WINTER SPORTS PREVIEW: WRESTLING

December 10, 2011
By Robert Niedzwiecki
The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER- In area wrestling coaches eyes, bigger isn't better.

In April, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Wrestling Rules Committee approved a measure that called for heavier weight classes throughout the lineup. Three of the four classes that are the same are 145, 152 and 160, though those now rank 7-8-9 in order from lowest to highest as opposed to 8-9-10.

The reason why the ranking is changed is because the 140-pound class is gone and has been replaced with one at the other end of the spectrum - 195.

All area coaches seem perplexed by the data and reasoning for this change, because their experience shows that most high school wrestlers tend to weigh less than 170 pounds, and wrestlers who come in around 200 pounds are in the minority.

"Most of are wrestlers are between 115 and 160 pounds," James Wood coach Greg Walker said. "It's crazy to take out one weight class from the middle and move it to the top. We had 11 JV wrestlers in a tournament at Millbrook [Wednesday], and eight of those kids were in two weight classes.

"You're taking away an opportunity for someone to be in the lineup."

Handley coach David Scott said the changes have definitely had an effect on his team. Because he has a deep pool of wrestlers in the 140-pound range, Scott said he has two wrestlers who would probably be starters if not for this year's weight class changes.

While there are still 14 weight classes, Sherando coach Pepper Martin said it can be a struggle to get larger athletes to come out, and he feels that's true now more than ever.

That's because those larger athletes tend to be football players. With the Virginia High School League permitting offseason practice for every sport beginning this school year, Martin said football players might be more likely to work out with the football team in the winter instead.

"Football players want to do what their teammates are doing," Martin said. "If they're out here wrestling, they might not have the chance to do that."

Clarke County coach Jon VanSice will field a full lineup for the first time in a while, but he said it's usually difficult to get larger wrestlers to come out.

In general, the upward shift on weight classes will take some getting used to. VanSice said he has four wrestlers under 100 pounds who would probably fare better if the lowest weight class was 103 as opposed to 106, and Millbrook coach Jake Forestiere has a 94-pound freshman in Ryan Meushaw who would likely benefit more from the old 103-pound class.

Ultimately though, all the coaches say that it's just something they're going to have to deal with right now.

"You can't tell me most high school wrestlers aren't between 140 and 170 pounds," Forestiere said. "But this is the system we're told we have to use, and that's what we'll do."

Millbrook should certainly do well as a team.

The defending Northwestern District tournament and regular season champions tied for sixth in Group AA last year, and the Pioneers return the two seniors who are the biggest reasons for that success.

Winchester Star Wrestler of the Year Jake Crawford (53-1), a senior and a three-time state champion, is back after winning the state title at 140 pounds last year, and Joe Jessen, who will wrestle for Old Dominion University next year, went 57-5 and won the 189-pound state championship.

The Pioneers also return four other wrestlers who placed in the top six in Region II and are adding the younger brother of one of their state qualifiers last year, which is why Walker and Martin - who will both field strong teams - are calling Millbrook the team to beat. An inexperienced Handley team will try to continue its growth under its second-year head coach Scott.

In the Bull Run, a Clarke County team that placed seventh in Group A lost three state-placers from last year. But a full lineup and plenty of returning talent should allow them to contend in the highly competitive Bull Run, which only gets stronger with the addition of William Monroe to the likes of Manassas Park and Strasburg, which placed first and third, respectively, in Group A last year.

James Wood Preview

Coach:Greg Walker, 8th year.

Last year:Second in Northwestern District tournament; fifth in Region II; 13th in Group AA.

Key losses:Cody Landis, Cory Schrock.

Key returnees:Taylor Swartz, Jr. 120; Mark Bean, Sr. 195; Chris Ewing, Sr. 152; Eric Arkfeld, So. 132; Daniel Funkhouser, So. 160.

Top newcomers:Jimmy Woznak, Fr. 113; Brandon Walton, Jr. 145; Jaime Walton, Sr. 160.

Outlook:In Bean and Swartz, Walker has two wrestlers who are a threat to win every match they enter. Bean went 39-13 at 215 pounds last year and placed fourth in Group AA, and Swartz went 37-8 and placed fifth at 103, and Walker thinks both are capable of wrestling in state finals.

The Walton brothers might not be quite at their level, but Walker said he couldn't be more impressed with the energy they've brought to the team. Both will be first-year starters after never having wrestled before last year.

"I wish I had been able to work with them as freshmen," Walker said. "They're a big presence, because they just don't stop. They keep going and going and going."

Walker said Woznak has had an impressive youth career, and he said he's interested to see how he handles the transition to high school wrestling.

Though Walker said the Pioneers are the best team on paper, his successful program doesn't plan on conceding anything.

"I tell the guys that Millbrook's got a target on their back, and you don't. Put everything out there, because you've got nothing to lose," Walker said. "Millbrook should win, but crazier things can happen in a season."