The Shadow
SALEM — Justin Hall and Tristan Hall both brought home medals from the state wrestling tournament Saturday at the Salem Civic Center.
Justin, an Alleghany junior, placed fourth with a 3-2 record in the Class 3, 285 pound weight class, while Tristan, a Covington junior, finished fifth, also going 3-2, in 1A, 220.
Saturday was a day of down-to-the-wire matches for Justin Hall. The Mountaineer lost in the semifinals 5-3, and after a 5-1 win in the consolation bracket, lost 4-3 in his third-place match.
“Justin was as close as you could possibly be to getting in the finals,” said AHS?coach Dale Burdette of his semifinal loss. “He just couldn’t quite secure the takedown in the third. With a little improvement in that area, Justin will be virtually unstoppable. He knows it and he’s always been willing to put the work in to improve.
“The 285 weight class in 3A was one of the toughest weights in the state,” he added. “He had a very similar outcome in his third place match. Justin wrestles a very strategic style and it’s deliberate. He just couldn’t quite finish on his feet.”
Justin finished the year with a record of 41-8.
Tristan Hall was blanked in his semifinal match, 4-0, and lost a consolation bout by pinfall before rebounding for a first-period pin in his fifth-place match.
“Tristan’s semifinal against the Grundy kid was a good match,” said CHS?coach Randy Phillips. “He lost by pin last week to that guy. It was 1-0 late and Tristan had to try a move and he gave up some back points.
“It’s always a big judge in character how you come back from that loss,” Phillips added. “You have your mind set on first. A lot of wrestlers give up from that point. But Tristan kept his head together and got that win in the fifth place match.”
Tristan completed his season with a 37-10 record.
Class 3 Team Standings
1. New Kent 200½
2. Christiansburg 190
3. Brentsville District 122½
4. Skyline 112½
5. York 89½
24. Alleghany 22
(41 schools scored team points)
Class 2 Team Standings
1. Poquoson 176½
2. Grayson County 112
3. Lebanon 107
4. Wilson Memorial 91½
5. Stuarts Draft 73
(35 schools scored team points)
Class 1 Team Standings
1. Grundy 269½
2. Rural Retreat 164½
3. Riverheads 160½
4. Galax 114
5. Franklin 81
Castlewood 81
22. Covington 21½
(25 schools scored team points)
AHS INDIVIDUAL PLACER
285 – Justin Hall (4th)
Hall p. Charles Bitter (Warren County), 2:48
Hall d. Gavin Womack (Heritage-Lynchburg), 3-0
Grant Abernethy (Brentsville District) d. Hall, 5-3
Hall d. Buddy Whitecotton (New Kent), 5-1
Kayreign Lundy (Petersburg) d. Hall, 4-3
CHS INDIVIDUAL PLACER
220 – Tristan Hall (5th)
Hall p. Jason Foster (Riverheads), :49
Hall p. Noah Acree (Essex), 1:51
Matthew McCowan (Grundy) d. Hall, 4-0
Lee Curtis (Franklin) p. Hall,m 1:49
Hall p. Noah Acree (Essex), :49
