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Strasburg Dominates Region B Wrestling Tournament

BullRun66

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Jun 25, 2021
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Strasburg won its fifth straight Region 2B wrestling title in dominant fashion.

The Rams had 10 individual Region 2B champions and 13 wrestlers made the finals in the Region 2B Wrestling Championships held at Riverheads on Saturday.

Strasburg finished with 293 points, followed by Riverheads (164.5), Fort Defiance (149), Madison County (138), Central (113) and Clarke County (91.5). Mountain View and Page County tied for seventh with 62 points and Stuarts Draft finished ninth with 55.



The top three wrestlers in each weight class advance to next weekend’s Class 2 State Championships in Salem. Strasburg advanced 13 and Central advanced five, including 285-pound Region 2B champion Nathan Lopez. Mountain View did not have any wrestlers advance to the state tournament.

Strasburg’s 10 individual region champions were Aiden Swink (106), Peyton Dean (120), Braeden Martinez (126), Heath Burks (138), Lucas Martinez (144), David Burks (150), Donovan Burks (165), Harper Sherman (175), Colby Shaw (190) and Hutson Conrad (215). David Burks was named the Region 2B Wrestler of the Year.

In the 106-pound final, Strasburg’s Swink beat Riverheads’ Mariah Roberts by tech fall, 15-0, in 5:25. Swink, a freshman, dominated the match from the start building a 4-0 lead in the opening period and stretching it to 9-0 after two periods.

In the 113-pound final, Strasburg junior Conner Miller fell to Riverheads’ Bryson Cash by tech fall, 15-0, in 2:32. Cash took command from the start taking an 13-0 lead after the opening period.

In the 120-pound final, Dean, a junior, beat Clarke County’s Colton Vincent by tech fall, 15-0, in 4:00. Dean took a 7-0 lead after the first period and continued to score points and build on the lead in the second period.

In the 126-pound final, Strasburg freshman Braeden Martinez won by major decision, 13-0, over Madison County’s Evan Pack. Braeden Martinez beat Pack in last week’s Bull Run District Tournament, 7-2, and built on that success in regionals. Braeden Martinez took a 7-0 lead after the opening period and extended the lead to 12-0 after two periods.

In the 132-pound final, Strasburg junior Jadon Shanholtz fell to Riverheads’ Jake Yowell by tech fall, 15-0, in 3:49. Yowell led 7-0 after the opening period and continued to build on the lead throughout the second period.

In one of the best finals of the day, Strasburg’s Heath Burks beat Fort Defiance’s Landon Yoder, 7-6. Heath Burks, a reigning three-time state champion, is going for his fourth state title. He would be only the second wrestler in program history to accomplish the feat.

Heath Burks took a 3-2 lead after the opening period and Yoder continued to hang with him throughout the second period. Yoder was able to use a takedown to take a 6-5 lead after two periods.

Heath Burks showed his experience as he battled back in the third period. The crowd began to get louder and louder throughout the third period as Heath Burks took a 7-6 lead and held on to pick up the regional title.

In the 144-pound final, Strasburg junior Lucas Martinez beat Madison County’s Joshua Lamb by pin at 3:21. Lucas Martinez trailed 2-0 early in the match but rallied to take a 4-2 lead early in the second period.



In the 150-pound final, Strasburg senior David Burks won by tech fall, 19-4, over Fort Defiance’s Adam Wimer in 5:30. David Burks, a reigning state champion, took a 5-0 lead in the first period and stretched it to 9-2 after the second period.

In the 157-pound final, Strasburg senior Zach Bracken lost to Clarke County’s Blake Jacobson by tech fall, 18-3, in 5:21. Jacobson led 4-1 after the first period and extended the lead to 11-2 after two periods.

In the 165-pound final, Strasburg junior Donovan Burks pinned Stuarts Draft’s Chris Dray in 2:48. Donovan Burks led 5-0 after the opening period and continued to attack throughout the second period.

