Northwestern District teams have tougher road to region

December 1, 2010

By Robert Niedzwiecki
The Winchester Star       

Millbrook junior Joe Jessen is the Northwestern District's lone returning state finalist heading into this season. The Northwestern might be any team's to win, but its wrestlers will find it harder to get into the Region II tournament this winter, thanks to new qualifying rules.
(Photo by Jeff Taylor/The Winchester Star)WINCHESTER- Wrestling teams in the Northwestern District are going to have to work a little harder to maintain their elite status in Region II this year, and some of the coaches of those teams are not happy about it.

In the past, the top four wrestlers from each district advanced to the Region II tournament.

But this year the Northwestern - whose teams have won five Region II tournaments in the past decade - and Evergreen districts (one title) will be competing with fewer wrestlers than the Dulles and Jefferson districts (zero titles).

James Wood coach Greg Walker said only three Northwestern District wrestlers will be eligible to compete in nine of the 14 weight classes at the Region II wrestling tournament, which will take place Feb. 11-12 at Orange County High School. The weight classes ranging from 103 pounds to 160 are the ones that will be affected. The rule change is part of a larger effort to make district representation at the Region II level more in line with the number of teams in each district.

For example, in volleyball, soccer, baseball, softball and cross country, four teams from the nine-school Dulles District advance to regional competition, three from the eight-school Jefferson District advance, and two from the five-team Northwestern and Evergreen advance.

In wrestling, the Dulles District will have five qualifiers in each weight class and have as many as six in some weight classes. The Jefferson District will have the second most qualifiers, and the five-team Northwestern and Evergreen Districts will have the fewest.

As evidenced by their success, Northwestern District coaches don't think the representation rule is fair to their schools.

"It should be about quality, not quantity," Sherando coach Pepper Martin said. "We're being penalized because of our size."

Walker called it "the worst idea," because the Northwestern District has proven to be the strongest in the region over the years.

The Northwestern's three-year streak of having the first-place team in Region II was snapped last year by Fauquier, but Northwestern teams swept the second through fourth spots in the region before going on to sweep the sixth through eighth spots at the Group AA meet.

If not for Turner Ashby of the defunct Valley District, which won three straight Region II titles from 2004-06, the Northwestern might have won eight straight Region II titles.

Losing a fourth-place finisher in a weight class might not sound like much. But Martin and Millbrook coach John Borst each feel that the Northwestern's fourth-place wrestlers are more than capable of beating the Dulles' No. 2 wrestlers, and Walker said he feels in a lot of cases they can give a Dulles champion "a run for their money."

In other words, those No. 4 qualifiers are capable of scoring a large number of points in the consolation rounds, if not in the championship rounds. Take them away, and it hurts the point total in the team competition.

Martin said he doesn't have a problem with the Dulles getting the most qualifiers in a team sport like baseball, a sport he also coaches. But in an individual sport like wrestling, where the Northwestern has already proven itself, he just doesn't think it makes sense to put teams at a disadvantage before the competition even begins.

"If you only have six or seven wrestlers instead of 10 or 11, it makes a big difference," Martin said.

Walker said he hopes some sort of compromise can be worked out next year, perhaps expanding each weight class and wrestling an extra round so the Northwestern and Evergreen can still have four and the Dulles and Jefferson can still have their extra wrestlers to accommodate their larger size.

"It's too late for this year," Walker said. "But this is terrible."

As for the wrestling that will take place before the Region II tournament, Martin thinks Millbrook might be the team to beat in a wide-open race for the district crown. The top contenders suffered heavy losses to graduation.

In Group A, Clarke County will be a threat to repeat as Region B champions with four state placers and five state qualifiers returning.

Following is a glance at each area team:

Coach: Pepper Martin, 18th season.

Last year:Northwestern District tournament champions, second in Region II, eighth in Group AA.

Key losses:Nick Bakos, Baxter Newman, Levi McDonald, Cody Mead, Patrick Maclaine, Rodney Twigg, Shawn Branham, Robbie Howard.

Key returnees:Brandon Fletcher, Sr., 119/125; Zach Fletcher, Sr., 160; Aaron Hedrick, Sr., 171; Travis Gunter, Sr., 285; Aaron Laboy, Jr., 140; Gabe Mead, Jr., 145.

Top newcomers:Jacob Guthridge, Fr., 103; Matt Buhl, So., 119/125.

Outlook: Martin is taking an understated approach to begin the season, and with good reason. Sherando loses eight starters from last year, a group that includes seven state qualifiers, four state placers, and a state champion in Winchester Star Wrestler of the Year Bakos, now a member of the team at West Virginia University along with James Wood's Gage Swartz.

"We've got a long way to go," Martin said. "Our goal is to get better every day, show some progress in the matches, and see where we are come postseason. We're a work in progress."

The Warriors still have some wrestlers who know what it takes to compete in the postseason, though. Brandon Fletcher and Mead were each state qualifiers last year. Martin expects Brandon Fletcher, his cousin Zach - who appears to be healthier than he's been in some time after battling injuries - and Gunter to fill the leadership role this season.

"Brandon's our most experienced and best wrestler," Martin said. "He's the one everyone looks up to. He displays leadership in practice and tries to teach the younger kids."

Almost two-thirds of Sherando's rosters consists of freshman and sophomores, and Martin said those wrestlers are showing promise while pushing each other to get better. Three freshman are competing at 103 and 112 pounds, two sophomores are at 189 and two freshman are at 171 while the Warriors await the return of Hedrick, who isn't eligible to compete this semester.

