Wrestling Outlook: Coaches Upset With ‘Watered Down’ Postseason

Posted: December 13, 2013
By ROBERT NIEDZWIECKI

WINCHESTER — Even before last year’s state tournament was complete, wrestling coaches were already lamenting how it would never be the same again.

Though every sport was effected in some way by the Virginia High School League’s move this year to a six-classification system, wrestling is the one that probably looks the most different at the state level.

Even though the VHSL is awarding the same number of medals statewide as in the past (four in each group for a total of 24 medals, as opposed to eight in each group in the three-classification era for a total of 24) and permitting the same number of state qualifiers (48) statewide, there will be fewer matches, fewer opportunities to score points, and less intrigue in going with eight-wrestler brackets at the state level compared to 16-wrestler brackets in the three-classification era. Four wrestlers from each of the two regions in each group will qualify for the state tournament.

Yes, local coaches might be able to achieve higher state finishes in the new system.

For example, the four Winchester-Frederick County schools who are in Group 4A no longer have to deal with Christiansburg (which won its 12th consecutive Group AA state title last year), who will be in Group 3A, and Brookville, the state runner-up, which is also in Group 3A. In Group 2A, a Clarke County team that placed seventh in the old Group A last year will no longer have to deal with Bull Run District rival Manassas Park (third in Group A last year, now in Group 3A), Rural Retreat (fourth in Group A, now in Group 1A) and Parry McCluer (sixth in Group A, now in 1A).

But none of them seem particularly thrilled about that. Wrestlers take immense pride in proving themselves against the best competition possible, and the feeling is that the new system is taking away some of the opportunities to do that.

“If you include the private schools, you have seven state champions for each weight class in Virginia,” Handley coach David Scott said. “It takes away some of impact of what it means to be a state champion. I’d rather get beat by Christiansburg and Brookville under the old format than in this one.”

Clarke County coach Jon VanSice feels the postseason is now “watered down,” and Sherando coach Pepper Martin feels four classes would have been better if the VHSL had to make a change. But the coaches have to just go with the hand they’ve been dealt and see if any adjustments are made for the future.

“There are people who make decisions about individual sports that are not involved in individual sports — have never done it, have never coached it,” James Wood coach Greg Walker said. “When you play sports, you have a winner and loser. It’s just the way it is. ... When you water it down, you’re not putting the whole package out, the whole picture is not being seen by people [outside the state], and I think it hurts the state. Six divisions is not good.”

Conference competition is replacing district competition as the opening level of competition for the postseason now. District teams will still face each other in the regular season. The Northwestern District will not have a tournament, but the Bull Run will.

James Wood, Millbrook and Sherando will be grouped in Conference 21 of the Group 4A North Region along with Dominion, Heritage, Loudoun County, Park View and Woodgrove.

Handley will be in Conference 23 of the 4A North with Charlottesville, Fluvanna, Louisa County, Amherst County and Harrisonburg.

Clarke County will be in Conference 35 of the Group 2A East Region with Madison County, George Mason, Strasburg, Stonewall Jackson, Luray and Page County.

For Group 4A North wrestling, the top four in each weight class will advance to regionals. Both Conference 21 and Conference 23 will be holding a one-day dual meet during the regular season involving each of their conference’s schools. Every school will face the other, and wrestlers will be seeded at their respective conference tournaments based on how they fare at the duals tournament.

Conference 35 will not hold a duals tournament to seed its wrestlers, but coaches will consult with each other to seed the tournament. The top five from each weight class will move on to regionals.

As for what they can control, local teams have a lot to look forward to this season.

After a breakthrough season for Handley last year — the Judges placed second to Skyline in the Northwestern District regular season and tournament, with the tournament finish being their highest since 1998 — the Judges return many of the key figures who helped achieve it.

The group is headlined by senior Jordan Dowrey — The Winchester Star Wrestler of the Year in 2012-13 after he went 52-0 with 34 pins and won the Group AA 285-pound state title, which was the Judges’ first individual state title since 1999 — and sophomore Lio Quezada (41-11 at 113 pounds, now at 120).