The 175-pound final featured two area wrestlers in a defensive battle. Strasburg’s Sherman beat Central senior Davon Ridgely 7-1 in a tiebreaker to win the regional title.

Throughout three periods neither wrestler was able to gain an advantage. Sherman took a 1-0 lead early in the second period on an escape. Ridgely tied the match at 1-1 on an escape early in the third period. The pair went to overtime and stayed deadlocked at 1-1.

In the second overtime tiebreaker, which is two 3-second periods, Sherman took control as he used an escape and a takedown to take a 4-1 lead and held on for the 7-1 win.

In the 190-pound final, Strasburg’s Shaw beat Fort Defiance’s Zane Sayre 10-4. Shaw, a senior, held a 2-0 lead after the opening period. Shaw scored with a reverse to take a 4-0 lead and held on for a 4-2 lead after two periods. Throughout the third period Shaw continued to score and stretch the lead as held on for the regional title.

In the 215-pound final, Strasburg’s Conrad beat Madison County’s Matthew Sacra by pin in 1:54. Conrad, a sophomore, jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead and didn’t look back in winning the regional title.

In the 285-pound final, Central’s Lopez won by pin over Fort Defiance’s Aaron Bailey in 2:31. Lopez, a senior, held a 7-3 lead after the opening period and then continued to attack throughout the second period. Lopez, who won his 100th career match on Saturday, is a reigning state champion.

Other top performers for Central were Austin Hosaflook (106, third, 1-1), Chad Stickley (113, fifth), Hunter Hottle (120, third, 3-1, 1 pin), Joseph Lambert (144, sixth), Dean Schlich (150, fifth), Davon Ridgely (175, second, 2-1), Tyler Forbes (190, third, 2-1, 2 pins) and Nathan McAboy (215, fourth, 1 pin).

Hosaflook, Hottle and Forbes will join Lopez and Ridgely in next weekend’s state tournament for Central.

Mountain View was led by Marcus Ortiz (120, fourth, 1 pin), Jackson Miller (132, fourth, 2-2), Charlie Hoover (138, fifth, 2-2, 1 pin), Carlos Garcia-Romero (144, fifth, 1 pin), Trey Heishman (215, fifth, 2-2, 2 pins) and Levi Riffey (285, fourth, 2-2 1, pin).

Strasburg will be going for its third straight and seventh overall state team title this weekend in Salem. The early rounds start at 10 a.m. on Friday and the tourney concludes on Saturday. The finals are scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

David Burks for Strasburg was named Region B wrestler of the year. Article compliments of the Northern Virginia Daily
 
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Strasburg congrats. They will also dominate the Class 2 State Tournament, but Poquoson will make it a bit closer. Next year, look for the Islanders to go back on top and surpass Strasburg. As for this year in Class 2 everyone else is playing for 2nd for team competition. Strasburg was stacked last year with the team state title, but completely loaded this year for a Class 2 school.
 
Late to the party but Strasburg did what we all knew they would. Extremely tough lineup top to bottom and they certainly will be favored to repeat as 2A team champions. I am not as sold that Poquoson will make it close but they are definitely the most likely culprit to score and score a lot. Good luck and safe travels to all those coming out to watch two phenomenal days of wrestling.
 
I don't think the outcome with Poquoson, Riverheads or any other teams will be close, but I think it might be closer than the Region B tournament. Poquoson is super young and absolutely loaded with young talent that has matured rapidly since the beginning of the season. They have no chance to overcome this Strasburg juggernaut, but they'll still bring lots of talent to state. Poquoson is setting on a goldmine of talent in 2025, 26, 27 and with something like 14 state titles, their best 3 years in history might be 25,26, and 27 with whats in the cupboard from the people I've talked with.
 
I am not looking at next year just yet but Poquoson usually brings a ton to the party year in and out. I do agree they will likely keep it closer than Region B. Time will tell what 25, 26, or 27 will hold in store.
 
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