New Kent edged by Poquoson in conference wrestling tournament

New Kent's Jackson Gray looks to his coaches for advice on the way to a 9-3 decision over Poquoson's Hunter Darouse.

Alan Chamberlain photos

It’s almost a foregone conclusion that district, conference, and region wrestling titles will be decided between New Kent’s Trojans and Poquoson’s Islanders. Programs at both schools are head and shoulders above the competition.

Saturday, the Trojans and Islanders, along with a handful of also-rans, grappled their way toward the crown in the Colonial 3A Conference tournament held at New Kent. The event took place three days after New Kent bested Poquoson 36-32 on the Islanders’ mat for the Bay Rivers District title. But much to the Trojans’ dismay, Saturday proved to be the Islanders’ turn.

Poquoson received crucial pins worth six points apiece in three of the four final weight classes to overcome a New Kent lead and vault on top by 4½. Entering the tourney’s final match featuring the heavyweights (285 pounds), the Trojans needed a pin, or at least a win by technical fall, from Zach Rodriguez over the Islanders’ Will Leary.

Late in the match, Rodriquez took Leary down to the mat, and with 31 seconds to go rolled the Islander heavyweight into position for a pin. Unfortunately, the wrestlers were just outside the circle.

“I thought Zach would be able to snake him back, but the call was out of bounds,” said Trojan head coach Mike Faus afterward.

Rodriguez went on to defeat Leary 5-2, but the three points earned fell just short. Poquoson claimed the conference title 250-248½.

“But that’s not on Zach,” Faus said emphatically. “We just left too many points out there on the mat all day.

“We needed to have more urgency,” he said. “At times, we didn’t have it. In matches like these, things can happen in as little as 10 seconds. That’s all it takes.”

And the absence of starter Cade Saunders at 132 pounds took away valuable points, Faus added. Due to injury, Saunders is out for the remainder of the year.

But Faus also pointed to bright spots, noting that the finals in 10 of the 14 weight classes featured New Kent wrestlers.

“Zac [Perkins] and James [Giffin] are two guys who are not usually in the finals, but they both won,” Faus added.
Perkins used a two-point takedown to tie York’s Brett Sommers at 5-5, moments before gaining a pin to claim the 126-pound championship. Giffin also staged a comeback, overcoming a 6-4 deficit late in the final period to top Southampton’s Devine Fenner 8-7 for the 152-pound title.

“Duncan [Johns] did a good job having to go against a really tough kid,” Faus said.

Johns had his moments battling Poquoson’s Hunter Wright in the 106-pound championship, but dropped a 9-0 decision.

In other finals, New Kent’s Jackson Gray (113 pounds) posted a 9-3 decision over Poquoson’s Hunter Darouse while B.C. LaPrade had few problems with Colonial Heights’ Joseph Missak before registering a pin in just 1:05. Zach Edmonds, meanwhile, pinned Lafayette’s Nick Ravida in 4:38 to claim the 170-pound title.

New Kent’s Blake Hohman dropped a narrow 3-1 decision to Poquoson’s Kyle Poultney at 145 pounds, and Wilson Gregory (220 pounds) lost by pin to Poquoson’s Trent Graham.

Now the two teams get to do it all over again. Both head to the Region I tournament set for next Friday and Saturday at John Champ High School in Loudoun County. The state Group AA meet takes place Feb. 21-22 in Salem.

Conference team scores: Poquoson 250, New Kent 248½, Lafayette 174½, York 119½, Southampton 96, Colonial Heights 77, Warhill 59½.

New Kent’s Duncan Johns tries to gain control of Poquoson’s Hunter Wright.

New Kent’s Zac Perkins wraps up York’s Brett Sommers
on the way to a pin.

New Kent’s B.C. LaPrade has little difficulty in controlling Colonial Heights’ Joseph Missak.

New Kent’s Blake Hohman gets control of Poquoson’s
Kyle Poultney.

New Kent’s James Giffin struggles with Southampton’s
Devine Fenner on the way to a decision win.

New Kent’s Zach Edmonds works to control Lafayette’s
Nich Ravida just before registering a pin.

New Kent’s Ryan Griffin struggles to escape the grasp
of Poquoson’s Ross Graham.

New Kent’s Wilson Gregory battles Poquoson’s Trent Graham at 220 pounds.

New Kent’s Zach Rodriguez (right) and Poquoson’s Will
Leary butt heads in the heavyweight final.