Wildcats Take Down Blues

RC Wrestlers Go 3-0 In Quad Meet At PM

Taking advantage of a series of forfeits, the Rockbridge County High School wrestling team slipped past local rival Parry McCluer 45-34 in a highly competitive quad meet on Saturday in Buena Vista.

The Wildcats went undefeated as a team on the day, also defeating Lord Botetourt 48-27 and beating Staunton 54-29 to improve to 11-6 in duals this season. Meanwhile, the shorthanded host Fighting Blues dropped a narrow 40-34 decision to Staunton before falling 51-16 to LB.

In the match between the two local squads, PM stormed out to a 23-0 lead. At 120-pounds, PM freshman Brody Julian rolled up a 14-0 lead before pinning RC freshman Davis Welsh in the third period. The Blues won by forfeit at 126, with freshman Tyler Shafer getting the victory, and PM sophomore Jordan Brockenbrough (132) pinned RC junior Graham Niebur with just under a minute remaining in the second period. Senior Cyler Driscoll (138) gave PM the 23-0 advantage in the team score with his pin against Aiden Meyers with only 13 seconds left in the second period.

The Wildcats finally got on the scoreboard when junior (144) Hudson Ryan held off a furious rally from PM junior Jacob Shafer to score a 13-10 decision. The Blues responded when senior Jackson Brockenbrough (150) pinned junior Markus Nelson in 1:02.

At 157, RC senior Wyatt Eisenbrown pinned PM freshman Michael Fleming in 43 seconds.

Then the forfeits came into play. The Wildcats earned points without wrestling in the next three matches, with seniors Aidan Williams (165) and Isaiah Woolfrey (175) and freshman Asher Wells (190). With that, the ‘Cats cut the PM lead to 28-27 in the team tally.

RC senior Gabe Wade’s pin over PM junior Timmy Lesher at 215 gave the ‘Cats their first lead of the match, but PM responded with freshman Timber Thomas (285/ heavyweight) pinning RC sophomore Billy Chittum 36 seconds into the third period. The Wildcats secured the team win with two more forfeits.

Six RC wresters were undefeated on the mat for the day. Ryan scored a first-period pin in his match with Staunton and scored seven points in the third period to record a 9-5 decision in his bout with LB. Eisenbrown posted two more pins, both in the second period in his other bouts.

Williams earned a pair of first-period pins, Woolfrey pinned two opponents, and Wells pinned one opponent and won by decision against the other. Wade was also undefeated, with a third-period pin against Staunton and a first-period against LB.

For the Blues, Driscoll and Jackson Brockenbrough both went undefeated. Driscoll won by major decisions in both of his other bouts, while Brockenbrough pinned all of his opponents.

Today, Wednesday, the Wildcats will travel to Elkton for Valley District duals at East Rockingham, starting at 6 p.m. On Thursday, they’ll play host for a dual against district rival Rocktown at 5:30 p.m. at Doremus Gym at Washington and Lee University.

The Blues will be in action tonight, Wednesday, when they play host to George Wythe at 6 p.m. Before the meet, they’ll honor their three seniors: Convers, Driscoll and Jackson Brockenbrough, PM will then travel to Glenvar High School in Salem for the Highlander Invitational this weekend, with wrestling starting at 4:30 p.m. on Friday and at 9 a.m. on Saturday.