Storylines
Defending state champions
Grassfield (Class 6), Cox (Class 5) and Poquoson (Class 2) all earned first-place trophies at last year’s Virginia High School League championships. Most of the wrestlers from the three teams are returning, adding to the high expectations for this season. Last year, Hampton Roads teams produced 19 individual VHSL state champions, along with two in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association with Luke Murray (Peninsula Catholic, 165 pounds) and Townsend Winans (Cape Henry Collegiate, 175) winning crowns. Eleven of the 20 return, including all four of Poquoson’s gold medalists from Class 2: Kam Harrell (106), Jared Goodson (132), Bryan Latta (144), Reed Booth (150). Tatiana Denig of Tallwood won a state crown at the girls VHSL tournament at 107.
Kicking off
The season will get off to a festive start this weekend with the third annual Heavy Hitting Hammers Holiday Classic at Churchland High School on Friday and Saturday. Organized by Tallwood coach Travis Ferguson and HHH co-founder Angelo Patillo, the event features 39 teams, showcasing some of the top teams and individuals in Virginia.
Girls wrestling rising
The HHH Classic aims to showcase the upward trajectory in participation for girls wrestling after the VHSL’s Executive Committee in May voted to sanction the sport and its championships, creating new girls team state tournaments. Girls wrestling was previously classified as an “emerging sport,” Mike McCall, the VHSL’s Director of Communications, said when the legislation was passed. The new girls state tournaments — one for Classes 1-3 and another for Classes 4-6 — will feature 16-team brackets. The inaugural Class 1-3 tournament will be held at Salem Civic Center, and the first Class 4-6 tournament will be held at the Virginia Beach Sports Center. The VHSL has held a Girls State Open Wrestling Championships for individuals since 2023. The expanding sport is evident in the Southeastern District.
Hickory coach Jeff Eldridge said an upcoming tri-meet against Indian River and King’s Fork could feature enough female wrestlers to produce as many as seven girls matches. “We are going to have the available girls wrestle before the varsity boys and those matches will count towards their state records,” Eldridge said.
Among local standouts for the girls are Tallwood’s Denig and Jayden Crotty of Tabb (VHSL finalist at 107).
Going for 4
Poquoson High wrestler Jared Goodson, right, has posted a 34-4 record this season, and his four losses have come against Division I recruits. He’ll be a favorite to win his third straight Class 2 individual state title next week. (Courtesy of Glen Parker)
Last season, Great Bridge’s Caleb Neal became the first wrestler from Hampton Roads since 2018 to win four consecutive state championships, capping his high school career with a crown at 175 in the Class 5 tournament. This year, Jared Goodson of Poquoson is looking to duplicate the feat. Goodson won the Class 2 crown for 113 (2023), 126 (2024), and 132 last year. If he succeeds, presumably at 132, he will match the feat of the last Peninsula wrestler to win state titles in all four seasons: Patrick McCormick (2015-18), who now serves as an assistant coach with the Islanders.
The granddaddy of them all
It’s not wrestling season in Hampton Roads without the Virginia Duals, which will hold its 45th version at the Hampton Coliseum. There are three high school divisions, featuring schools from as far away as Utah and Arkansas. Twenty-two squads from Hampton Roads will join the fray this year in either the Black and Blue, American or National brackets.
Five wrestlers to watch
Western Branch’s Brandon Cynar pinned Robinson’s Troy Hang to take first in the 120 pound weight class during Saturday, March 1, 2025, night’s Class 6 wrestling championships at Salem High School. (Stephen M. Katz / The Virginian-Pilot)
Brandon Cynar, Western Branch
Cynar capped a perfect 48-0 season in February with a third-period pin of Robinson’s Troy Kang at the 120-pound Class 6 championship bout. Now he’s ranked first in Virginia at 125, according to virginiawrestling.com. What will the Bruin senior present for an encore?
Chris Funches, Grassfield
Funches put the exclamation point on Grassfield’s Class 6 title march last year with his 7-2 win over Yorktown’s Basheer Hadi at 285. The Grizzly senior is also at the top of the Virginia rankings this season. He recently committed to Ferrum College.
Nolan Mather, Grassfield
Mather joins Funches as two of the three Grassfield grapplers on the top of the pre-season state rankings. The junior won the Region 6A title and placed third in Class 6 at the 106-lb. classification. He should improve on last season’s 31-12 mark.
Vincent Von Bernewitz, Great Bridge
Bernewitz made quite an impression as a freshman, winning the Class 5 state crown at 106 pounds. He will bump up to 113 this season.
Rudy Wagner, Cox
Wagner (190) and teammate Karl Ludwig (150) won the two individual titles in the Falcons’ Class 5 championship win. This season, Wagner will be shooting for state win No. 3, which would put him one ahead of his father. The senior is committed to wrestle at George Mason.
