The Shadow
The Alleghany Mountaineers wrestling team had a lot of success at the Class 2, Region C championship this past Saturday at James River High School.
Although the Mountaineers did not win the regional team championship (won by Glenvar), the Mountaineers did finish in a fourth place tie with the Radford Bobcats with 163 points each.
Individually, the Mountaineers did have two regional champions in Dontae Miller and Caleb Walden.
Miller won the 144-weight class as he went 3-0 and won the championship match via an 8-2 decision over Bryan Rito-Villar (Dan River). Meanwhile, Walden following a 2-0 performance was the region champion in the 285-weight class after defeating Ricardo Mejia (Patrick County) 5-2. The two will both be headed to the Class 2 State tournament which will be held on Friday and Saturday at the Salem Civic Center.
The Mountaineers also had several other top-three performances. Carter Nicely and Sam Rusmisel both finished in second place of their weight class. C. Nicely in the 157-weight class finished second after falling to Jake Cline (Glenvar) in the championship match. Rusmisel also fell in the championship match of the 165-weight class to Matthew Marlowe (Chatham). Ethan Nicely finished third place in the 138-weight class following a win over Jacob Lewis (Radford) in the third place match.
Following their performances, C. Nicely, Rusmisel, and E. Nicely will join Miller and Walden at this Friday and Saturday’s state tournament.
“We had several guys wrestle well. Dontae was what we come to expect from Dontae. He’s only the second two-time Region champion in school history. Caleb (Walden) has come a long way from a year ago. Last year he was backing up a great wrestler in Nathan Clark who finished fourth in the state. It’s now his time and he’s making the most of it. Carter Nicely is wrestling far beyond his years at this point. For a freshman to make the region finals says a lot about the work he’s put in. Sam Rusmisel is one of our seasoned veterans. Great to see him reach the finals, and hoping he has a chance to avenge that finals match at states. Ethan Nicely has also improved tremendously and put in extra work outside of our practice room. I love it that he is now reaping the rewards of his efforts and made it to states”, said Mountaineers head coach, Dale Burdette.
Also at the regionals, Avery Smithers wrestling in his final meet, placed fifth in the 120-weight class following a win over Joey Loder (Glenvar).
“I don’t think there was a dry eye in the house following Avery’s match. It was a mature gesture from the young man from Glenvar. Pulled at your heartstrings to see him give up his place on that podium to give that moment to another human being. Great story!”, said Coach Burdette.
The state tournament is held this Friday and Saturday at 10:00 a.m. (both days) at the Salem Civic Center.
Team Scores:
1. Glenvar 248.5
2. Patrick County 188
3. James River 165
4(T). Alleghany 163
4(T). Radford 163
6. Appomattox 139
7. Chatham 130
8. Dan River 72
9. Martinsville 39
10. Floyd County 31
106 – Malachi DePriest (4th, 1-2)
Champ. Round 1: received bye
Quarterfinals: over Skyylar Miller (Martinsville)
Semifinals: Xaiden Wynn (James River) over DePriest
Cons. Semifinals: received bye
3rd Place Match: Jonathon Culler (Patrick County) over DePriest
120 – Avery Smithers (5th, 2-2)
Champ. Round 1: received bye
Quarterfinals: Ethan Cobbler (Patrick County) over Smithers
Cons. Round 2: received bye
Cons. Round 3: over Sontrell Daniels (Martinsville)
Cons. Semifinals: Tyler Medlin (Chatham) over Smithers
5th Place Match: over Joey Loder (Glenvar)
138 – Ethan Nicely (3rd, 3-1)
Champ. Round 1: received bye
Quarterfinals: over Jacob Lewis (Radford)
Semifinals: Wesley Alexander (Patrick County) over Nicely
Cons. Semifinals: over Kennerly Nichols (Glenvar)
3rd Place Match: over Jacob Lewis (Radford)
144 – Dontae Miller (1st, 3-0)
Champ. Round 1: received bye
Quarterfinals: over Ethan O’Quinn (James River)
Semifinals: over Deacon Murphy (Appomattox County)
1st Place Match: over Bryan Rito-Villar (Dan River)
150 – Dalton Nelson (5th, 1-2)
Champ. Round 1: received bye
Quarterfinals: Landon Dillow (James River) over Nelson
Cons. Round 2: received bye
Cons. Round 3: received bye
Cons. Semifinals: Aloese (Junior) Aloese over Nelson
5th Place Match: over Dillow (James River)
157 – Carter Nicely (2nd, 1-1)
Champ. Round 1: received bye
Quarterfinals: received bye
Semifinals: over Cole Martin (Radford)
1st Place Match: Jake Cline (Glenvar) over Nicely
165 – Sam Rusmisel (2nd, 2-1)
Champ. Round 1: received bye
Quarterfinals: over Chris Molina Hernandez (Glenvar)
Semifinals: over Levi Dehart (Dan River)
1st Place Match: Matthew Marlowe (Chatham) over Rusmisel
175 – Remington Tucker (0-2)
Champ. Round 1: received bye
Quarterfinals: Eli Kazmier (Chatham) over Tucker
Cons. Round 2: Cole Carter (Dan River) over Tucker
190 – Joseph Blankenship (6th, 1-3)
Champ. Round 1: received bye
Quarterfinals: Tristan Hardy (Patrick Hardy) over Blankenship
Cons. Round 2: received bye
Cons. Round 3: over Lucas Watson (Dan River)
Cons. Semifinals: Sam Wiebking (Chatham) over Blankenship
5th Place Match: Hardy (Patrick Hardy) over Blankenship
215 – James Nicely (4th, 2-2)
Champ. Round 1: received bye
Quarterfinals: over Elias Echavarria (James River)
Semifinals: Charlie Davis (Radford) over Nicely
Cons. Semifinals: over Tildon Motley (Chatham)
3rd Place Match: Wesley Heltzel (Glenvar) over Nicely
285 – Caleb Walden (1st, 2-0)
Champ. Round 1 – received bye
Quarterfinals: received bye
Semifinals: over Ryley White (Appomattox)
1st Place Match: over Ricardo Mejia (Patrick County)
