The James River wrestlers topped off a memorable season with a best ever finish in the Class
2 tournament at the Salem Civic Center last Saturday. The Knights finished third as a team with five
medalists, including a state champion at 138 pounds in Mason Stewart.
“If my happiness had a monetary value I would be a billionaire right now,” said River coach
Bobby Stewart, who is Mason’s father. “I cannot seem to find the words or thoughts to put in place
about how great our year ended. The team just did it. That story of believing in yourself and pushing
yourself to your limits and then taking that work and using it to achieve something you never thought
you could. That story is alive right here at James River High School right now. These guys have a fire
burning and it’ not going out anytime soon.”
Stewart, who wrestled at Lord Botetourt in high school and finished third in the state himself,
has lifted the program to a new level. The third place finish was the best ever for River, and the
Knights were just two and a half points behind second place Strasburg with104. Poquoson won the
state championship with 140 points, but River graduates just two seniors from this team, Levi Walker,
who took the third place medal at heavyweight, and Caleb Shipwash.
“My guys came to me when it was over and said ‘we can win the state championship coach’,”
said Stewart. “I said ‘yes we can.’ What you do now until next year will determine if we do.
“There were 10 different scenarios that could have went our way to seat us comfortably in
second place, but those things didn't happen and took place for a reason. The wrestlers will take those
short comings and use it as drive and myself and my coaching staff will use it as well. Yes we learn
from it. Iron sharpens iron.”
The highlight of the weekend was Mason Stewart’s 138 pound championship, which left dad
in tears as he raced on the mat to give his son a hug. Mason is a junior and his road to the podium was
not an easy one. Stewart pinned Jackson Mullins from Lebanon in the semfinals, setting up a match
against Jaylon Burks of Strasburg in the finals.
After a scoreless first period Mason was given choice and he chose the down position and was
ridden out the entire second period as the match remained scoreless. In the third period Burks chose the
bottom position. Early in the period Burks earned a reversal for the first points scored in the match and
went up 2 – 0 over Stewart with 1:34 left in the period. A scramble ensued and Stewart was able to earn
his own reversal in the middle of the 3rd period with 1:06 left in the match.
Burks would restart the match in the down position with 1:06 left on the clock. A short
scramble took place and they found themselves out of bounds with 41 seconds to go and Stewart still
in the top control position. The whistle blew and Burks elevated into a quad pod and Stewart saw the
opportunity and sunk a leg and hit his cradle. Sitting to his butt, Stewart exposed Burks back to the mat
and secured a five count to earn three back points to make the score 5 – 2 in Stewart's favor and that
was the final score.
“Job well done my son!” said coach Stewart. “Mason is my first state champion since taking
over the program. For it to be my son is even sweeter. I think it is iconic actually. Mason has put in a
lot of work. We had some disappointments early on that had me thinking if he was really in it to win it.
Mason is now 44-12.
“His name will be etched in the history books forever,” said Bobby. “He will grace the wall of
fame in the wrestling room and that is something that no one can ever take away from him, ever. I told
Mason, I always wished I could have walked the parade of champions before the finals each year at the
state championships but can't because I wasn't a state champion. Now he can do that, and that makes
me real happy.”
Four other Knights also medaled. Chase Cuddy, Addison McCaleb and Walker all took thirds
and Hunter Forbes took a fourth.
Cuddy, a sophomore, was third at 113 and finished the season 32-9. He pinned Rudy Downey
of King William in 52 seconds in the consolation final.
“A great accomplishment for a sophomore,” said Stewart. “Chase has two years to go to attain
that goal at being on the top of the podium. I look for great things from him in the years to come.”
McCaleb, a junior, took third at 182. Addison found himself facing the foe that ended his
championship run when he would be pitted against Keith Carbaugh of Graham in the consolation final.
McCaleb fought a hard match that went into overtime where Addison secured a takedown to win the
bout and avenge the earlier loss.
“Addison had the second best day in my opinion,” said Stewart. “ I am elated for him as well.
There are few greater rewards than seeing the determination in a wrestler and watch him succeed.”
Walker took a third at heavyweight after losing to Jacob Sacra of Madison County in overtime
in the semifinals, 3-2. It was a tough loss for Levi, who was the state runnerup as a junior. Sacra went
on to win the state championship with a pin over Will Moss of Marion, who beat Levi in last year’s
championship match.
This makes Levi's third time placing third and with his second place finish last season he
becomes only the second wrestler in school history to place in the state tournament all four years
competing. His consolation final win, a 2:45 pin of Raekwon Parker of Nottoway, ends his career with
a high school career record of 155-44.
“ Levi will be missed on this team as he graduates and sets out to his future endeavors,” said
Stewart. “He has been a dependable team member and he is irreplaceable in a lot of regards. I hope to
see him grace our room as a coach one day.”
Forbes, a sophomore, took fourth at 145. Hunter went down 8-0 in his semifinal match with
Jonah Phillips of Central High. He battled back to 10-8 but ran out of time, then wrestled back for a
fourth. He lost 10-9 in the consolation final.
“Fourth place as a sophomore is a great accomplishment and he has several years left to
compete,” said Stewart. “I will be a betting man that Hunter Forbes will be on fire out of the gate next
year.”
This is Stewart’s third year as coach, and each season the team has improved.
“Year one we took six kids to state and placed two of those kids,” he said. “This year we took
10 kids to state and five placed and four return next year.
“I have always said that James River High School is a diamond in the rough. I am lucky, I
found the diamond!”
 
 
