2009-2010 Season

[LF2010]

The season starts in just a few weeks, Who are the top wrestlers in each weight?
What will poq. do this season?

[BRDJunkie]

I'm going to get this started and hopefully others with more information can continue to fill in the blanks. I'm trying to remember the names from a year ago, so please forgive my feeble attempt.

Team rankings:
1. New Kent - Most complete team with competitive wrestlers at many weight classes. Lots of returning talent with State experience. Look for this team to do much better at States this year and should take district and region. Coaches doing it the right way too! Not a slam at any other program, but from what I've gleened, this program has been built from within. Emana, Gregory, Canady to name a few.
2. Smithfield - Marshall Robinson and Matt Graham are top two returners with both wrestling somewhere between 125-140, but not sure where. Coach is a proven winner and if the community would get behind this program and add some football players to the wrestling roster, which would be win-win for both sports, this team could be a powerhouse.
3. Everyone else. It seems all the rest of these teams have a couple or three very high caliber wrestlers. Again, don't know what weights may be.

With exception of afore mentioned wrestlers, here's more to watch:
Poquoson - Lowe, Ogburn, Payne...close to same weights 103-119 and don't know how they'll end up. Baker (no idea the weight this year, expect 135 or so) and Kates. If Payne had Kates physique and Kates had Payne's raw wrestling ability, they'd both be state champs, IMHO. Poquoson lost four to graduation all excellent to outstanding wrestlers, including two state champs, and had four other top caliber wrestlers jump ship after the year. Dance (will win state championship at Christiansburg likely at 103), Jeske (Don't know where he moved), Foxworth (state champ), and Tinsley (3rd at states) both wrestling at Hanover. Forgot Francisco at 160 and Rhea at 215 or Hwt. Should be very competitive, but don't see the powerhouse of the past. Good, young team (Baker may be the only senior), with good talent coming from Middle School ranks soon.
Grafton - Hahn and Tru....can't remember his name, but dad is coach...I think. Sorry Grafton fans, please fill in blanks.
Tabb - Junio. More info needed.
York - I know there's some good talent returning...189? But can't remember names.

No idea on Williamsburg schools. Warhill heavyweight comes to mind. Sorry I don't know more specifics...hoping for more folks to provide more information.

[sportsfan91]

agreed with brdjunkie there is an abundance of talent in this district.

some wrestlers to watch this year:

-Lance Hawn Graf
-Evan Canady NK
-Chris Junio Tabb
-Josh Phillips York
-Jordon Davis War

[BruinFan58]

Dance moved to Christiansburg ?? WOW, his family has no limits, He moved from New Kent 3 years ago to Poquouson simply for their Wrestling program, Now Christiansburg....Unbelievable. Any reason why Poquouson has had the loss of all these wrestlers at once. Theres undoubtedly more to the story, Wrestlers of these kids caliber dont just up and move all at once from a powerhouse program for no underlying reason. Any thoughts?

[BRDJunkie]

Dance moved to Christiansburg ?? WOW, his family has no limits, He moved from New Kent 3 years ago to Poquouson simply for their Wrestling program, Now Christiansburg....Unbelievable. Any reason why Poquouson has had the loss of all these wrestlers at once. Theres undoubtedly more to the story, Wrestlers of these kids caliber dont just up and move all at once from a powerhouse program for no underlying reason. Any thoughts?

I'll give you better than thoughts. The fact is when the former coach lost his job, the wrestlers who came to Poquoson to wrestle for him, decided to go somewhere else. You can say he "recruited" them, or that they came to wrestle for him because he was a top flight coach, I'm not going to argue or speculate, but they left because he's no longer there. Sad part is I think coach Casey did a pretty good job last season, and I didn't see any reason for them to leave. It's obvious some don't consider him the caliber of the coach he replaced, but he may prove them wrong in the long run.

If you read some of the other wrestling web sites, you'll find more kids being recruited, moving, moving again, and moving again to other schools for wrestling than any other sport. It's unbelieveable, but I personally don't care one way or the other. As far as Joey Dance, he's a national junior champion, and obviously the former Poquoson coach can push his buttons. Dance stated after he won the freestyle national championship that "he's the best coach I've ever had." C-burg also wrestles a tough, national schedule, so good luck to him and all the other transfers for that matter.

[BruinFan58]

Thanks for the insight, I agree with you, based on last season, it seemed to me Casey did a great job at Poquoson, but each to their own. In the short term Poquoson will definetley miss those Kids as far as team results go. They will be fine in the long run though Im sure.

[poqfan3]

poquoson should have sanchez back. i know he wrestled 112 last year i don't know why he quit but lost to the kid form william byrd in ot last year who finished 3rd in states. im pretty sure he was ranked on the wonderin worksheet on virginia wrestling. he will probably go 130 or 125 if he wrestles

[brdbaby99]

i dont know much about wwrestling.....

But im goin with my man Chris Junio from Tabb all day!

And also look out for up nd comer Steven Andrews from Tabb...

[Tiger_Guy]

i dont know much about wwrestling.....

But im goin with my man Chris Junio from Tabb all day!

And also look out for up nd comer Steven Andrews from Tabb...

I agree. Chris Junio will be a force to be reckoned with. Steven Andrews from Tabb almost went to states last year, and I expect great things from him. Tabb loses some very good wrestlers, but gains more a more expirienced team. Gl to them this season.

[BRDJunkie]

poquoson should have sanchez back. i know he wrestled 112 last year i don't know why he quit but lost to the kid form william byrd in ot last year who finished 3rd in states. im pretty sure he was ranked on the wonderin worksheet on virginia wrestling. he will probably go 130 or 125 if he wrestles

Hadn't heard about Sanchez. He actually wrestled 119 for Grafton last year, but hope he's back and it's not rumor.

The 189 from York is Josh Phillips, I believe.

Still very, very early. We'll have to wait and see who grew over the summer and where everyone's weight will end up. Football's over, bring on wrestling season!

[LF2010]

Westfall wrestled 119 last year for Grafton,

[BRDJunkie]

Westfall wrestled 119 last year for Grafton,

You're absolutely right, my bad. Got the two mixed up.

[sportsfan91]

Does anyone know where the BRD tournament will be held?? since they are not doing the sectional tournaments anymore I know the regional tournament has been moved to New Kent this year.

[brdfan2]

At TABB..

[BRDJunkie]

Well bust my britches! It seems the region 1 administrators finally got it right as it appears there will be a real BRD wrestling tournament. Tabb is as good a place as any, but my hope would be they rotate the BR district tournament every year or so. I'm also assuming the Battlefield and Southside wrestlers will meet somewhere for a "Western Sectional" for lack of a better term.

New Kent is the perfect selection for regionals. New school, good wrestling team with supportive fan base, and centrally located in region. I'm also assuming NK new gym is similar in size to Warhill gym, correct? That is, larger than Tabb's?

[VCUfootball71]

New Kent's gym is much larger than Tabb's