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Pre-Season AAA Team Rankings
By Bill Swink
Sept. 23, 2008
The 2008-2009 wrestling season in Group AAA could be the most exciting the state has seen in years. There are seven teams who should feel they have a shot at the state team title. Additionally, the coming and going of top wrestlers from some of the top teams will also add more fuel to the fire.
There are many questions to be answered. Can Colonial Forge become only the fourth team in the history of AAA to win three titles in a row joining Granby, Frank W. Cox and Great Bridge? Or will a traditional state power like Great Bridge, Cox or Kempsville rise up again and return to glory? Or will Fauquier, Kellam or Westfield bring home their first state team championship.
While these questions will likely all go unanswered until February 20-21 at Oscar Smith High School. One thing is clear the 2008-2009 season should be one of the most thrilling and competitive seasons ever.
On the Bubble
Langley
Hermitage
Mountain View
Grassfield
Matoaca
Franklin County
Thomas Dale
10 Hayfield the Hawks start the season at number 10 after a 7th place finish in the state tournament last year. The team will be led by state runner-up Ray Borja (119) along with two other state qualifiers Lewen Romero (130) and Ronnie Ours (140).
9 James River will be looking to move into the top 10 after a 12th place finish at Oscar Smith last season. They will be led by two senior state medalists Jordan Dix (5th-125) and Jared Anongos (3rd-130)
8 Robinson the leader of this team will be 2x state place winner and 2007 state champion Roman Perryman (119) and three others who have state tournament matches under their belts Wes Jones (130), Reid Brown (145) and Marcus Hathaway (160). The addition of talented freshman Jake Smith should also boost the Rams.
7 Westfield starts the season at number 7 and they return 7 wrestlers who have competed at the big dance last year including four who made their way to the podium Brandon Berling (5th), Jarrod Branch (6th), Nick Grinups (5th), and Kevin Koch (8th) others with state tournament experience are Jeremy Ryan (112), John Orchard-Hayes (119) and Austin Fallon (171) .
6 Kempsville the Chiefs got a boost when 2x state placer Joey Grainger (2nd -152) moved in, but he is not the only outstanding wrestler in the line-up. They also return another two time medalist Sterling Brisco (6th-112), Mike Mosley (8th-130) and Pierce Embry (5th-189) along with one other state qualifier Frank Hruska (119).
5 Great Bridge the loss of Grainger hurts but the Wildcats have plenty of talent left in the room. Four state place winners return led by runner-up Billy Curling (189), Austin Hurst (5th-103), Cole Shields (8th-145), and Alan Clamp (7th-171). Gary Ables also has state tournament experience under his belt and Robbie Mello (215) placed in the tough Eastern Region.
4 Kellam has the firepower to contend for a state title. The pickup of Cadet National Champion Aaron Runzo in the off season will complement two other all state wrestlers Brian Beatson (4th-130) and two-time state placer Sean Abrams (3rd-160) and the talent doesn’t end there with three other state qualifiers Austin D’Amico, Mike Burnett, and Dalton Parker along with two that placed 5th in the region last year.
3 Cox will be looking to add another trophy to the case this year. The Falcons will be led by a pair of state champions Ben Dorsay (135) and Jack Burbank (285) along with one other state qualifier John Dickson and a great supporting cast.
2 Fauquier already had the most state place winners returning with five but added 2x Single A state champion Daniel McGillivray to the line-up in the off-season. Those five medalist are Ryan Hunsberger (2nd-103), Greg Flournoy (4th-112), Connor Miller (5th-119), Chris Moon (7th-140), and Kevin Friend (6th-215) plus state qualifier Neil McGuire.
1 Colonial Forge despite the loss of state champion Max Huntley who opted to go to Blair Academy the Eagles are looking to stay on top of the perch and will be led by 2x state champion Michael Garofalo, this team also returns three others who have been in the top 6 at the state tournament a total of nine times: Shane Gentry (2nd-112), Ian Squires (3rd-125), and Drew Squires (4th-135). In addition to these four there are two others who won matches at the state tournament Brett Garrison (103) and Nick Emison (140) and three other starters from last year’s championship team.
