The Roanoke Valley Wrestling Association held its annual Hall of Fame and Awards Banquet April 25. Several Lord Botetourt and James River athletes were honored.
Lord Botetourt’s Colin Sell received the Roy Stanley Outstanding Achievement Award. Each year the award is given to a wrestler that has had to overcome a hardship. Colin chose not to wrestle last year due to the possibility of being exposed to Covid and bringing it home to his dad, Randall Sell, who had health issues. After a year off from wrestling, Colin came back strong and had a great senior year, placing third in the state.
Colin was also a recipient of the Ken Shelton Memorial Scholarship on a night when his dad went into the RVWA Hall of Fame. Randall Sell, a volunteer assistant coach at LB, was one of five new Hall of Fame members along with Dox Cox, Mike Gibson, Talena Williams and Ronnie Wood. Randall wrestled at William Byrd High School where he was a four-year starter and won multiple district and region titles. He placed three times in the AA State Tournament including sixth place as a 112-pounder and third place as a 119-pounder.
Randall has coached at several schools throughout the Roanoke Valley. He spent several years as the head coach at Staunton River, and then moved to Salem High School as head coach. He also served as a volunteer assistant coach at Lord Botetourt and head coach at Andrew Lewis. Randall has worked with several youth programs including the Botetourt Wrestling Club.
Dakota Gilliam of James River received the Larry France Memorial Scholarship. Dakota plans to attend James Madison University and plans to continue on to medical school and become an ER doctor. He volunteered with the Buchanan Fire Department and the Community Carnival. He is a certified EMT and was part of the Rescue Squad. Dakota wrestled for four years placing all four years in the regional tournament.
J.B. Dragovich of Hidden Valley and Jacob Henderson of William Fleming were named High School Wrestlers of the Year and Glenvar’s Jason Cline was named Coach of the Year.
