Four new members entered the Roanoke Valley Wrestling Hall of Fame when the group held its annual banquet Monday at the Tanglewood Holiday Inn Ballroom. This year’s class includes Jason Cline, Greg Henderson, David Labiosa and Bruce Palmer and special awards from the recently concluded high school season were also presented.
Cline wrestled at Grundy High School where he was a two-time VHSL state champion and a three-time district and Region IV champ. He went on to coach at Glenvar Middle School, then the high school as well as coaching the Virginia Elite Youth. Jason’s 2023 Glenvar team was the Class 2 state runner-up.
Henderson wrestled at William Byrd from 1985-87 and then coached at William Byrd Middle School. He has worked the Big Orange tournament for 36 years and is also a former Roanoke Valley Wrestling Official.
Labiosa also wrestled at Byrd when he won two Big Orange and two Group AA state championships. He was All-Metro Co-Wrestler of the Year in 1982 and a 1983 Scholastic High School All-American.
A third Byrd product in the Class of 24 is Bruce Palmer, who won two district, region and state championships with the Terriers. Bruce was undefeated his junior and senior years and was named the Roanoke Valley Heavyweight Wrestler of the Year.
The Roanoke Valley Wrestling Association also gave their annual awards for Coach of the Year, Wrestler of the Year. Noah Nininger of Staunton River was named the Wrestler of the Year and Lawrence Van Liew of Salem was named the Coach of the Year.