757Teamz Top 15
Grassfield Simeon Barrett holds on to Grundy’s Graham Pittman during their bout. Athletes competed in the Virginia Duals at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia, on Jan. 10, 2025. (Billy Schuerman / The Virginian-Pilot)
1. Grassfield
The defending Class 6 champs return 13 of 14 starters. Along with Funches, state champ Luca Schinelli, signed with Mercyhurts, returns at 132. Both Moore brothers, George Mason University commits Nick (165) and Nate (175) return after three consecutive top-five finishes at the Class 6 Tournament. Other notables include Leland Mendez (120), Chase Burns (215) and state finalist Simeon Barrett (144). Barrett’s younger brother Nico, a freshman will “make an immediate impact,” according to coach Patrick Shuler. Junior Sonora Shuler, who placed sixth at last season’s Region A tournament, will represent the girls’ squad.
2. Cox
On the heels of its state-winning campaign, coach Dalton Head returns state champs Karl Ludwig and Rudy Wagner. Seniors Carson Miller (third in Class 5 at 126), Caleb Rafal (third at 144), and junior Izaque Tomaz (285) are among others to watch.
3. Poquoson
The Islanders return eight of nine state finalists from last year, including runners-up Brayden Bunting, Logan Keesee, Nate Quiroz, and Austin Conley. Quiroz (175), Conley (190), and Brayden Agnese (215) will be getting a late start on the mat as they are still involved with Poquoson’s football team, which has reached the Class 2 semifinals.
4. Landstown
The Eagles return Elijah Phoutasen, runner-up to Grassfield’s Schinelli, in the Class 6 132-pound class, as well as Lucas Bundy at 113.
5. Great Bridge
Never count out a Steve Martin-coached team. Fourteen state titles don’t lie. Along with Vincent Von Bernewitz, look for heavy hitters in Tke Egley (120), Xavier Kovacs (Class 5 runner-up at 113), and Ayden Christian (175). “This is a very young team that will be tested early and often to get ready for the postseason,” Martin said.
6. Kellam
The Knights return Ashton Campos (138), Tanner Clark (165), and Derek Shultz (175) as statewide top-10 wrestlers from last season.
7. Granby
Last year’s Comet team placed seventh in Class 5 — the program’s best finish since the Billy Martin era of the 1970s. Now co-coached by Samson Sausser and Keith Goff, Granby is led by seniors Keith Fernandez (113), Jonah Burrus (144), Joseph McAuliffe (175/190) and Jalen Hughes (132). They are bolstered with some talented freshmen that “may crack the lineup and make some noise,” Goff said.
8. Nansemond River
Despite not having a feeder program or middle school wrestling in Suffolk, coach Kyle Cox takes pride in “building kids once they get to us.” After a 28-6 season last winter, the Warriors return 12 state qualifiers and three state place-winners in Terryl Wright (120), Trystin Boggs, and Charles Falkenstein.
9. Western Branch
The Bruins return arguably the area’s best wrestler in Brandon Cynar, coming off an undefeated season. Kyler Swenson (175) joins him as a preseason top-five wrestler, according to virginiawrestling.com.
10. Tallwood
Colton Hepp returns as a state champion at 113, while Tatiana Denig is the region’s lone returning girls state champion. Denig (20-0) registered a 14-5 decision over Oakton’s Hana Coutts in the 145-pound final to become the Beach District’s first girls state champion.
11. First Colonial
Sophomore Reid Stoddard (138) is ranked sixth among state wrestlers in his class and highlights a Patriots team looking to content in the Beach District.
12. Ocean Lakes
Region A runners-up Skiles Burkhead (113/120) and Noah Xiong (138/144) will lead the Dolphins. Burkhead also placed third in Class 5 at 106.
13. Norfolk Academy
Matteo DeFilippo (126) and Davis McNulty will lead the Bulldogs, as they aim to win the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools, with Peninsula Catholic and Cape Henry as their main competition. Others to watch are Noah Knittig (144), Nolan Buck (175), Logan Robinson (175), and sophomore Finn Burgess (120). Said long-time coach Chris Runzo, “The loss of several athletes from last year’s squad makes this interesting.”
14. Gloucester
The Dukes, now members of the Bay Rivers District, placed third in Class 4 last season. Led by junior Kenneth Hamilton (190), Gloucester will begin its quest for another top-three finish.
15. Cape Henry Collegiate
Townsend Winans is a returning VISAA champion and has amassed 137 wins in three seasons. But there is more talent in the cupboard for coach Josh Conklin, including Conner Walck, who was a runner-up at 132 and has also won 113 bouts. Other VISAA place-winners are Malik Peralta (144) and Luke Feldman (150).
Others to watch: Phoebus, Peninsula Catholic, Tabb, Deep Creek.