By Bill Swink
Sept. 23, 2008
The 2008-2009 wrestling season in Group AAA could be the most exciting the state has seen in years. There are seven teams who should feel they have a shot at the state team title. Additionally, the coming and going of top wrestlers from some of the top teams will also add more fuel to the fire.
There are many questions to be answered. Can Colonial Forge become only the fourth team in the history of AAA to win three titles in a row joining Granby, Frank W. Cox and Great Bridge? Or will a traditional state power like Great Bridge, Cox or Kempsville rise up again and return to glory? Or will Fauquier, Kellam or Westfield bring home their first state team championship.
While these questions will likely all go unanswered until February 20-21 at Oscar Smith High School. One thing is clear the 2008-2009 season should be one of the most thrilling and competitive seasons ever.
On the Bubble
Langley
Hermitage
Mountain View
Grassfield
Matoaca
Franklin County
Thomas Dale
10 Hayfield the Hawks start the season at number 10 after a 7th place finish in the state tournament last year. The team will be led by state runner-up Ray Borja (119) along with two other state qualifiers Lewen Romero (130) and Ronnie Ours (140).
9 James River will be looking to move into the top 10 after a 12th place finish at Oscar Smith last season. They will be led by two senior state medalists Jordan Dix (5th-125) and Jared Anongos (3rd-130)
8 Robinson the leader of this team will be 2x state place winner and 2007 state champion Roman Perryman (119) and three others who have state tournament matches under their belts Wes Jones (130), Reid Brown (145) and Marcus Hathaway (160). The addition of talented freshman Jake Smith should also boost the Rams.
7 Westfield starts the season at number 7 and they return 7 wrestlers who have competed at the big dance last year including four who made their way to the podium Brandon Berling (5th), Jarrod Branch (6th), Nick Grinups (5th), and Kevin Koch (8th) others with state tournament experience are Jeremy Ryan (112), John Orchard-Hayes (119) and Austin Fallon (171) .
6 Kempsville the Chiefs got a boost when 2x state placer Joey Grainger (2nd -152) moved in, but he is not the only outstanding wrestler in the line-up. They also return another two time medalist Sterling Brisco (6th-112), Mike Mosley (8th-130) and Pierce Embry (5th-189) along with one other state qualifier Frank Hruska (119).
5 Great Bridge the loss of Grainger hurts but the Wildcats have plenty of talent left in the room. Four state place winners return led by runner-up Billy Curling (189), Austin Hurst (5th-103), Cole Shields (8th-145), and Alan Clamp (7th-171). Gary Ables also has state tournament experience under his belt and Robbie Mello (215) placed in the tough Eastern Region.
4 Kellam has the firepower to contend for a state title. The pickup of Cadet National Champion Aaron Runzo in the off season will complement two other all state wrestlers Brian Beatson (4th-130) and two-time state placer Sean Abrams (3rd-160) and the talent doesn’t end there with three other state qualifiers Austin D’Amico, Mike Burnett, and Dalton Parker along with two that placed 5th in the region last year.
3 Cox will be looking to add another trophy to the case this year. The Falcons will be led by a pair of state champions Ben Dorsay (135) and Jack Burbank (285) along with one other state qualifier John Dickson and a great supporting cast.
2 Fauquier already had the most state place winners returning with five but added 2x Single A state champion Daniel McGillivray to the line-up in the off-season. Those five medalist are Ryan Hunsberger (2nd-103), Greg Flournoy (4th-112), Connor Miller (5th-119), Chris Moon (7th-140), and Kevin Friend (6th-215) plus state qualifier Neil McGuire.
1 Colonial Forge despite the loss of state champion Max Huntley who opted to go to Blair Academy the Eagles are looking to stay on top of the perch and will be led by 2x state champion Michael Garofalo, this team also returns three others who have been in the top 6 at the state tournament a total of nine times: Shane Gentry (2nd-112), Ian Squires (3rd-125), and Drew Squires (4th-135). In addition to these four there are two others who won matches at the state tournament Brett Garrison (103) and Nick Emison (140) and three other starters from last year’s championship team.
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