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[Sonny Dearth]

BRD puts 10 wrestlers in semis

Poquoson stood third in the state Group AA wrestling team standings after Friday night’s quarterfinals, and 10 competitors from the Bay Rivers District advanced to Saturday’s semifinals in the Salem Civic Center.

Four of those 10 are Islanders: Steffan Baker, who won by a pin and a decision at 112 pounds; Cody Silva, who won by a major decision and a pin at 140; Kayton Marshall, who scored a pin and a 12-10 overtime decision at 145; and Del Bryce, who gained a technical fall and a 1-0 decision. They're part of "The Gauntlet," which led the Islanders to district, sectional and Region I championships.

As expected, Christiansburg took the team lead. The Blue Demons had 67½ points through the quarterfinals, followed by Grundy at 53½ and Poquoson at 49½. Tabb was tied for 11th with 21, Grafton 15th with 18, New Kent 16th with 17 and Smithfield tied for 20th with 14½.

Tabb’s Andrew Williams, chasing his third consecutive state title, gained a technical fall and pin at 130 pounds. He is ranked No. 1 in the state at 125 but is wrestling at 130 this postseason.

Grafton’s two regional champions advanced two rounds apiece Friday, each winning by a pin and a decision: 189-pounder Chase Ennis and heavyweight (285-pounder) Keith Person. Tabb’s Paul Bresnan, the regional runner-up at 189, beat two foes by decision and could face Ennis for a championship.

New Kent’s Luke Todd pinned both of his opponents at 135, and Smithfield’s Chris Collins gained a decision and major decision at 171.
Action resumes at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, and the finals are scheduled for 6:30 p.m.

GROUP A

Three wrestlers from Mathews were among the competitors to reach the semifinals in the state Group A tournament, which is running concurrently with the AA show in the Salem Civic Center.

Michael Engle

won 10-6 over his quarterfinal opponent from Clarke County at 145 pounds. Alan Ward, considered the Blue Devils’ best hope for state glory, won 4-2 over a Rural Retreat rival to reach the semis. And Mathews heavyweight Garrett Fosdyck scored a pin against a Grayson County wrestler in 1 minute, 41 seconds in his quarterfinal.

Also reaching the semifinals were three Lancaster wrestlers, King William heavyweight Kevin White and Middlesex 130-pounder Conrad Maszack. Fosdyck upset White en route to winning the Region A championship.

Mathews’ losing quarterfinalists were Stewy Mattox at 125 and Jimmy Arthur at 152.