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Saturday, Feb. 18 – Parry McCluer High School sophomores Jackson Brockenbrough and Cyler Driscoll placed third in their weight classes to lead four PM medalists at the Class 1 state wrestling tournament on Friday and Saturday at the Salem Civic Center. With nine wrestlers competing, the Blues placed sixth of 30 teams.
Brockenbrough placed third at 144-pounds, while Driscoll finished third at 106. Also earning medals for the Fighting Blues by placing in the top six were freshman Jacob Shafer, who placed fourth at 126, and senior Cody Thomas, who finished fifth at 190.
After making it to the semifinals, Brockenbrough was pinned by Grundy’s Adrian Gordon in 3:15, but he battled back by defeating Grayson County’s Keyon Mitchell in a 6-2 decision. In the third-place bout, Brockenbrough pinned Lancaster’s Hunter Sebra in 1:54. Last year, Brockenbourgh placed fifth.
In his state tournament debut, Driscoll was pinned in the semifinals by Mathews wrestler Alexis Deagle in 2:45, but he battled back to the third-place bout, where he pinned Castlewood’s Terrance Jones in 4:15.
Shafer was pinned in the quarterfinals by Riverheads grappler Jake Yowell, but he bounced back by defeating three opponents in the consolation bracket before he was pinned by Holston’s Merrick Kestern in 1:17 in the third-place bout.
Thomas was pinned in the quarterfinals by Grundy’s Ryan Campbell, but he battled back in the consolation bracket and pinned Grayson County’s Landon King in 4:28 in the fifth-place bout.
Five other wrestlers competed for the Blues. Senior Ryan Patterson (120) and junior Cole Chittum (285/heavyweight) each went 2-2. Going 0-2 were freshman Clyde Vassar (113), sophomore Junior Convers (175) and senior Kabell Austin (215).
For the full story and photos from the state tournament, with final team scores, please see our Feb. 22 newspaper.