Scott believes that the Judges can immediately be a powerhouse in their new conference, and perhaps that can springboard the Judges to a more successful regional tournament. Dowrey was the only one of the Judges’ 11 regional qualifiers who advanced to the state tournament.

“We’re still young, but we had a lot of people gain some experience and confidence last year, and I think we can win a conference tournament,” Scott said.

In Conference 23, Sherando looks to be a strong contender, particularly after going 10-0 in their opening weekend of wrestling at the Hedgesville (W.Va,) Duals. Wood’s Walker feels the Warriors are the best in the conference and have to be considered one of the favorites in the 4A North Region. Eastern View and Fauquier should also be formidable in the region.

Though the Warriors unexpectedly lost Kyle Vangel (eighth in Group AA last year at 138 pounds), who moved to Florida, the Warriors still feature Jacob Guthridge (41-5 and second in Group AA at 120 pounds last year, now at 132); junior Colton Simmons (30-17 and a state qualifier at 132 last year, now at 138) and senior Tyler Hamilton (36-12 and seventh at 195 last year, now at 220), who hasn’t even taken the mat yet because of football.

Sherando will also benefit from the addition of Millbrook transfer and senior P.K. Jessen (10-0 at 170 pounds with eight pins at Hedgesville). Jessen had an injury-plagued junior season with the Pioneers, but as a sophomore he placed sixth in Group AA at 152 pounds.

Millbrook will be led this year by Dylan Wisman, a two-time state runner-up who went 28-5 last year at 160 and will be at 170-182, and fellow state qualifier Trae Sine, a sophomore who went 22-18 last year at 113 pounds and will now be at 120.

Walker said he hasn’t been this enthusiastic about one of his teams in four years, and the Colonels will be led by junior Jimmy Woznak, who went 41-9 and placed sixth at 106 last year and will now make a giant leap to 145 pounds.

“I’ve got some freshmen who are busting butt,” Walker said. “They’re working hard, and we’ve got seniors working hard too. It will be several weeks before we see what we’re going to be as a team, but as far as individuals I’ve got five or six kids, maybe seven, who can go to the state tournament.”

Clarke County will feature a 1-2 senior punch that any coach would take in a heartbeat in 2013 Group A state champions Ben Wallace (47-2 at 170 pounds), the school’s all-time wins leader with 142, and Ryan Huff (47-1 at 285 pounds).

The Eagles will have to make do without senior Anthony Marasco (96 career wins), who is electing to focus on soccer, but otherwise, Clarke County will have an excellent opportunity to finish high in the conference, region and state with numerous key contributors back from last year.

The four Winchester-Frederick County schools are next in action at the Max Horz Jr. Invitational at Berkeley Springs (W.Va.) High School today and Saturday, and Clarke County will be in a competition at Loudoun County High School Saturday.

The following is a look at each team:

Handley

Coach: David Scott, 4th season.

Last year: 2nd in the Northwestern District tournament, 11th in Region II, 25th in Group AA.

Key losses: Sean Bridgeforth, Anthony Andriola, Skylar Wotring, Sam Thomson.

Top returners: Jordan Dowrey, Sr., 285; Lio Quezada, Fr., 120; Tommy Shea-Roop, Soph., 220 (29-17 in 2012-13), Dennis Vega, Sr., 170 (11-7); Coby Pitcock, Sr., 182 (38-13), Dolan Delaney, Soph., 160, Harrison Robinson, Soph., 145 (19-16).

Top newcomers: Cam Bentley, Fr., 132; Chantler Brown, Fr., 195; Josh Wagner, Sr., 195; Tony Mazergios, Jr., 113.

Scott’s outlook: “You usually see the most improvement in a wrestler from his freshman to sophomore year. I think Lio is ready to go to the next level and get to the state tournament, and I expect Tommy Shea-Roop to make a big jump this year.”

