BRISTOL -- Poquoson reclaimed the Class 2 Virginia state wrestling championship which had eluded them for the past three seasons, leaving no doubt as the Islanders cruised to a decisive victory at the top of the 38-team field in Saturday’s final at Virginia High.
For Poquoson, it marked a return to the state champion form that the team previously enjoyed, as they won in the four seasons from 2018-2021. The Islanders totaled 242.5 points, far ahead of Strasburg, who was runner-up with 173. Central, from King and Queen County, placed third with 114.
Overcoming the contingent of wrestlers from Strasburg High, who had won the championship for the past three years was supposed to be team’s biggest obstacle heading into the competition. But with the recent outburst of snow to the southeast Virginia region, all six of the class finals were forced to break arrangements with their previous sites and find a capable high school to host their tournament. For Poquoson, this resulted in a relocation of their meet from Salem (260 miles away) to the Virginia/Tennessee border town of Bristol (394 miles), nearly a six-hour drive from Bull Island, according to Google Maps.
An early arrival to Bristol allowed the 13 Poquoson wrestlers time to stretch, rest and acclimate to their rustic surroundings. But placing nine wrestlers in the finals and building a 74-point lead over their cross-state rival was just as beneficial, and Strasburg had only three grapplers in the championship round, effectively clinching the title for the Islanders before the final series of matches.
Kam Harrell won Poquoson’s first individual title in the first bout, at 106 pounds, with a 12-0 major decision over Riverheads’ Mason Wood. At 113, Brayden Bunting, who won the region final, was on the short end of a 12-3 major decision to Xaiden Wynn of James River, who improved his season mark to 40-1.
Logan Keese, a finalist last season, fell just short again, dropping an 8-3 decision to Nandua’s Dylan Padgett (27-3 on the season) in the 120-lb. final.
However, the Islanders’ three returning champions were up next for coach Eric Decker’s team. At 132, Jared Goodson (37-4) was victorious in his bout over Central’s Brayden Owsley, who entered with a 35-1 season record. For Goodson, it is his third straight Class 2 championship, after winning at 113 and 126 pounds in his freshman and sophomore campaigns.
Bryan Latta captured the 144-lb. bracket with an 8-0 major decision over Peyton Dean of Strasburg, marking the proverbial “nail in the coffin” for Poquoson as they crossed the 240-point plateau. Last year, Latta won the 138-lb. crown.
Reed Booth (35-3) also topped his Strasburg opponent in the 150-lb. final, scoring a 17-2 technical fall over Lucas Martinez. Booth was also a returnee to the championship match, wrestling at 157 last year.
A near win came in the 157-lb. match as Islander Christian Leonard built up a 6-2 lead early in the third and final period, only to have Ian Ray of Lebanon earn two three-point takedowns in 90 seconds and eke out a 9-7 victory.
By now, time became another factor for the wrestlers as the clock rolled past midnight, a result of having Class 1 and 2 compete together on the same day, making it the only Virginia championship to bundle its competitions.
In the Islanders other two final matches, at 175, Nathaniel Quiroz fell to Radford’s Cole Martin in a 10-0 major decision, while at 190, Austin Conley was defeated in a 16-1 technical fall loss to Chase Miller of Glenvar.
Other top four finishers for Poquoson included Brayden Agnese (3rd - 215) and Darek Kennedy (4th – 165)
Bruton also represented the Hampton Roads region and placed 32nd with seven points. Cre-Shawn Keitt (215) reached the quarterfinals but lost and finished in the consolation round. Keitt recorded two falls before being eliminated by Agnese. Freshman Jamin Davidson (106) also finished in the consolation round after dropping his opening bout.
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