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Summer Wrestling Yields Winter Results

By Virginia Wrestling Association, 03/04/19, 9:45AM EST

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Fourteen Virginia wrestlers who competed in the USMC/USA Wrestling Cadet and Junior National Championships in Fargo, ND last summer continued their success by winning State titles in their respective divisions this year. An additional twenty-four wrestlers reached the podium at their State tournaments after wrestling in Fargo; 60% of those who were members of the VAWA National teams either won a State title or placed in the top six of their weight class at States. These numbers indicate that competing in the off season- specifically in freestyle and Greco will help wrestlers improve and assist in reaching their ultimate goal: becoming a State Champion.

VAWA was led by Fargo All-Americans Sam Fisher (Fauquier HS), Jackson Turley (St. Christopher’s School), and Riley Parker (First Colonial HS), all of whom won titles in their State tournament. New Kent High School’s outstanding freshman class won three 3A titles: Evan Holloway, Dominic Baker, and Nick Vafiadis all competed in Fargo in 2018, helping the Trojans unseat Christiansburg HS for the 3A team title. In addition to Turley, St. Christopher’s School had titlists in Erik Roggie and Mason Dubois who, like their New Kent contemporaries, wrestled in Fargo. Turley also brought home his first National Prep title for the Saints, with Roggie finishing second and Dubois sixth.

First year VAWA National Teams members Loranzo Rajaonarivelo of Wakefield, Gabrielle Mendelson of West Springfield, Zane Cox of Benedictine, and women’s State Champion Brianna Reep of Buffalo Gap showed that the experience gained competing for VAWA translates into high school success with all four bringing home gold from their respective State tournaments.

If you are interested in taking the next step in your wrestling career, you need to compete in the off season! The majority of wrestlers who competed for VAWA in the spring and summer reached the podium at States in 2019. The techniques and training opportunities gained in the spring and summer of 2018 helped over sixty wrestlers achieve their goals in 2019. If becoming the best wrestler you can be is your goal, you NEED to get out there and wrestle. The Virginia Wrestling Association will help you reach your goals!