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Seven Parry McCluer High School wrestlers advanced to the Class 1 state tournament by placing in the top three in their weight classes at the Region 1C tournament on Saturday in Buena Vista, where the Fighting Blues placed third of eight teams in their home gym.
Junior Jackson Brockenbrough led PM by winning the regional title at 150-pounds, four PM grapplers placed second and two Blues finished third.
Brockenbrough advanced to the finals by defeating Bath County’s Ethan Bryant in a 7-3 decision in the semi-finals. In the finals, facing George Wythe’s Zane Perkins for the first time, Brockenbrough took an early lead and prevailed in a 3-2 decision.
Last year, Brockenbrough won the regional title at 144-pounds, following a runner-up finish as a freshman at 145, before the reclassification of weight classes. Brockenbrough recalled that he lost 3-2 in the finals as a freshman.
Reflecting on his big win on Saturday, Brockenbrough said, “I was just in way better shape, better conditioning. I felt way stronger. I think I could beat him by more if I had to wrestle him again.”
Brockenbrough, who moved up to 150 after wrestling at 144 at the start of this season, now has his eyes set on a state title this week, after placing fifth as a freshman and third as a sophomore. “I’ve just got one more goal this season – state,” he said.
In the team standings, Grayson County won its third consecutive Region 1C title with 246.5 points, while Galax (203.5) placed second. The Blues, who won the Pioneer District title over Bath County on Jan. 25, tallied 151 points to finish third for the second year in a row. Fort Chiswell (145.5) placed fourth, and George Wythe (131) came in fifth. Rounding out the standings were Bath County (118), Giles (111) and Auburn (0).
Four PM grapplers placed second. The most intense final of the day was at 165. After pinning Giles wrestler Landon Reed in 3:43 in the semifinals, PM junior Junior Convers faced Grayson County’s Tanner Melton in the finals. Convers led 4-1 in the second, but Melton battled back to tie it 5-5 to send it into overtime. The score stayed the same through both overtime periods, so it went to an ultimate tiebreaker, and Melton 6-5 by winning a rideout.
Reviewing the match, PM head coach Jeremiah Brockenbrough said, “I think it could’ve gone either way.”
Convers, who placed third at 175 at the regional tournament last year, advances to the state tournament for the second time.
Other Blues placing second were junior Cyler Driscoll (120), sophomore Timmy Lesher (285/ heavyweight) and freshman Jordan Brockenbrough (126).
Driscoll, who won the regional title at 106 last year before placing third at the state tournament, advanced to the finals on Saturday by pinning Giles wrestler Josiah Schlueter in 59 seconds. In the finals, he lost to Grayson County’s Caleb Thompson in 5:48 in an 18-3 technical fall (lead of 15 points or more).
Lesher, who will be making his first state tournament appearance, advanced to the finals by defeating Bath County’s Asa Altizer in a 1-0 decision. In the finals, Lesher was pinned by Fort Chiswell’s Brenden Mabry in 3:50.
Of Lesher’s championship match, Coach Brockenbrough said, “That kid was way better than him. If somebody had told me Timmy Lesher would’ve been in the regional championship at the beginning of the season, I wouldn’t have believed them. That just goes to show you his work ethic.”
Jordan Brockenbrough reached the finals by pinning FC’s Jack Hughes in 1:11. In the finals, the younger Brockenbrough lost to GC’s Sergio Rodriguez in a 9-6 decision.
Placing third to advance to the state tournament were PM sophomore Clyde Vassar (106) and freshman Bobby Crowe (175). Vassar, who placed third in the regional tournament last year, lost to Giles wrestler Carson Campos in a 3-0 decision in the semifinals on Saturday, but he won the thirdplace bout by pinning FC’s Olivia Scott in 1:48.
Crowe was pinned by Galax’s Caden Carico in 3:01 in the semifinals, but he pinned GW’s Jacob Ayers in 3:13 in the consolation semifinals before pinning GC’s Matthew Lineberry in 4:45 in the third-place bout.
PM freshman Bradack Smith (113) placed fourth to just miss out on advancing, but he’ll be an alternate. Smith was pinned by GW’s DaeLo Hall in 4:32 in the semifinals, but he bounced back by pinning Giles grappler Elijah McCoy in 2:41 in the consolation semifinals. In the third-place bout, Smith was pinned by Galax’s Elijah Rosenfeld.
“It’s always a letdown when you’re pretty close,” said Coach Brockenbrough. “Bradack Smith was really, really close today. … I think the future’s bright for him.”
Also earning medals for the Blues by placing in the top six were freshmen Brad Spinner (fifth, 215) and Kaiden Conner (sixth, 190) and senior Scottie Garrett (sixth, 144).
Coach Brockenbrough said it was great to have the regional tournament at home. He noted that there was going to be a little league tournament at PM on Sunday. He said these are “pretty exciting times” for local wrestling.
The Class 1 state tournament will take place on Friday and Saturday at the Salem Civic Center, starting at 10 a.m. both days.
Last year, with nine wrestlers competing, the Blues placed sixth in the state.
Looking ahead to this state tournament, Coach Brockenbrough said, “It’s our goal to bring as much hardware home as possible. We’re a top 10 program, and I think we’ll show it next week.”
