Wrestling Preview: Local Teams Field Numerous Returning State Champions

Posted: December 2, 2014
By ROBERT NIEDZWIECKI
The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER — With a 32-3 dual record and championships in the Northwestern District, Conference 21 and the 4A North Region and titles in four other tournaments, the Sherando wrestling team was about as unbeatable as you can get prior to the state tournament in 2013-14.

But with the Warriors losing eight starters from last year’s team, Sherando has to temper expectations until the Warriors see how some of their replacements develop.

And given the talent level of their rivals, the Warriors know their work was going to be cut out for them anyway this year.

Millbrook tied for fifth at the Group 4A state tournament with Sherando last year, Handley was seventh, and James Wood was 16th while finishing in front of Millbrook and taking third at the Conference 21 tournament last year.

Out of the four Winchester-Frederick County schools, Sherando’s the only one that doesn’t feature a returning individual state champion. And the best team out of the Northwestern District could be the one those schools will only face in the regular season.

“I think the best team in the district might be Skyline,” said Handley coach David Scott of a Group 3A Hawks squad that had two underclassmen place in the top three of their respective weight classes at the state tournament last year. “But I think all the district teams are pretty close to each other right now, and everyone should be competitive.”

As far as the 4A North Region, area coaches believe Fauquier (second in Group 4A last year, five state qualifiers and three state champs slated to return this year) and Eastern View (fourth in Group 4A, four state qualifiers and one state champ slated to return this year) will be the teams to beat.

In Group 2A, Clarke County hopes its five returning state placers will be enough to help the Eagles overcome Strasburg. The Eagles were second to the Rams in Conference 35 and the 2A East Region, and Strasburg took second with Clarke County taking third in the state meet.

Despite their losses, the cupboard is hardly bare at Sherando. The Warriors return three state placers in sophomore John Borst (37-13, fifth in Group 4A at 152 pounds, now at 170); junior Mike Duffy (33-16, seventh in 4A at 106, now at 120); and junior Ben Avery (21-10, eighth in 4A at 285, still at 285). Sherando also features a state qualifier from two years ago in Colton Simmons.

Simmons is one of just four seniors for Sherando. The Warriors might be a bit short in terms of veteran and senior leadership, but three-year varsity letter winner Justin Feighery and junior Curtis Guthridge — the younger brother of standout Jacob Guthridge, who graduated last year with three top-five finishes at the state tournament — have taken up the reins as far as leadership by example.

“With the seniors we lost, we lost people that won a lot of championships and scored a lot of points,” said Sherando coach Pepper Martin, who had seven senior starters graduate and will likely be without an eighth starter, Noah Fox, this season because of a knee injury. “Our younger, inexperienced guys are going to have to improve, progress and develop.”

Millbrook is the only team in the area that returns two state finalists.

Senior Dylan Wisman — who has signed to wrestle for the University of Missouri on a full scholarship — is looking to finish his career in style after a dominant junior campaign that saw him win the Group 4A state title at 182 pounds with a 49-2 record and follow that with national titles for the Virginia High School Coaches Association and Flowrestling. Wisman will return to 182 this year.

Fellow senior Ryan Meushaw (39-10) took second at 113 last year and will wrestle at 120 or 126 this year in pursuit of his first state title.

“He’s a horse,” said Millbrook coach Jeff Holmes of Meushaw. “He’s one of those seniors that our guys look up to. He knows it’s not going to be easy [winning a state title], but he’s going to work for it.”

Overall, Millbrook is a young team, but Jeff Holmes thinks it’s one with great potential.

Though Handley lost two-time heavyweight state champion and two-time Winchester Star Wrestler of the Year Jordan Dowrey — now playing football at Marshall University — Scott said the Judges still have a strong team capable of defending its Conference 23 championship.

Handley is led by junior Lio Quezada, who is moving up to 126 pounds this year after going 49-6 to win the Group 4A title at 120 pounds last year, and fellow state placer Dolan Delaney, who took eighth and went 34-25 last year at 152 pounds but will now be at 145.

