WINCHESTER — James Wood’s dominant start to the 2025-26 season continued during Wednesday’s tri-meet, as the Colonels defended their home gym by blanking Clarke County 73-0 and defeating Handley 59-20 to improve to 9-0.
Additionally, the Judges bested the Eagles 60-15, moving them to 8-4 on the season while dropping Clarke County to 0-7.
Though all 13 of James Wood’s competing wrestlers won at least one match, it was an especially memorable night for 138-pound senior Max Mooney. Not only did Mooney go 2-0 in his matches (one technical fall, one pin), but he also recorded his 100th career victory in his match against the Judges’ Nehemiah Ryan.
A state medalist last season, Mooney said he didn’t realize he was on the cusp of the milestone. He said the improvements he’s made to his approach have allowed him to become the wrestler he is today.
“I didn’t know I was hitting the 100 wins, so it’s a good surprise,” Mooney said. “I’m always sticking to my game plan, always trying to put points on the board. I feel like I changed. I used to try and pin kids every time, and just wouldn’t rack up the scores much. That’s one thing I’ve adjusted, is trying to work on my technique and just grow as a wrestler. Even when I’m out on the mat, I know when I’m scoring points, I’m learning and I’m having fun.”
James Wood coach Cory Crenshaw said the milestone could’ve happened last season had Mooney not missed the month of January with a broken hand. He added that Mooney’s strong work ethic has allowed him to bounce back from the injury and finally check off the 100-win box.
“It was a very unfortunate situation to happen last year, but he didn’t get down on himself, and that’s the mindset he has right now,” Crenshaw said. “He’s continuing to grow as an individual, as a person. He’s looking to wrestle in college, and all that stuff just keeps adding up. He’s already a three-time state place winner. This year, we want to be at the top step of the podium with him.”
While Mooney impressed, he was far from the only Colonel to record a perfect 2-0 record on Wednesday. Owen Bond (106, two pins), Isaiah Hodel (126, tech fall, pin), Cash Keeler (132, two tech falls), Hayden Franks (144, two pins), Austin Noble (150, forfeit, pin), Sean Hodel (165, two pins), Isaiah Bond (190, two pins), Matrim Ray (215, two pins) and Cade Bailey (285, forfeit, pin) all avoided defeat against Clarke County and James Wood.
Junior Jesse Woodson, a state medalist last season at 157, nearly joined them, but instead lost a controversial and highly competitive match against Handley’s Thomas Thorpe at 175.
Thorpe, a former state placer as well, went up 3-0 with a takedown through the first period before Woodson scored two points in the second period with a reversal. During the third period, the action spilled out of bounds, causing the clock to stop. When the match resumed, the clock was delayed and didn’t start ticking again until roughly 10 seconds later.
Thorpe scored one more point, but Woodson tacked on an escape point and a takedown in the final 10 seconds to seemingly score a 6-4 victory. Handley’s coaches alerted the referee, who then conversed with the timekeepers. After a few minutes of deliberation, the result was corrected and Thorpe won 4-2 after the extra 10-15 seconds were erased.
Handley head coach Troy Mezzatesta said Thorpe “gutted it out” and “did all the things he had to do” to win the match, and said it was “unfortunate” that his win created confusion.
“I was yelling ‘time, time, time,’ and then I guess the official didn’t know why I was yelling time, because he didn’t realize the clock had started about eight or 10 seconds late,” Mezzatesta said. “But it was a great match, and those two will meet again. Hopefully, it’ll be another great match, and we’ll get the clock correct.”
Masked by the chaotic ending was a meaningful moment for Thorpe, who placed second at states in 2024, but missed the region tournament last season due to a knee injury. After winning arguably the most intense match of the night, Thorpe was visibly exhausted, which Mezzatesta said was a product of him still getting back into wrestling shape after his injury layoff.
“It’s been a long road back for Thomas. I think he’s finally getting healthy. I still don’t think he’s at 100% clearly, but he’s getting into wrestling shape,” Mezzatesta said. “And so tonight, when he scrambled, then had to keep scrambling, it wore on him. He’ll get into wrestling shape … this is what he needed, a burnout like that.”
After witnessing the competitive bout, Crenshaw, like Mezzatesta, noted that this might not be the last time Thorpe and Woodson face off this season.
“Is that going to be a regional matchup for finals, is that a state matchup for finals?,” Crenshaw asked. “All that stuff is yet to be told. I think both of them, individually, are very hardworking. Both of them have very high goals for themselves, and Jesse’s continuing to get better. He has that mindset about him as well, where he’s constantly wrestling year-round. At this point, he’s constantly looking to improve himself.”
Thorpe also picked up a 12-8 decision victory over Clarke County’s Grady Ferrell in the very first match of the evening, finishing the night 2-0. The Judges also received 2-0 performances from Max Boula (113, pin, tech fall), Alex Sergelis (forfeit, tech fall) and Carson Otto (157, two pins).
Notably, both Handley and James Wood weren’t at full strength, as the Judges were missing 2024 state qualifier Jace Culotta at 126, while James Wood forfeited matches at 120 due to the absence of reigning state champion Hayden Black.
Crenshaw said Black “didn’t feel 100% tonight,” so the team decided not to risk anything so early in the season.
“The scenario with Hayden is we’re looking at the big picture … he’s getting ready for a big tournament in Delaware (the Beast of the East) here in a couple weeks,” Crenshaw said. “There’s no reason to risk injury right now with him, so we’re just going to maintain our conditioning levels and make sure that we’re as healthy as we can be before we go out there.”
For Clarke County, Noah Davis at 106, Harrison Riffle at 144 and Camden McCartney at 165 each picked up victories against Handley. Additionally, Gresson Marshall went 2-0 in a pair of exhibition matches at 165 that didn’t count toward the final scores.
Eagles head coach Logan Withers said he appreciated facing two competitive teams and said it allowed his young team to gain experience that will help it “improve in the long run.”
“Does it feel good to have more losses than wins? No, but I really care about my kids improving on the mat,” Withers said. “I tell them every day, I don’t really care about the results. I just want to see effort, and I want to see improvement. Most of the guys don’t have more than a few months of wrestling experience so … typically when you see improvement, you eventually see results.”
— Contact Joe Tuman at jtuman@winchesterstar.com
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