View Photo Gallery
The caliber of wrestling exhibited at last weekend’s Capital District Championships left no one disappointed as wrestlers gearing up for the event put everything they had into matches to honor their schools.

  The all-day tournament at Atlee High School culminated with an overall Hanover victory, yet there were magnificent performances by wrestlers from the other schools for individual District Champion Titles.

  However, the tournament brought overall dominance from the Hanover County teams. The three schools combined to fill 18 of the 28 championship slots. Both Hanover and Lee-Davis placed eight wrestlers in the championship round along with two from Atlee. In the end, the Hawks walked away with six titles while the Confederates laid claim to five and Atlee one. In head-to-head matchups, Hanover went 3-1 against Lee-Davis and 1-1 with Atlee. No team outside of the country took a championship round matches by defeating a Hanover County opponent.

  Hanover head coach Aaron Bradley was happy with his team’s performance. “The guys came together and did a good job,” he said.  “(It) takes everybody scoring some points though, not just a couple of individuals.”

  Hanover was the only team healthy enough to have a complete roster for the tournament. 

  “With wrestling being a physical sport, you’re going to have injuries,” Bradley said. “Last year we were decimated by them.  This year, the guys are healthy, taking good care of themselves.  We try to stretch a lot; you gotta take good care of your body over the long season.” 

  Spencer Alexander, got things rolling for Hanover. Warming up in his customary red hood and lime-green wrestling shoes, he did not disappoint at 103, defeating Atlee’s Ricky Gambriel by major decision 17-3.  Alexander had his opponent scrambling for leverage early and often, refusing to relinquish control, by keeping Gambriel’s arm pinned against his body throughout the match.  Gambriel, in defense mode, managed only three escapes, nearly getting pinned in the last moments. 

  “I wish I had a few more seconds there at the end,” Alexander said. “It would have made me a lot happier.  I pulled out the “W” and I’m happy with that.  Next week is what I’m really striving for and then the week after to place at least the top three in the States. Knowing that it’s my senior year, I want to do it right.  I don’t want to not make myself happy…or make myself sad.  I want to go out with a bang.”

  At 119, Hanover’s Connor Harrison beat Varina’s Dylan Turner 11-4, with five takedowns and one escape.  Exhausted from the match, Harrison staved off Turner’s last ditch effort at a pin.

  The Hawks narrowly escaped a loss at 125 when Gabe LaVey, wrestling against a lively James Williams of Henrico, managed to maintain dominance by keeping Williams’ arm pinned against his body and leveraging weight against his opponent.  LaVey racked up enough points throughout the match for a major decision, but in the last seconds Williams reversed, almost pinning his Hanover opponent.

  Atlee’s John Woods claimed victory over Hanover’s Brock Buchanan in an evenly matched competition at 130.  Woods came up with the first take-down of the match, and both struggled fiercely gaining the advantage then reversing on each other.  Woods managed to lock up Buchanan’s head with his legs and hold on to his three-point lead for the finish.

  “I thought he was in position to win the match, but got a little sloppy on top,” Bradley said of Buchanan. “I think he gave up three reversals, which…when you’re on top, you can’t expect to give up three reversals and win the match.”
  In the 135 class, Hanover’s Ben Wilson defeated Lee-Davis’ Nick Green, pinning him in the second round after working his arm behind his back for leverage.  Similarly, at 152 David Polson took Belal Haidari of Lee-Davis by pin with 19 seconds left in the second. After a scoreless first period, Polson gained advantage by controlling Haidari’s left arm, working it around his back to set up the pin.

  “(It’s) always good to get some bonus points in the tournament,” Bradley said. “Every teim the guys pin, get a technical fall or a major decision, we get bonus points there. That always helps the team score.” 

  Lee-Davis’ picked up its first win of the day at 140 when Anthony Lineberry pinned Varina’s Terrance Powel in the second period.  After attacking and maintaining dominance, Lineberry eventually worked Powel’s arm around his back to set up the pin in 3:03.