At James Wood, Colonels coach Greg Walker believes he should get excellent production from not only Aaron Black — who went 49-1 to win the Group 4A 106-pound state title last year — but also fellow sophomore and workout partner Matt Artrup.

Walker — who believes his team will challenge for a conference title — said Artrup has taken tremendous strides since last year.

“[Artrup’s] just as good as [Black],” Walker said. “They’re battling, and it’s great that they have each other. You always hate to have one good kid and then in the next weight class there’s nobody for them to work with. [On Monday in practice] it was hot because the heat didn’t kick off on Friday like it was supposed to, so it ran all weekend. But they battled. When I say drill, they just go at it. It’s almost like a live match. It’s just beating and banging, one move to the next. It’s great to watch.”

Walker also expects senior Jimmy Woznak to finish strong after missing the state tournament for the first time in his career as a junior, losing twice at regionals after losing just four times all year coming into the tournament. He will be at 145 or 152 this year.

At Clarke County, Eagles coach Jon VanSice loses the most accomplished wrestler in Clarke County history in Ben Wallace.

Wallace — who went 204-23 with 156 pins and two state titles, including 62-1 with a Group 2A state title at 170 pounds as a senior — is now wrestling for North Iowa Area Community College. Wallace is 6-5 with four pins this year, including a 4-1 mark in the school’s season-opening tournament.

In addition to Wallace, VanSice’s departures also include 2013 state heavyweight champion Ryan Huff.

But VanSice still has a state champion wrestler on the roster in sophomore Bayne Gordon (56-9 at 106 pounds last year), who will move up to 113 pounds. Other returning state placers are Logan Withers (57-10, third at 182, moving up to 195); Matt Cleary (45-22, fourth at 152, moving up to 160), Mark Alexander (39-13, fifth at 220 and staying there this year) and Ian Dors (29-21, eighth at 132, moving up to 138/145). And one of his additions is Wallace’s younger brother Bryan, a freshman who has practiced with the Eagles’ varsity for multiple years and a player who starred for the Clarke County football team as a defensive end, earning second-team All-Bull Run District honors.

“I feel really good about this team,” VanSice said. “We’ve been together in the room over the last three weeks, and the guys are really working their butts off. We’ve got a lot of good athletes, and the guys are coming together really well.”

Sherando

Coach: Pepper Martin, 22nd season.

Last year: Tied for 5th at Group 4A state tournament; 4A North Region, Conference 21 and Northwestern District champions.

Key losses: P.K. Jessen, Jacob Guthridge, Tyler Hamilton, Killian McPartland, Jordan Dalton, Chris Morgan, Andrew Hamilton.

Top returnees: John Borst, So., 170; Mike Duffy, Jr., 120; Ben Avery, Jr., 285; Curtis Guthridge, Jr., 126 (35-11 in 2013-14); Anthony Damico, So., 113; Colton Simmons, Sr., 138 (34-13); Kendall Helsley, Jr., 182.

Top newcomers (to team and potential new starters): Justin Feighery, Sr., 132; James Platts, Jr., 145; Zach Millward, Jr., 152; Tim Coleman, Sr., 160; Luis Ruiz, Sr., 195 (transfer from Potomac Falls); Ethan Stern, Fr., 220.

Martin’s outlook: “We had seven seniors starting for us last year, and I think that’s the most we’ve ever had at Sherando. I think we’ll be very good dual-wise, but we’re going to have to develop as a tournament team. For those guys that made it to states last year, hopefully they can take that experience and build on it to be even better this year. Curtis has been great this year as far as leading the way. When we’re running, he’s first, and he’s one of our better guys when we’re drilling. Hopefully we can just get him to be a little more vocal.”

First competition: Friday and Saturday at Hedgesville (W.Va.) Tournament

Millbrook

Coach: Jeff Holmes, 3rd season.

Last year: Tied for 5th at Group 4A state tournament; 7th in 4A North Region; 4th in Conference 21.

Key losses: Devon Sharp, Lee Artrip.

