 at 132), Menchville’s Kirshaun Davis and Norview’s Bliss Marshall (both at 175), and Woodside’s Carmine McDaniel, who is 26-2 this season.
Region 3A (at New Kent HS)
The host Trojans will be the favorite to win. This is one of the more diverse regions, with schools from Norfolk uniting with teams from as far as Petersburg.
Locally, the Bay Rivers District has five entries, but teams from the Peninsula (Heritage), Eastern (Norcom, Booker T. Washington, Lake Taylor) and Southeastern (Lakeland) Districts will also field squads.
Heritage, with entries in all 14 weight classes could be tough. Seniors Joshua Ray (150) and Ajontane Morrison (215), along with freshman Jefferey Hunt (120) lead the Hurricanes. Lakeland, powered by Jayden Smith (190), Jamari Baker (132), and Brayden Lucero will make a run for a state berth, as will Tabb, led by Jayden Crotty, a female wrestler who was sixth in the boys Class 3 state finals last season and has gone 24-2 this year. Freshman Jayden Wright (24-4 at 126) and sophomore Amauri Lymon (28-4 at 175) will also score heave points for the Tigers.
Other wrestlers to watch will be Chris McCorkle of Booker T. Washington (14-1 at 175), the Campbell brothers of Grafton, Gregory (32-6 at 138) and Sebastian (32-4 at 144), Charles Rumble from Norcom (18-3 at 190), Josh Baum (165) and Lucas Chadwick (175) of Lafayette. Kai Smith (14-3 at 113) has been a standout in his freshman year with York.
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