Coach: Greg Walker, seventh season.

Last year: Fourth in Northwestern District tournament, fourth in Region II, sixth in Group AA.

Key losses:Gage Swartz, Austin Woodall, Seth Fauver.

Key returnees:Taylor Swartz, So., 103; Mark Bean, Jr., 189; Cody Landis, Sr., 130; Cory Schrock, Sr., 160/171.

Top newcomers: None mentioned.

Outlook: A year ago, James Wood took a back seat to Frederick County rivals Sherando and Millbrook for most of the year, but at the Group AA tournament, it was the Colonels who were celebrating the most. Propelled by state champions Swartz and Woodall, James Wood finished sixth, the best finish among area schools.

Walker sees no reason why the script can't be similar when the Colonels return to Salem this year. Gage's younger brother Taylor placed seventh at 103 pounds last year after placing second in the district and region to graduated Millbrook state finalist Tanner Sine. And Bean and Landis both also qualified for the state tournament.

"[Taylor, Bean and Landis] can all be state champions," Walker said. "[Landis] got sick the night before the state tournament last year, and if he had gotten past his first match he could have been in the state final."

Walker is going to have to count on his top wrestlers for a lot of points, because the Colonels aren't deep. James Wood only had 26 wrestlers try out for the team (usually it's between 45 and 50), and Walker said there will be several weight classes where his team will struggle to score points.

"We only have eight to nine guys who can consistently score points out of 14 weight classes," Walker said. "We're going to need majors, pins and tech falls to compete in dual meets. We've got some potential, but I told our guys we could be first in the district or last in the district. It depends on how much work we're willing to put in."

Coach: John Borst, second season.

Last year: Northwestern District regular season champions, second in district tournament, third in Region II, seventh in Group AA.

Key losses: Tanner Sine, Joe Rioux, Ryan Runion, Mike Carlson.

Key returnees:Joe Jessen, Jr., 189; John Sharp, Sr., 160; Carter Barnett, Sr., 160; Luke Anderson, Jr., 125; Brandon Seal, Sr., 152.

Top newcomers:Billy Wisman, Sr., 171; Patrick Jessen, Fr., 135/140; Nick Kilmer, Fr., 135/140.

Outlook: Every school in the Northwestern District was hit hard by graduation, but the Pioneers' returning talent might give them the softest landing.

Joe Jessen is the only returning wrestler from the district to make a state final last year (he finished a the runner-up at 189). Sharp placed sixth at 160 pounds, and Barnett was a state qualifier in his first year with the team.

Several other veterans and a rookie class that includes Jessen's younger brother, Patrick, and Wisman, a transfer from Heritage, should keep Millbrook a force.

"I think we'll be very competitive in the district and hopefully be one of the top teams in the region," Borst said.

Individually, it could be a special season for the Pioneers, too. Borst thinks Jessen can make the leap to state champion, and he expects some of his other top wrestlers to be fueled by their postseason performances.

"I think Joe will step up against whoever's in front of him," Borst said. "John Sharp and Carter Barnett both thought they could have done better at the state meet, so they're determined to have good seasons."

Coach: David Scott, first season.

Last year: Fifth in Northwestern District tournament.

Key losses:C ody Crenshaw, Cory Crenshaw.

Key returnees: Tom Delaney, 145, Sr.; Sean Bridgeforth, So., 119; Sam Thomson, So., 125; Chris Brown, Sr., 171.

Top newcomer: Koby Pitcock, Fr., 160.

Outlook: Scott experienced great success as a wrestler, qualifying twice for the state tournament at James Wood, and he's excited about trying to bring success to Handley. The 2001 James Wood graduate takes over for Jim Gowdy, who will serve as an assistant this year.

"I just want the kids to improve and get more people out for the program," said Scott, who has 23 wrestlers to work with. "I'm glad [Gowdy] is still around to help with the team."

Scott is glad Delaney is around to help the younger wrestlers, too.

Scott said his leadership has been key thus far, and he expects big things out of Delaney after he qualified for the state tournament last year.

"Tom's just a great wrestler," Scott said. "He's always working hard. I expect him to qualify for states again, and the goal is to place."

Coach: Jon VanSice, 10th season.

Last year:Region B champions, fifth in Group A.

Key losses:Robert Wallace, Teddy Long.

Key returnees:Logan Large, Sr., 215; Tommy Cleary, Sr., 145/152; Joe Nappi, Jr., 152/160; Jesse Farmer, Sr. 130-140; Ben Genda, Jr., 130-140; Jesse Longerbeam, Jr., 135-152; Johnny Longerbeam, Jr., 135-152; Peter Levi, Jr., 135-140.

Top newcomers: None mentioned.

Outlook: After last year's success, which included Clarke's first-ever regional title, VanSice can see a lot of confidence in his wrestlers.

"It's the third or fourth year for a lot of these guys, and they're into it," he said. "You don't have to slow things down with those guys. They're even showing stuff they picked up over the summer."

VanSice said he can envision his three regional champions - Large, Cleary and Nappi - each standing on top of the podium as state champions this year. Large was second at 215 pounds last year and Nappi was third at 145.

"Logan was beaten in the final by the guy he beat at regionals, Nappi was leading the guy who won states before getting pinned, and Tommy is really focused on doing well after not placing last year," VanSice said.

With Genda (eighth at 112) and Farmer (seventh at 130) also returning as state placers, VanSice feels Clarke County should be in the hunt for another regional title.

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