Top returnees: Dylan Wisman, Sr., 182; Ryan Meushaw, Sr., 120/126; Corey Gloyd, So., 126/132; Joe Tanner, Jr., 195 (25-17); Chris Demko, So., 120/126.

Top newcomer: Xever Lemieux, Fr., 170.

Holmes’ outlook: “I think we can surprise some people. What we lack in experience I think we make up for with grit and drive. These are guys who are strong in academics and are good citizens, and their good qualities show up in the room. It’s exciting from a coaching perspective.”

First competition: Saturday at Anderson Tournament at Cicero-North Syracuse High School, N.Y.

Handley

Coach: David Scott, 5th season.

Last year: 7th at Group 4A state tournament; 4th in 4A North Region; Conference 23 champions.

Key losses: Jordan Dowrey, Coby Pitcock, Eduardo Guzman,

Top returnees: Lio Quezada, Jr., 126; Dolan Delaney, Jr., 160; Andre Andriola, Jr., 132; Cam Bentley, So. (37-19), 138; Harrison Robinson, Jr., 145 (14-11); Joe Lewis, Sr., 152; Anthony Smith, Jr., 170, Kevin Cooksey, Sr., 182 (24-19); Tommy Shea-Roop, Jr., 220 (40-13).

Top newcomers: John Delaney, Fr., 145; Alberto Ramirez, Fr., 152; Henry Felix, Fr., 106; Andrew Doney, So., 113.

Scott’s outlook: “I think we’re pretty solid from 120 to 182. Lio’s been a leader for us since he stepped into the room as a freshman and will continue to be. I think Dolan’s down where he should be now [as far as weight class]. He’s coming off a great football season and I think he’s going to do really well.”

First competition: Saturday at Tuscarora Invitational

James Wood

Coach: Greg Walker, 11th season.

Last year: 16th at Group 4A state tournament; 12th in 4A North Region; 3rd in Conference 21.

Key losses: Daniel Funkhouser, Caleb Arce.

Top returnees: Aaron Black, So., 106/113; Jimmy Woznak, Sr., 145/152 (34-6); Ryan Funkhouser, Jr., 160/170 (20-17); Adam Vadell, Jr., 220 (36-19); Matt Artrup, So., 113/120; Hunter Bentley, Jr., 170/182; Matt Papastavrou, So. 132/138; William Gregory, Jr., 132/138.

Top newcomers: Tyler Arnold, Fr., 132/138; James Youngblood, Fr., 145

Walker’s outlook: “Conference-wise, we should be right there with everybody. We got the majority of the kids back, we’ll just have to see how the quality is. We have a chance [to win the conference], it’s just about whoever shows up and wrestles. Regions is hard to say how we’ll do until halfway through the year.”

First competition: Friday and Saturday at Hedgesville (W.Va.) Tournament

Clarke County

Coach: Jon VanSice, 14th season.

Last year: 3rd at Group 2A state tournament; 2nd in 2A East Region; 2nd in Conference 35.

Key losses: Ben Wallace, Ryan Huff, Luke Estep.

Top returnees: Bayne Gordon, So., 113; Ian Dors, Jr., 138/145; Matt Cleary, Sr., 160; Logan Withers, Sr., 195, Sr.; Mark Alexander, Sr. 220; Brendan Ciaburri, Jr., 120 (31-25).

Top newcomers: Bryan Wallace, Fr., 170/182; William Heath, Fr., 152; Kyle Anderson, Fr., 285.

VanSice’s outlook: “Strasburg’s got two state champions back, but with the guys we have [in the heavier weights] I think we can match up pretty well with them. Bayne really puts the time in and we’re expecting another big year from him. Bryan’s got some big shoes to fill, but I think he’ll be fine because of the experience he’s had with us, and also because he already has a varsity season of experience under his belt with the football team.”

First competition: Friday and Saturday at Hedgesville (W.Va.) Tournament

— Contact Robert Niedzwiecki at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Follow on Twitter @WinStarSports1