THE SPORTS DESK
Prep Commonwealth District Wrestling Meet: With eight titles, Eagles dominate
COLONIAL FORGE LOOKS AHEAD
TO NORTHWEST REGION, STATE MEETS
BY JUSTIN RICE
THE FREE LANCE–STAR
As a team, Colonial Forge just didn’t want to do anything to screw up its chances at a fifth state championship. Eagles sophomore J.D. Stone just wanted to wrestle.
Both goals were accomplished Saturday at the Commonwealth District wrestling tournament at Stafford High School.
With Stone claiming one of eight individual titles, Colonial Forge won its 13th straight district championship in the Eagles’ usual dominant fashion. Three other Colonial Forge wrestlers were second, one placed third and one fourth to give the Eagles entrants in 13 of 14 weight classes for next weekend’s Northwest Region tournament at Patriot High School.
Colonial Forge’s hopes for a state title rest in its depth, not necessarily in a few top-flight wrestlers. That means just getting folks through to the next round of the postseason is huge.
“Just like last year,” said Colonial Forge coach Bill Swink, referring to his team’s 2012 state title, when the Eagles had just one individual champion. “It’s going to be a team effort.
“Now we’re going to have to go have a good week next week.”
Stone’s district title came in his first week back after an extended absence because of a concussion, and it came against North Stafford’s Dylan Thompson, last year’s 126-pound runner-up.
Stone took Thompson down twice for the 4–0 victory. It’s his second district title after winning at 113 last year as a freshman.
“This season I’m just so much more relaxed,” he said. “I’m having a good time and it’s paying off.
“Last year I was just so stressed. This year I’m just taking care of myself and I know it’ll pay off for the team.”
A big part of that has been sitting out competitions over the last month, working to get healthy for the postseason.
“I think it’s made him a little hungry,” Swink said. “He said the other day, ‘I just feel good that I finally get to wrestle.’”
The Eagles’ quartet of seniors was strong all day.
Bryce Gentry had two pins and a major decision to win at 113. Sean Murphy had a pair of preliminary pins, and then put up a 13–3 decision over Orange’s Ryan Almond—the defending district champion—at 152. Tony Neis sealed the 145-pound title with a first period pin.
And Zach Martinez cruised to the 182-pound title with a pair of pins.
“Overall, mistakes here aren’t too relevant,” Martinez said. “You just want to get to the next round.”
Orange’s Billy Knabe defended his district heavyweight title and Zach Ryder was the 170-pound champion for the second-place Hornets.
But Orange also suffered perhaps the upset of the tournament when Mountain View’s Jared Swan earned a 3–2 decision over defending district champ Sean Raftery in the 160-pound final.
Raftery was penalized one point twice for illegally grabbing Swan’s singlet.
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Team scores: 1. Colonial Forge 250; 2. Orange 153.5; 3. Brooke Point 152.5; 4. Stafford 121; 5. Mountain View 120; 6. North Stafford 111; 7. Riverbend 86; 8. Massaponax 73; 9. Albemarle 69.
Championship finals: 106—Josh Nail (CF) d. Lester Hernandez (A) 17–1; 113—Bryce Gentry (CF) d. Isaiah Coleman–Combs (O) 12–2; 120—Josue Beltran (MV) d. Dylan Hunziker (CF) 6–4; 126—J.D. Stone (CF) d. Dylan Thompson (NS) 4–0; 132—Curtis Harris (CF) d. Trevor Watkins (MV) 11–3; 138—Willie Inserra (NS) forfeit Benjamin Bullin (MV); 145—Tony Neis (CF) p. Josh Deutel (BP) 1:18; 152—Sean Murphy (CF) d. Ryan Almond (O) 13–3; 160—Jared Swan (MV) d. Sean Raftery (Or) 3–2; 170—Zach Ryder (O) d. Anthony Carter (CF) 3–1; 182—Zach Martinez (CF) p. Austin Thomas 1:58; 195—Chris Carter (CF) d. Cameron Houston (St) 5–3; 220—Sebastian Silva (St) d. Patrick Grayson (CF) 5–4; 285—Billy Knabe (O) p. Stephen Harris (St) 3:31.
Consolation finals: 106—Raphael Alves (BP) p. Michael Rinker (Ma) 0:59; 113—Josh Beacorn (St) inj. def. Cody Deutel (BP); 120—Corey Champion (O) d. Jacari Weston (BP) 2–0; 126—Jordan Grimsley (A) d. Calvin Nerove (MV) 12-4; 132—Darius Corin (A) d. Trevor Hampton (Ma) 8–1; 138—Nico Dunbar (CF) p. Kord Kreiger (Rb) 4:55; 145—Devon Bornschein (St) d. Kyle Krieger (Rb) 8–5; 152—Shane Ice (BP) p. Alex Tinoco (NS) 4:17; 160—Vinnie Pirrone (Rb) p. Brian Garlington (BP) 2:53; 170—Jae Yi (MV) d. Andre Sims (BP) 10–0; 182—Chris Berrios (Rb) d. Dorian Bryant (BP) 4–2; 195—Jacob Ralph (NS) d. Ryan Cox (BP) 3–2; 220—Tyler Bunting (NS) d. Jamie Deason (Rb) 2–1; 285—Terrence Kelly (NS) p. Aston Williams (CF) 1:16.
Justin Rice: 540/368-5045
jrice@freelancestar.com
