The Shadow
By MARK PIFER
Sports Editor
For the second straight Saturday, Alleghany capped a big day by hoisting a championship trophy.
Josh Hale, John Reed, C.J. Chittum, Peyton Vail and Zach Rusmisel all won individual first place medals as the Mountaineers cruised to the team title at the 11th Annual War of the Wrestlers at Covington High School.
Alleghany flexed their mat muscles to the tune of 283 team points, easily defeating runner-up Glenvar’s 197.
Stuarts Draft (128), Fluvanna (106) and Pulaski County (97) completed the top five.
In addition to their five champions, Ray Wilmer, Nate Rusmisel, Michael Crowder, Jonathan Church and Cameron Hyler all finished second in their weight classes.
“Very pleased,” said Mountaineer coach Dale Burdette. “We knew coming into the season that we had some really good seniors with a lot of experience. We don’t fill every weight class right now, but those guys that are wrestling are doing a really good job.”
Chittum, a senior, was 5-0 with five pins at 182 pounds, Reed, his classmate, had four pins and a forfeit at 132, Hale, a junior, won all three of his bouts by pinfall at 120 and Zach Rusmisel, also a junior, was 4-0 with four pins at 220.
Vail, the Mountaineers senior 195-pounder, major decisioned Jonathan Snell of Stuarts Draft 17-4 in his title match.
Covington medaled three wrestlers on their way to a seventh-place team finish in the eight-team field.
Holden Broughman and Nathan Kimberlin both finished second, while Jorge Diaz won a third place medal.
“Overall, I thought we wrestled really well today,” said Cougar coach Ray Sullins. “By far the best day we’ve had so far this year.”
The Cougars return to action Saturday at the News Leader Tournament at Wilson Memorial in Fishersville.
Alleghany hosts a Blue Ridge District tri-match tonight with William Fleming and Rockbridge County. Preceding the Mountaineers’ match tonight, Clifton Middle School will host both Andrew Lewis Middle School and Maury River Middle School at 4:30 p.m.
