New Kent wrestlers win six weight classes, cruise to Conference 25 championship

New Kent's Trojan wrestling team hoists the Conference 25 championship trophy and poses with coaches and other helpers for a group photo following Saturday's title win at home. Individual photos of all 14 New Kent wrestlers who placed in the tournament are being posted on this website under Photo Gallery.

Alan Chamberlain photo

Qualifying wrestlers for the finals in 12 of 14 weight classes placed New Kent’s Trojans well on their way to winning their first Colonial 3A Conference 25 wrestling title. The Trojans led Poquoson’s defending champ Islanders, who placed nine wrestlers in the finals, by 32 points heading into Saturday’s championship round at New Kent.

In the finals, the Trojans did nothing to damage their advantage. In fact, the hosts enhanced their winning margin, amassing 266 points to the runner-up Islanders’ 229.5.

New Kent won six weight divisions, finished second in six more, and captured a third and fourth. The Trojans are the first team to send wrestlers in all 14 weight classes (the top four in each qualify) to the regional tournament scheduled for next Friday and Saturday (Feb. 13-14) at New Kent.

“This was just a good team effort,” said Trojan head coach Mike Faus. “Our seniors did a real good job like they usually do. Hopefully, we can keep it rolling and win the regional.”

As expected, the conference affair boiled down to a battle between New Kent and Poquoson, the area’s perennial wrestling powerhouses. Lafayette finished a distant third with 158.5 points followed by Warhill (130.5), York (95), Colonial Heights (74), and Southampton (57).

“The biggest upset today was Cade Sanders [160 pounds] beating a returning conference champion and state placer [Poquoson’s Kyle Poultney] in the final,” Faus said.

Sanders posted a 5-1 decision win, avenging a 9-6 decision loss to Poultney during the regular season.

“The most surprising outcome was by our heavyweight Michael Dorer,” Faus said. “He came in ranked number two and then beat a kid who had a winning record.”

Dorer pinned Southampton’s Steve Wellington in 2:56 to win the 285-pound class.

The Trojans received narrow decision wins from Trent Ragland, who edged Poquoson’s Robert Hennessey 2-1 at 182 pounds, and Bryson Mitchell, who topped Poquoson’s Hunter Darouse 4-1 in the 120-pound final.

Trojan seniors B.C. LaPrade (145) and Blake Hohman (152), meanwhile, dominated their foes. LaPrade pinned Poquoson’s Alec Bleeker in 1:24 while Hohman needed just 1:41 to pin Lafayette’s Graham Granger.

New Kent’s Shane Weimer (106), Slater Gammon (126), Cameron Frizzell (138), Brian Gray (170), David Taylor (195), and John Elswick (220) finished second in their respective weight divisions. Jared Mitchell (132) placed third while Eric Taylor (113) took fourth.

Looking ahead to the regional, Faus said he expects his Trojans and the Islanders to be in the running for the crown.

“Brentsville and the Warren County schools are also strong,” he said. “It’s going to be a dogfight next week for the region title.”