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Thursday, Jan. 26 – In a tournament that came down to the last bout, the Rockbridge County High School wrestling team won the Valley District championship by half a point on Thursday night in Lexington, and all 14 Wildcats wrestling advanced to the Region 3C tournament.
In front of their home fans, the Wildcats scored 186.5 points, while Broadway placed second of four teams with 186 points. Turner Ashby (170.5) finished third, and Spotswood (66) came in fourth.
It was the first district title in three years for the Wildcats, who placed third last year, behind champion Turner Ashby and runner-up Broadway.
After the tournament, first-year RC head coach Mike Wood was named Valley District coach of the year, and senior co-captain Brice Hall was selected as district wrestler of the year. Hall won the district title at 175-pounds and has won three consecutive district titles.
In addition to Hall, RC senior co-captain Tom Maxwell (157-pounds) defended his district title. Also earning a district title was junior Ryan Maxwell (120).
Wildcats placing second were seniors Zac Huntsman (126) and Zeke Mohr (150), juniors Aidan Williams (144), Tucker Towle (165), Sawyer Hattersley (190) and Je’san Henderson (215); and freshman Graham Niebur (106).
RC grapplers finishing third were juniors Caiden Cavazos (138) John Lindberg (285/heavyweight), whose final win clinched the team win for the Wildcats, and freshmen Hudson Ryan (113) and Markus Nelson (132).
The top three wrestlers in each weight class advanced to the Region 3C tournament, which is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 4 at Turner Ashby High School in Bridgewater, starting at 10 a.m. From the regional tournament, the top four wrestlers in each weight class will advance to the Class 3 state tournament, which will take place Feb. 17-18 at the Salem Civic Center.
For the full story and photos from the district tournament, please see our Feb. 1 newspaper.