Sherando

Coach: Pepper Martin, 21st season.

Last year: 3rd in the Northwestern District tournament; 5th in Region II; 15th in Group AA.

Key losses: Dan Mullaney, Kyle Vangel.

Top returners: Jacob Guthridge, Sr., 132; Colton Simmons, Jr., 138; Tyler Hamilton, Sr., 220; Mike Duffy, Soph., 106; Curtis Guthridge, Soph., 113 (24-21); Jordan Dalton, Sr., 145 (19-15); Ben Avery, Soph., 285 (15-15), Thomas Frye, Sr. 182.

Top newcomers (to team and lineup): P.K. Jessen, Sr., 170; Andrew Hamilton, Sr., 126 (transfer from Abingdon); Killian McPartland, Sr., 182 (transfer from Handley); Chris Morgan, Sr., 195; John Borst, Fr., 152 (son of former Millbrook head coach John Borst); Anthony Rese, Soph., 120; Kendall Helsley, Soph., 160.

Martin’s outlook: “We’ve got four to five starters out because of football, but once we get out full lineup intact and we get settled in our weight classes, we should be really solid.”

Millbrook

Coach: Jeff Holmes, 2nd season.

Last year: 4th in the Northwestern District tournament; 10th in Region II; 20th in Group AA.

Key losses: Michael Keeler, P.K. Jessen, Isaac Meadows.

Top returners: Dylan Wisman, Sr., 170-182; Trae Sine, Soph., 120; Ryan Meushaw, Jr., 113 (29-15); Matt Huff, Jr., 132; Devon Sharp, Sr. 170-182 (24-16); Lee Artrip, Sr., 195; Aaron Seal, Jr., 285 (14-12).

Top newcomers: None mentioned.

Holmes’ outlook: “I think the key for us is to stay healthy. We don’t have a whole lot of depth. We need to improve from week to week and match to match.”

James Wood

Coach: Greg Walker, 10th season.

Last year: 5th in the Northwestern District tournament; 15th in Region II; tied for 33rd in Group AA.

Key losses: Erik Bearer, Levi Roy, Brandon Walton.

Top returners: Jimmy Woznak, Jr., 145; Austin Henry, Sr., 182-195 (19-19); Daniel Funkhouser, Sr., 182-195; Adam Vadell, Soph., 220; Ryan Funkhouser, Soph., 160; Brandon Butts, Sr., 113-120.

Top newcomers: Caleb Arce, Sr., (transfer from Sherando); Matt Artrip, Fr., 113-120; Aaron Black, Fr., 106; Matt Surber, Soph., 132 (transfer from Hampshire. W.Va.); Matt Papastavrou, Fr., 120; Jordan Watts, Fr., 138.

Walker’s outlook: “We’ve got a good team, better than we’ve had in a while. Jimmy Woznak got taller and he just ate, and so he’s bigger now. We’ll see how he adjusts to a higher weight class. He has the technique, and I think he’ll be fine and hoping he’ll be a state place-winner again.”

Clarke County

Coach: Jon VanSice, 13th season.

Last year: 7th in Group A; 3rd in Region B; 5th in the Bull Run District tournament.

Key losses: Brandon Hutchinson, Anthony Marasco.

Top returners: Ben Wallace, Sr., 170; Ryan Huff, Sr., 185; Matt Cleary, Jr., (23-20); Logan Withers, Jr., 182 (14-8); Mark Alexander, Jr,, 220 (19-12); Sean Erisman Jr., 126 (14-8); Ian Dors, Soph., 132.

Top newcomers: Robert Gordon-Bayne, Fr., 106; Luke Estep, Sr., 220.

VanSice’s outlook: “We’ve got a lot of strong wrestlers coming back, so I think we should be fine. It’s tough losing Anthony Marasco, but we’re adding a couple of guys who should help us in [Gordon-Bayne], who’s a seasoned young wrestler, and [football standout] Luke Estep, who’s wrestling for the first time in three years.”

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