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Three Parry McCluer High School wrestlers won their weight classes to lead the Fighting Blues to third place of nine teams at the Blues Invitational on Saturday at PM.
It was the first competition of the season for the Blues, who also placed third last year.
Facing several larger schools, the Blues scored 136 points, only trailing winner Riverheads (206.5) and runner-up Brookville (146). Rounding out the top five were Amherst County (133) and Bath County (108), PM’s Pioneer District rival.
The wrestlers competed in a round-robin format, in which each grappler faced the competition, and the wrestler with the best records faced off for placement. The tournament is normally two days, but it was condensed to one day this year.
Placing first for the Blues were senior Jackson Brockenbrough at 150-pounds and his younger brother, sophomore Jordan Brockenbrough (138), as well as freshman Brody Julian (120).
Jackson Brockenbrough, who earned his 100th victory prior to the finals, earned a 10-4 win over Riverheads grappler Preston McCauley in the finals. Last winter, Jackson was the Region 1C champion and Class 1 state runner-up at 150.
In the finals at 132, Jordan Brockenbrough pinned Franklin’s Benjamin Harrison in 5:14.
Julian started his high school career well by advancing to the finals and then defeating Brookville’s Evan Bush in a 12-4 major decision.
Also stepping up for the Blues was junior Jacob Shafer, placing second at 144. Shafer, who missed the later part of last season due to an injury, pinned Riverheads wrestler Nate Woods in 1:02 in the semifinals before he lost to Brookville’s Peyton Stanbery in a 17-1 technical fall (lead of 15 points or more) in 1:48 in the finals.
Blues placing third were seniors Cyler Driscoll (126) and Junior Convers (175), while junior Clyde Vassar (138) finished fourth.
The Blues will return to action on Wednesday at 6 p.m. when they compete in a meet at Wilson Memorial High School in Fishersville.
For the full story and photos, with comments from Jackson Brockenbrough and PM head coach Jeremiah Brockenbrough, please see our Dec. 11 newspaper.
