StC News
Saints Fifth at Hopewell Classic
The St. Christopher's wrestling team knew that the 2009 Hopewell Classic was going to be a tough way to open the season, with AA state powerhouse and returning Classic champion Christiansburg attending, along with some of the metro Richmond area's best high school programs and wrestlers. The late addition of #1 and #3 AAA teams Frank Cox and Westfield, #4 AA New Kent, and national power Wyoming Seminary from Pennsylvania made this year's Hopewell Classic a gem of an opening season tournament. The team understood that they would have their hands full with some of the best wrestlers in the state and nation attending and had to bring their "A" game to the tournament. The team responded well, finishing a respectable fifth behind eventual champion Wyoming Seminary. Frank Cox proved that at least at this point in the season they are the top program in Virginia, by outpointing Christiansburg for second place.
The team was led by 2nd place finishes from freshman Brandon Jeske and junior David Wesley. Both lost very close matches to nationally ranked wrestlers: Jeske dropped a 2-0 decision to 2009 National Preps runner-up Bryan Whitt, now wrestling for Frank Cox, while Wesley lost 5-4 to Seminary's Chris Moon. Moon was a AAA State runner-up for Fauquier last season. In the semi-finals, the 160 lb. Wesley pinned current #1 AAA wrestler Nick Grinnups from Westfield to establish himself as one of the top wrestlers in Virginia. Jeske major decisioned Brayden Manchester of James River in his semi-final match at 119.
A number of other St. Christopher's wrestlers performed well at the Hopewell Classic. Despite giving up weight to almost all of his opponents, Chris Gill finished 3rd at 285, dropping an early tournament match to Frank Cox's gargantuan heavyweight Ross Burbank. He bounced back and made it to the semi-finals, losing to Wyoming Seminary's Mike McMullan before finishing a strong 3rd. Loren Phillips (145), Rennie Merhige (152), and Ted Gottwald (171), all placed 4th, while Edward Custer (189) took 5th. Trey Tarr rounded out the Saints place winners with a 6th place finish at 140. Pictures from the Hopewell Classic will be posted on the site soon.
The team will be back in action on Saturday, December 12th when they take to the mats for the first ever St. Christopher's Saints Invitational against, Hanover, Hopewell, Franklin County, First Colonial, Brookville, and VES. The action begins at Scott Gymnasium at 9 AM. Come out and show your Saints wrestling spirit.
www.stchriswrestling.com
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