Darber defends title, Ragland also prevails at 3A state wrestling

By Community Member | February 18, 2017 11:41 pm

New Kent’s Caden Darber successfully defended his 132-pound title while teammate Trent Ragland prevailed at 220 pounds in the 3A state wrestling championships held Friday and Saturday in Salem.

New Kent placed ninth overall with 70 points, 24 apiece coming by way of Darber and Ragland. Christiansburg dominated the competition to win with 204.

Darber (37-6) won by 6-4 decision over Christianburg’s Marshall Keller in the 132-pound title match. Earlier, he won by fall (1:24) over Warren County’s Bobby Hunger in the semifinals after pinning Brentsville District’s Colin Brady in 1:24 in the quarterfinals.

Ragland (40-6) won a close 3-0 decision over Cave Spring’s Marquis Cobb for the 220-pound crown. He won by fall (3:35) over Ryan Mills (Spotsylvania) in the quarterfinals and took out Tunstall’s Matthew Fulcher by fall (3:33) in the semifinals. Ragland was fourth last year at 182 pounds.

Six other Trojan wrestlers advanced to the state tourney. At 106 pounds, Gannon Jones (36-11) placed sixth. He fell by a 5-2 decision in the fifth place match. He posted a 10-4 decision over Abingdon’s Jackson Newton in the quarterfinals, but lost in the semifinals and consolation semifinals. He scored five points.

Eric Taylor (29-11) lost close decisions in first and consolation rounds at 120 pounds. Shane Weimer (30-13) lost in the 126-pound championship first round before claiming an 8-2 decision over Warren County’s Isaiah Frame in the consolation first round. He lost in the consolation second round.

Kade Sanders (37-7) looked to add a 170-pound title to his 162-pound win two years earlier (he was second at 162 last season). He won by fall (1:11) over Waynesboro’s Colin Cook in the quarterfinals but was pinned in the semifinals. He forfeited a consolation semifinal match before losing by injury default in the fifth place match. He scored seven points.

James Taylor (25-15) won by sudden victory in the 182-pound consolation first round over Tunstall’s Josh Terrell. He lost quarterfinal and consolation second round decisions. Jason Godbey (26-13) lost a 195-pound quarterfinal decision and sudden victory outcome in the consolation first round.