4A Regional Wrestling

Star Staff Report

AMHERST — Two-time defending state champion John Borst needed just 16 seconds to win a pair of matches as the Sherando senior led area competitors into the semifinals in the Region 4A West wrestling tournament at Amherst County High School on Friday.

None of the four area squads is in contention for the team title. Fauquier (87.5 points) has a commanding lead over Liberty (67) and Amherst (61.5). Millbrook (46) stands fourth, while Sherando (45) is fifth, James Wood (33) is 11th and Handley (32) is 13th.

Borst, who is headed to Virginia Tech, gave his 195-pound opponents no chance. He needed just six seconds to polish off Heritage-Leesburg’s Chris Yalung and took a mere 10 seconds to deck Amherst’s D.J. Perry. Borst (57-1) will battle Fauquier’s Jackson McKeachin, who won by a pair of falls, in today’s semifinals.

James Wood’s Aaron Black, a 2014 champ and three-time state finalist, advanced at 120. Black pinned Pulaski’s Cade Compton in 1:07 in the opening round then took a tough 4-2 decision over John Champe’s Austin Kreb in the quarterfinals. Black (29-0) will face Carroll County’s Brennan Vaught, who also had a fall and a decision, in the semifinals.

Millbrook led the local contingent by sending four wrestlers to the semifinals.

Tavon Blowe had the most dramatic victory for the Pioneers in the 285 quarterfinals. Blowe had a first-round pin against Woodgrove’s A.J. Bartling and then recorded a takedown in sudden victory to defeat Liberty Christian’s Stephen Murphy 3-1. Blowe (52-7) will face Liberty’s Julian Sams, who had a pair of falls, in the semifinals.

Edwin Ramirez had a pair of nail-biters for the Pioneers at 152. Ramirez opened with a 10-9 decision against John Champe’s Baseem Zeweri and then topped Heritage’s Beau Hogan 4-3 in the quarterfinals. Ramirez (43-11) will battle Liberty’s Patrick Ewell, who had a pin and a decision, in the semifinals.

Brandon Bye had it much easier at 126. Bye knocked off Bassett’s Logan Lewis in 2:17 and followed with a fall against Liberty’s Bryan Contreras in 4:33. Bye (40-13) will tackle Rock Ridge’s Adam Cerow, who won a pair of tight decisions, in the semifinals.

Kevin Valyear also cruised at 160. Valyear opened with a 10-1 major decision against Kettle Run’s Gabe Chumley and then decked William Fleming’s Kenny Reynolds in 1:28 in the quarterfinals. Valyear (42-4) will face Fauquier’s Sam Fisher, who won by pin and technical fall, in the semifinals.

Sherando’s Jacob Stevens recorded a pair of second-period falls at 138 pounds. Stevens took down Loudoun County’s Turner Leigh in 3:06 and rolled past Pulaski’s Nick Donaldson in 3:22 in the quarterfinals. Stevens (57-3) will take on Liberty Christian’s Justin Phillips, who won a major decision and a decision, in the semifinals.

The Warriors also got a pair of second-period pins from Zack Kales at 220. Kales took down Loudoun Valley’s Jacob Byers in 2:26 in the opening round and then flattened Freedom South Riding’s Benjamin Hammett in 2:14. Kales (38-16) will meet Amherst’s Jeffrey Allen, who recorded two falls, in the semifinals.

Besides Black, Bailey Eichelberger (170) was the lone Colonel to make the semifinals. Eichelberger decisioned Kettle Run’s Chasen Chumley 4-2 in the first round, then pinned Rock Ridge’s Evren Kucuk in 1:29 in the quarterfinals. Eichelberger (36-5) will battle Fauquier’s Franco Camarca, who had a pair of first-period pins, in the semifinals.

Handley’s Mac Gordon advanced to the semifinals at 113. Gordon opened with a 9-0 major decision over Salem’s Alex Royston and followed with a 3-1 decision against Liberty’s Austin Harris. Gordon (37-8) will face William Byrd’s Clay Pilgreen, who had a pin and a decision, in the semifinals.

The Judges’ Jimmy Vitola dominated his two matches at 182. Vitola pinned Heritage’s Hamza Khan in 55 seconds in the opening round and flattened Jefferson Forest’s Dakota Whitt in 2:35 in the quarterfinals. Vitola (35-9) faces Loudoun Valley’s Zach David, who won by fall and decision, in the semifnals.

With just one round of consolations wrestled Friday, many area competitors are still alive to secure state berths.

Wrestling resumes today at 10 a.m. The championship matches are slated to begin at 4 p.m.