Bees win another Region III wrestling title

BRIDGEWATER — The Brookville Bees secured first place in Saturday’s Region III wrestling tournament at Turner Ashby High School with 235.5 team points.

“We’ve just got to use this as a stepping stone for going into states,” said Brookville coach Don Shuler, who was named Region III Coach of the Year.

With seven grapplers going into the championship round, the Bees ran away with the team lead with ease despite the region having the most returning state-placers coming back to compete.

“Christiansburg had more state champs, but this region had more state-placers, which makes this a very competitive tournament,” Shuler said.

Brookville claimed the championship at 126 pounds when Troung Doung faced Waynesboro’s David Oliver, winning the decision with takedown after takedown in the 10-5 match.

Doung advanced to the championship round when he defeated Turner Ashby’s Jared Bell with a technical fall.

In the 132-pound class, Luke Stewart pinned Amherst’s Justin Mays in the championship round in 1:26. Stewart advanced to finals with a 10-4 major decision over Waynesboro’s Brandon Adams.

The Bees placed another back-to-back champ in the 138-pound class with Jackson Clark securing the 9-1 major decision over William Byrd’s Josh Helm. Clark advanced to finals with a 3:38 fall over Rockbridge County’s Koda Wagner.

In the 145-pound class, Turner Ashby’s Luke Kiser decisioned Josh Lancaster in a close 7-5 minor decision in the finals match.

Also falling in the championship round was Brookville’s Trevor Bruffy, in a 8-5 minor decision loss to Staunton River’s Chris Tyree. Tyree dominated with the first takedown and a pair of near fall points.

Derek Thurman dominated Lord Botetourt’s Aaron Gunter in a takedown match that ended in a pin at 4:49. Thurman advanced to the finals with a 3-0 decision over Turner Ashby’s Jake Liskey.

In the 220-pound class, Brookville’s Victor Montalbano took the 7-2 minor decision over Lord Botetourt’s Brandon Winger. Montalbano advanced to the championship round when he pinned Rockbridge County’s Angelo Harris.

Also earning a bid to the state tournament with third-place wins were 113-pound Landon Curry with a 6-3 decision over Broadway’s Drew Diaz, and 120-pound Sean Peregoy with a 5-0 decision over Northside’s Cody Craft.

Brookville’s Tim Gunter pinned Harrisonburg’s Ahmed Mustafa at 152 pounds in 0:58 for fifth place and Tevin Tardy pinned Spotswood’s Salvador Saravia in 1:25 in the 285-pound class for fifth.

“I’m happy for the ones who did make it to the championships, but it is hard for the two that didn’t make it,” Shuler said.

LCA wrestlers win VIC title

Liberty Christian Academy won the seven-team Virginia Independent Conference (VIC) tournament Saturday at Roanoke Catholic.

The Bulldogs had nine individual champions and 13 total place-winners in winning their fifth consecutive VIC championship.

  Individual champions for the Bulldogs were Brady Leffew (106), Duece Brown (113), Andrew Atkinson (120), Evan Meinke (126), Ike Podell (138), Marcus Miller (152), Patrick Good (170), Titus Glaze (182), and Blake Papet (195).

Thomas Lawton (160) and Kameron Russell (220) finished second and Danny Christensen (145) and Jacob Johns (285) finished third.

Team scores were Liberty Christian, 235; Roanoke Catholic, 147; Fishburne Military, 122; Hargrave Military, 112.5; Virginia Episcopal, 84; Covenant, 52; Blue Ridge, 12.