  At 145, L-D’s Randy Loving pulled out a win against Armstrong’s Wadell Blackston.  The match began evenly, with both intense on getting the upper hand.  Loving lunged for Blackston’s leg without setting him up first; Blackston reversed the attempt, nearly pinning Loving and gaining back points, with the score tied up in the first period at 5-5.  Loving set up a leg shoot, in the next, fighting for control and keeping Blackston off-balance.  The second period closed with both werestlers hurting and exhausted, the score at 14-10, and Blackston laying on the mat unable to continue.

  The Confederates’ John Alexander defeated Henrico’s Alex Greene by major decision, 12-3, in the 189 class.  Alexander came out aggressively, reversing from of a failed take-down attempt by Greene, who eventually escaped to end the first period 2-1 Alexander.  In the second, Alexander gained back points from a reversal, maintaining control over Greene’s arm.  Like a bronco rider, Alexander spun with and remained atop his bucking opponent.  Alexander, having worked Greene to his back was denied the pin as the match closed.

  At 215, the Confederates Calvin Davis narrowly defeated Springer Tim Brown 9-8. 

  Davis took Brown down hard to open the match, earning three back points for his efforts.  Brown reversed and earned a couple of his own ending the first period at 5-4, Davis.  The second period ended with them dead even at 7-7, as Brown reversed from another Davis take-down, working Brown’s right leg for control.  Davis with a hurt leg and one minute left in the third, managed a two-leg take-down; Brown escaped and Davis held Brown’s pin attempt off to win.

  At 160, an exuberant Taylor Eastman of Lee-Davis won over Hanover’s Landon Casstevens 10-8, but the Hawks bounced back at 171 when Kyle Locke defeated the Confederates’ Taylor Griggs.

  Even though Hanover took the district title and Coach of the Year, Bradley said the work has just begun for his wrestlers. “All six of those guys that won their matches in the finals—this wasn’t the end goal for them,” he said. “They have aspirations to be Regional champions and high State place winners.  This is just a step in the direction of the ultimate goal.”

  Wrestling at 112, Henrico’s Charlie Lipford, who was named Capital District Wrestler of the Year, defeated Varina’s Stevie Barlow by pin, demonstrating his excitement with a back flip as an exclamation point after the match. 

TEAM SCORES

1. Hanover 240.5; 2. Lee-Davis 221; 3. Varina
164; 4. Henrico 124; 5. Highland Springs 109.5; 6.
Atlee 81; 7. Armstrong 43.

CHAMPIONSHIP
103: Alexander (Han) md. Gambriel (Atl), 17-3; 112: Lipford (Hen) p. Barlow (Var), 5:15; 119: Harrison (Han) d. Turner (Var), 11-4 ; 125: LaVey (Han) md. Williams (Hen), 13-4; 130: Woods (Atl) d. Buchanan (Han), 14-11; 135: Wilson (Han) p. Green (LD), 3:21; 140: Lineberry (LD) p. Powel (Var), 3:03; 145: Loving (LD) dep. Blackston (Arm); 152: David (Han) p. Haidari (LD), 3:40; 160: Eastland (LD) d. Casstevens (Han),10-8; 171: Locke (Han) tp. Griggs (LD), 4:30; 189: Alexander (LD) d. Greene (Hen), 12-5; 215: Davis (LD) d. Brown (HS), 9-8; 285: Johnson (HS) p. Rice (Hen), 1:57

Capital District 2009
Atlee High School
2/7/2009

Weight:  103
1st:  Spencer Alexander, Hanover High School  12   3-  0
2nd:  Ricky Gambriel, Atlee High School  12   1-  1
3rd:  Shawn Crawley, Varina High School  11   3-  1
4th:  Nick Shaw, Lee Davis High School  9   1-  2
5th:  Kyle Hutson, Henrico High School  10   1-  2
6th:  Thor Buckner, Highland Springs  9   0-  3

Weight:  112
1st:  Charlie Lipford, Henrico High School  11   3-  0
2nd:  Stevie Barlow, Varina High School  11   2-  1
3rd:  Kevin Keck, Hanover High School  11   2-  1
4th:  James Lovett, Highland Springs  11   1-  2
5th:  Hunter Helmick, Lee Davis High School  9   1-  2
6th:  Ian DeCourcey, Atlee High School     0-  3

