The James River wrestling team hosted the Class 2C tournament in Springwood last Saturday and it was a big day for the Knights. River not only won the tournament, but had six region champs and qualified 10 for this weekend’s state tournament at the Salem Civic Center.
“I am super proud of my wrestling team,” said coach Bobby Stewart. “ Myself, Coach (Chris) Witt and Coach (Jason) Cuddy spent the last couple weeks talking and prepping about peaking at the right time and did we ever. We knew winning our second consecutive Region 2C championship out of 11 teams wasn’t going to be easy after Alleghany and Patrick County dropped to 2A and are in our region. We knew several teams were going to be strong and we had to fight for it. I told the team whoever has the best day Saturday was going to walk away with the championship. I’m glad we had the best day.”
River scored 242.5 points to outpoint second place Glenvar, a Three Rivers District rival, by 42 points.Alleghany was third with 158, followed by Floyd at 114 and Patrick County at 113.
The Knights had eight wrestlers in the 14 championship matches and six came away with championships, Timmy Bennett at 106, Chase Cuddy at 113, Mason Stewart at 138, Hunter Forbes at 145, Addison McCaleb at 182 and Levi Walker at 285. Caleb Shipwash, at 160, and Dakota Gilliam, at 220, were runnersups.
“The big performer of the day was Addison McCaleb,” said Stewart. “He took two guys he previously lost to and won his first regional title. Addison was a clutch performer for us this week. My staff and I knew he had to perform in order for us to bring the title home again and he did.”
Bennett came off a three week knee injury to win at 106 with a 47 second pin and Cuddy, a sophomore, won his second consecutive regional championship at 113.
“Being a sophomore and winning back to back is a huge confidence booster,” said Stewart. “Chase placed 4th in the state last year and we are shooting to climb the ladder this year. He is a consistent performer and I can count on him.”
Mason Stewart, Bobby’s son, pinned Glenvar’s Caleb Shelton in just over a minute of the first period in the finals.
“Mason had a great day and also earned his second consecutive regional championship as a junior,” said dad. “Mason and Shelton have wrestled like six or seven times or more over the last three years and have went back and forth a lot. But we reviewed what Mason needed to do and he took care of business with a win by pin in the finals match, helping distance us in from Glenvar.”
Forbes also had a pin in the final over Darious Williams of Patrick County. Hunter has only lost two matches since dropping to 145, to a two time state champ and a Class 3 opponent.
At heavyweight, Walker pinned Shane Mack of Floyd for the title. The win was Walker’s 150th at James River.
“Levi has been a staple in our program for my last three years and a year before I arrived here,” said Stewart. “He is a senior and we have one last shot a greatness and a state championship. There is no doubt in my mind he is capable and prepared.”
With 10 in the tournament the Knights are hoping to finish high in the state this weekend.
“Every single one of these guys earned their spot,” said Stewart. “There were no gimmes. They each had to work hard to earn the slot and I’m a super proud coach here. This week we practice strategy for our matches and mentally get prepared for Friday morning.”
