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Kirby Leads VAWA at Fargo

By Virginia Wrestling Association, 09/03/18, 11:15AM EDT

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Culpeper Senior Wins 3rd Fargo Title!

Culpeper senior Jesse Kirby is no stranger to the big stage in Fargo; four times in her career she has reached the championship finals- winning two Cadet titles. She put an emphatic stamp on her high school career in the Women's Junior 180 lbs. final recording a fall in 2:10 over Missouri's Jaycee Foeller for her third USA Wrestling National Championship. She was joined in the championship finals by King Sandoval, who fell to Washington's Austin Almaguer in the 126 lb. Junior Greco Roman title tilt. Sandoval cruised out to a 10-6 lead late in the second period before Alamguer blasted him with a devastating headlock for the fall.

The VAWA Women's team led the way for the state in Fargo, bringing home three stop-signs in addition to Kirby's title. Taja Showers (Skyline HS), was the lone Virginia woman to place in both the Cadet and Junior tournaments: 4th in the Cadet division at 200 lbs. and 6th in the Junior division at 220. Landstown's Julia Vidallon finished 6th at 132 lbs. in the Junior division.

The VAWA mens freestyle and Greco Roman teams brought home a total of five medals: three in freestyle and two in Greco Roman. Fauquier's Sam Fisher was the lone grappler to place in both styles, finishing 7th in freestyle and 3rd in Greco in the Cadet Division. In addition to Sandoval's runner-up finish in Junior Greco, Riley Parker (First Colonial) finished 5th in Junior freestyle at 106 lbs. while St. Christopher's Jackson Turley ended up in 6th place at 182 lbs. in Junior freestyle.

New Kent's rising freshman Nick Vafiadis (Cadet 132) reached the round of 12 (one round away from placing) in both freestyle and Greco. St. Christopher's Erik Roggie made it to the round of 12 at 106 lbs. in Cadet freestyle. Parker and Amherst's Wade Wheeler both reached the round of 12 in Junior Greco.

The USA Wrestling Cadet and Junior Nationals, sponsored by the United States Marine Corps is one of the largest wrestling tournaments in the world. Many NCAA champions, senior World and Olympic team members got their start in Fargo, battling it out in the Fargo Dome.