On Thursday, January 11, 2024, the Varsity Alleghany Cougar wrestling team travelled to Buffalo Gap High School in Augusta County to compete in the Bison Invitational against 14 other schools where they placed 7th with a total of 116.5 points. There were 16 Varsity Cougar wrestlers who competed in their respected weight classes, with many ranking in the top five against dozens of other wrestlers.
Caleb Walden, a senior at Alleghany High School, was the only Alleghany Cougar wrestler to place first in his weight class of 285, finishing with 26 total points for the team and ending the invitational with a personal record of 29-1. Walden has consistently done well this season, as he has in seasons past.
Read below for the full results, courtesy of trackwrestling.com:
113 (Weight Class)
Malachi Depriest (17-9) placed 3rd and scored 20.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Malachi Depriest (Alleghany) 17-9 received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Malachi Depriest (Alleghany) 17-9 won by fall over Danny Heyworth (Goochland) 3-10 (Fall 1:04)
- Semifinal – Shauntae Plles (Chatham) 4-2 won by fall over Malachi Depriest (Alleghany) 17-9 (Fall 0:49)
- Cons. Semi – Malachi Depriest (Alleghany) 17-9 won by fall over Ben Blake (Bishop OConnell) 2-3 (Fall 5:49)
- 3rd Place Match – Malachi Depriest (Alleghany) 17-9 won by fall over Karma Guinn (Page County) 13-5 (Fall 5:43)
113 (Weight Class)
Dylan Osborne (7-4) placed 5th.
- Champ. Round 1 – Dylan Osborne (Alleghany) 7-4 received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Dylan Osborne (Alleghany) 7-4 won by fall over Justin Miller (East Rockingham) 6-18 (Fall 2:53)
- Semifinal – Alex Arroyo (Staunton) 23-1 won by fall over Dylan Osborne (Alleghany) 7-4 (Fall 0:46)
- Cons. Semi – Karma Guinn (Page County) 13-5 won by major decision over Dylan Osborne (Alleghany) 7-4 (MD 19-6)
- 5th Place Match – Dylan Osborne (Alleghany) 7-4 won by fall over Ben Blake (Bishop OConnell) 2-3 (Fall 3:26)
120 (Weight Class)
Hayden Wills (18-8) placed 6th.
- Champ. Round 1 – Hayden Wills (Alleghany) 18-8 received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Hayden Wills (Alleghany) 18-8 won by fall over Marcus Ortiz (Mountain View (Quicksburg)) 4-1 (Fall 0:30)
- Semifinal – Dallas Harrison (Chatham) 10-8 won by disqualification over Hayden Wills (Alleghany) 18-8 (DQ)
- Cons. Semi – Ethan Cutuli (Staunton) 13-9 won by disqualification over Hayden Wills (Alleghany) 18-8 (DQ)
- 5th Place Match – Drew Butler (Goochland) 4-4 won by disqualification over Hayden Wills (Alleghany) 18-8 (DQ)
120 (Weight Class)
Kirby Brown (2-6) place is unknown.
- Champ. Round 1 – Marcus Ortiz (Mountain View (Quicksburg)) 4-1 won by fall over Kirby Brown (Alleghany) 2-6 (Fall 2:57)
- Cons. Round 1 – Kirby Brown (Alleghany) 2-6 received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 – Ethan Cutuli (Staunton) 13-9 won by fall over Kirby Brown (Alleghany) 2-6 (Fall 1:21)
126 (Weight Class)
Avery Smithers (8-21) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Jerry Salazar Mendoza (Harrisonburg) 11-12 won by fall over Avery Smithers (Alleghany) 8-21 (Fall 0:56)
- Cons. Round 1 – Avery Smithers (Alleghany) 8-21 received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 – Alex Jerrells (East Rockingham) 10-15 won by fall over Avery Smithers (Alleghany) 8-21 (Fall 0:37)
132 (Weight Class)
David Osborne (10-10) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – David Osborne (Alleghany) 10-10 received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Aito Omura (Blue Ridge School) 9-0 won by fall over David Osborne (Alleghany) 10-10 (Fall 1:20)
- Cons. Round 2 – Jackson Miller (Mountain View (Quicksburg)) 3-2 won by medical forfeit over David Osborne (Alleghany) 10-10 (M. For.)
138 (Weight Class)
Haiden Nicely (24-7) placed 3rd and scored 22.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Haiden Nicely (Alleghany) 24-7 won by fall over Charles Hoover (Mountain View (Quicksburg)) 1-2 (Fall 0:41)
- Quarterfinal – Haiden Nicely (Alleghany) 24-7 won by fall over Mason Bennett (Page County) 7-7 (Fall 1:09)
- Semifinal – Samuel Katykhin (Harrisonburg) 15-4 won by major decision over Haiden Nicely (Alleghany) 24-7 (MD 15-6)
- Cons. Semi – Haiden Nicely (Alleghany) 24-7 won by fall over Jude Louk (Buffalo Gap) 16-8 (Fall 0:00)
- 3rd Place Match – Haiden Nicely (Alleghany) 24-7 won by fall over Kenneth Truslow (Waynesboro) 14-5 (Fall 2:31)
144 (Weight Class)
Kylan Tolley (12-14) place is unknown and scored 7.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Kylan Tolley (Alleghany) 12-14 won by fall over Wells Starley (Virginia Episcopal School) 0-2 (Fall 0:21)
- Quarterfinal – Grant Malin (East Rockingham) 21-6 won by fall over Kylan Tolley (Alleghany) 12-14 (Fall 0:59)
- Cons. Round 2 – Kylan Tolley (Alleghany) 12-14 won by fall over Logan Miller (Staunton) 1-6 (Fall 0:15)
- Cons. Round 3 – Justin Ngo (Bishop OConnell) 12-13 won by decision over Kylan Tolley (Alleghany) 12-14 (Dec 7-5)
144 (Weight Class)
Jayden Mundy (2-4) place is unknown.
