The Shadow
VINTON – The Alleghany mat men hit the road Wednesday for a tri-match against Blue Ridge District opponents Lord Botetourt and William Byrd and came away with a pair of victories.
The Mountaineer grapplers squeaked out a one-point win over Lord Botetourt in the opener, 40-39, and then defeated host William Byrd 43-19 in the nightcap.
It was a total team effort in the win over the Cavaliers with bothers Zac and John Reed recording big pins along with Roger Horn, Cole Murray and Nathan Sizemore. Derek Burhenn also got a big win with a 12-4 major decision over a two-time Group AA state qualifier.
Sizemore’s pin gave him the school record for career pins, which currently stands at 66.
Alleghany came up on the losing end of perhaps the most important match of the night. Heading into the final match – the 195-pound bout – Alleghany’s Payton Vail knew he could not get pinned or the Mountaineers would lose.
Vail, lost a 7-5 decision, but the Mountaineer did not get pinned and this enabled the team to hold on for the win.
“A total team effort,” said Alleghany wrestling coach Dale Burdette. “Picked up big pins by the Reed brothers, Roger, Cole and Nate and Derek’s win was huge.
“I can’t say enough about Payton Vail’s effort,” added Burdette. “He knew going into the match that if he didn’t get pinned, we would win. Considering that he got pinned by this guy earlier in the year, it was a tremendous effort.”
The second match came without a lot of the late drama as the Mountaineer cruised past Byrd.
“Since Byrd was missing a few starters, we were able to move some guys and get other guys some good tough matches to prepare them for the postseason,” stated Burdette.
“After coming off a high of breaking the school record for pins, Nate bounced back and wrestled a great match against one of their better wrestlers.”
The Mountaineers return to the mat Saturday at the Magna Vista Border Clash.
The tournament features seven teams from North Carolina – McMichael, North Guilford, High Point Central, RJ Reynolds, South Lake Christian Academy, North Forsyth and Bartlett Yancey – and nine teams from Virginia. They include Alleghany, G.W. Danville, Halifax, Magna Vista, Parry McCluer, Tunstall, Waynesboro, Bassett and Patrick County.
Wrestling will begin at 9:15 a.m. for the one day affair.
AHS 40, Lord Botetourt 39
106 – Hodges (LB) p. Jake Daly, 0:47
113 – Roger Horn (A) p. Sears, 0:52
120 – John Reed (A) p. Cash, 1:06
126 – COle Murray (A) p. Giambrosio, 1:25
132 – Derek Burhenn (A) md. Carlton, 12-4
138 – Barnett (LB) won by forfeit
145 – Zac Reed (A) p. Nackley, 2:29
152 – Jeremy Charles (A) won by forfeit
160 – Keller (LB) won by forfeit
170 – Nathan Sizemore (A) p. Lloyd, 0:52 (set school record for pins)
182 – Gunter (LB) won by forfeit
195 – Haley (LB) dec. Payton Vail, 7-5
220 – Winger (LB) won by forfeit
285 – Jones (LB) p. Addison Morgan, 1:53
AHS 43, William Byrd 19
106 – Cunningham (WB) p. Daly, 1:03
113 – Ray Wilmer (A) won by forfeit
120 – J. Reed (A) dec. Bennett, 7-0
126 – Murray (A) won by forfeit
132 – Nick Rusmisel (A) won by forfeit
138 – Helm (WB) dec. Burhenn, 3-1
145 – Jonathan Church (A) won by forfeit
152 – Charles (A) p. Martin, 0:38
160 – Gribble (WB) won by forfeit
170 – Sizemore (A) dec. Bailey, 9-6
182 – Fisher (WB) maj. dec. Vail, 8-0
195 – double forfeit
220 – double forfeit
285 – Morgan (A) won by forfeit