Weight:  119
1st:  Connor Harrison, Hanover High School  10   3-  0
2nd:  Dylan Turner, Varina High School  12   1-  1
3rd:  Marcus Hughes, Lee Davis High School  11   2-  1
4th:  Quentin Woodson, Armstrong High School  9   0-  2
5th:  Sam Smith, Atlee High School  9   0-  2

Weight:  125
1st:  Gabe LaVey, Hanover High School  10   2-  0
2nd:  James Williams, Henrico High School  11   2-  1
3rd:  William Hicks, Highland Springs  12   2-  1
4th:  Trevor Talley, Varina High School  11   2-  2
5th:  Blair Heath, Lee Davis High School  10   1-  2
6th:  Greg Woodle, Atlee High School  9   0-  3

Weight:  130
1st:  John Woods, Atlee High School  11   2-  0
2nd:  Brock Buchanan, Hanover High School  9   2-  1
3rd:  Don Lineberry, Lee Davis High School  11   2-  1
4th:  Poncho Lyles, Varina High School  12   0-  2
5th:  Tyler Trainham, Henrico High School  9   0-  2

Weight:  135
1st:  Ben Wilson, Hanover High School  11   2-  0
2nd:  Nick Green, Lee Davis High School  10   2-  1
3rd:  Melecio Silva, Varina High School  9   1-  1
4th:  Ketron Green, Henrico High School  9   1-  2
5th:  Blanton Bazemore, Atlee High School  10   0-  2

Weight:  140
1st:  Anthony Lineberry, Lee Davis High School  11   3-  0
2nd:  Terrance Powel, Varina High School  11   1-  1
3rd:  Robert Winston, Henrico High School  9   3-  1
4th:  Akouko Frimpong, Highland Springs  12   1-  2
5th:  Matt Palmen, Hanover High School  9   1-  2
6th:  Brian Potsiadlo, Atlee High School  9   0-  3

Weight:  145
1st:  Randy Loving, Lee Davis High School  9   3-  0
2nd:  Wadell Blackston, Armstrong High School  12   1-  1
3rd:  Sean Hodge, Varina High School  10   3-  1
4th:  Isaac Mackey, Atlee High School  9   2-  2
5th:  Patrick Sorey, Hanover High School  9   2-  2
6th:  Jude Amogoh, Highland Springs  11   0-  3

Weight:  152
1st:  David Polson, Hanover High School  12   2-  0
2nd:  Belal Haidari, Lee Davis High School  12   1-  1
3rd:  Shaquan Monroe, Highland Springs  11   1-  1
4th:  Bitasame Mboe, Varina High School  11   0-  2

Weight:  160
1st:  Tyler Eastland, Lee Davis High School  11   2-  0
2nd:  Landon Casstevens, Hanover High School  10   2-  1
3rd:  Justin Beck, Varina High School  12   2-  1
4th:  Drakem Monroe, Highland Springs  9   0-  2
5th:  Brian Siepka, Atlee High School  11   0-  2

Weight:  171
1st:  Kyle Locke, Hanover High School  11   2-  0
2nd:  Taylor Griggs, Lee Davis High School  11   1-  1
3rd:  Michael Bazemore, Atlee High School  10   1-  1
4th:  Javionte Johnson, Highland Springs  9   0-  2

Weight:  189
1st:  John Alexander, Lee Davis High School  11   3-  0
2nd:  Alex Greene, Henrico High School  12   1-  1
3rd:  Zach Nussbaum, Hanover High School  11   3-  1
4th:  Andrew Grainer, Varina High School  10   1-  2
5th:  Travis Miles, Armstrong High School  10   1-  2
6th:  Janard Redd, Highland Springs  12   0-  3

Weight:  215
1st:  Calvin Davis, Lee Davis High School  10   2-  0
2nd:  Tim Brown, Highland Springs  11   2-  1
3rd:  Blake Jones, Hanover High School  11   1-  1
4th:  Tommy Bowen, Varina High School  12   1-  2
5th:  Tajae Taylor, Henrico High School  10   0-  2

Weight:  285
1st:  Khalid Johnson, Highland Springs  12   2-  0
2nd:  Shawn Rice, Henrico High School  12   1-  1
3rd:  Jonta Everette, Armstrong High School  12   2-  1
4th:  Devin Ford, Varina High School  12   1-  2
5th:  Aaron Hill, Hanover High School  10   0-  1