- Champ. Round 1 – Justin Ngo (Bishop OConnell) 12-13 won by decision over Jayden Mundy (Alleghany) 2-4 (Dec 6-2)
- Cons. Round 1 – Jayden Mundy (Alleghany) 2-4 received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 – Karim Mahaman Laouan (Harrisonburg) 11-11 won by fall over Jayden Mundy (Alleghany) 2-4 (Fall 1:50)
150 (Weight Class)
Tristan Madison (17-14) placed 5th and scored 13.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Tristan Madison (Alleghany) 17-14 received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Tristan Madison (Alleghany) 17-14 won by fall over Andrew Christian (Bishop OConnell) 8-14 (Fall 3:56)
- Semifinal – Adam Wimer (Fort Defiance) 18-6 won by fall over Tristan Madison (Alleghany) 17-14 (Fall 1:14)
- Cons. Semi – Jarin Evans (Goochland) 6-3 won by fall over Tristan Madison (Alleghany) 17-14 (Fall 4:00)
- 5th Place Match – Tristan Madison (Alleghany) 17-14 won by fall over Andrew Christian (Bishop OConnell) 8-14 (Fall 5:11)
157 (Weight Class)
Carter Nicely (28-3) placed 2nd and scored 23.5 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Carter Nicely (Alleghany) 28-3 won by fall over Alex Jones (Blue Ridge School) 2-4 (Fall 0:51)
- Quarterfinal – Carter Nicely (Alleghany) 28-3 won by fall over Montana Nuckols (Fort Defiance) 12-8 (Fall 3:20)
- Semifinal – Carter Nicely (Alleghany) 28-3 won by tech fall over Douglas O`Donnell (Bishop OConnell) 16-9 (TF-1.5 4:55 (20-5))
- 1st Place Match – Matthew Marlowe (Chatham) 18-0 won by major decision over Carter Nicely (Alleghany) 28-3 (MD 13-4)
165 (Weight Class)
James Osborne (4-6) place is unknown and scored 4.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – James Osborne (Alleghany) 4-6 won by fall over Chris Jenkins (Page County) 3-7 (Fall 1:20)
- Quarterfinal – Cameron Martin (Chatham) 16-2 won by fall over James Osborne (Alleghany) 4-6 (Fall 0:36)
- Cons. Round 2 – Justin Stapleton (Goochland) 5-2 won by fall over James Osborne (Alleghany) 4-6 (Fall 2:45)
175 (Weight Class)
Jayvon Myers (17-14) place is unknown and scored 4.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Kristian Hearn (East Rockingham) 3-2 won by major decision over Jayvon Myers (Alleghany) 17-14 (MD 9-1)
- Cons. Round 1 – Jayvon Myers (Alleghany) 17-14 won by fall over Berto Lopez (Buffalo Gap) 7-15 (Fall 1:44)
- Cons. Round 2 – Jayvon Myers (Alleghany) 17-14 won by decision over Landyn Patnode (Fort Defiance) 6-7 (Dec 6-3)
- Cons. Round 3 – Jordan Hedrick (Page County) 14-4 won by major decision over Jayvon Myers (Alleghany) 17-14 (MD 9-0)
215 (Weight Class)
Josh Richardson (7-9) place is unknown and scored 0.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Ben Livick (Harrisonburg) 8-4 won by fall over Josh Richardson (Alleghany) 7-9 (Fall 0:26)
- Cons. Round 1 – Josh Richardson (Alleghany) 7-9 received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 – Camden Smith (Fort Defiance) 13-11 won by fall over Josh Richardson (Alleghany) 7-9 (Fall 1:23)
285 (Weight Class)
Hunter Humphreys (2-3) place is unknown.
- Champ. Round 1 – Anthony Wilder (Buffalo Gap) 15-11 won by fall over Hunter Humphreys (Alleghany) 2-3 (Fall 0:33)
- Cons. Round 1 – Hunter Humphreys (Alleghany) 2-3 received a bye () (Bye)
- Cons. Round 2 – Asa Altizer (Bath County High School) 10-11 won by fall over Hunter Humphreys (Alleghany) 2-3 (Fall 1:24)
285 (Weight Class)
Caleb Walden (29-1) placed 1st and scored 26.0 team points.
- Champ. Round 1 – Caleb Walden (Alleghany) 29-1 received a bye () (Bye)
- Quarterfinal – Caleb Walden (Alleghany) 29-1 won by decision over Asa Altizer (Bath County High School) 10-11 (Dec 3-1)
- Semifinal – Caleb Walden (Alleghany) 29-1 won by fall over Kelston Byers (Staunton) 15-10 (Fall 2:33)
- 1st Place Match – Caleb Walden (Alleghany) 29-1 won by fall over Jackson Reece (Chatham) 17-2 (Fall 4:21)