Big Orange is back in Salem
VINTON – The Big Orange is back.
Just one year after being shut out of the state Group AA wrestling tournament, William Byrd will send five wrestlers to the mats when the Salem Civic Center welcomes back the “Big Show” this weekend. The local venue will once again be home to the state Group A and AA wrestling state championships, beginning Friday morning and culminating with the finals on Saturday night.
These five Terriers will be participating in the state wrestling tournament this weekend. Left to right: Jacob Cunningham, Garfield Harris, Josh Helm, Jake Bailey and Ryan Pruett.
Last year Byrd didn’t have anyone in the field, a rarity for a school with a strong wrestling tradition. Last weekend the draught ended as five Terriers qualified for this weekend’s tournament; Jacob Cunningham, Garfield Harris, Josh Helm, Jake Bailey, and Ryan Pruett.
“We had a good weekend at the regional tournament,” said Byrd coach Ryan Broughman. “In two years William Byrd hasn’t sent a single athlete to the state tournament but this year we’ll be sending five. It’s a big accomplishment for us as a team and part of what we’ve been working toward all year.”
A total of 448 wrestlers will compete in 784 bouts this weekend, with just 28 walking away as state champions, 14 in Group A and 14 in Group AA. The Saturday night extravaganza has become a big deal. In a pre-championship ceremony each finalist is introduced and spotlighted as his accomplishments are announced to the crowd. More spotlights were added a few years ago, and that’s the kind of attention to detail that has made “The Show” the spectacle it has become.
Wrestlers will roll into the valley on Thursday to check out the mats while the coaches have their pre-tournament meeting. Official weigh-ins are at 8 am Friday, with the first round scheduled for 10 am Friday on eight mats, followed by first round consolation matches.
The second session begins at 6:30 pm Friday with quarterfinal matches on eight mats. Second round consolations are at 9 pm.
State semifinals will begin at 9:30 am Saturday on four mats in the middle, with quarterfinal consolation matches on the end mats. Semifinal consolations are scheduled for noon, with fifth place matches at 1:30 pm and consolation finals, for third, at approximately 2:30 pm. The fourth and final session is the championship round on Saturday night. Introductions will be at 6 pm, followed by the final round at 6:30 pm.
Christiansburg is the overwhelming favorite in Group AA. The Blue Demons have been ranked among the top 10 high school teams in the nation this season and they’ll be gunning for their 11th consecutive Virginia High School League Group AA title. The Demons easily won the Region IV title at Magna Vista last weekend, putting 11 wrestlers in the finals and winning eight championships.
The Group A state championship should be closer, as Manassas Park and Grundy are expected to battle it out. Grundy was once the state power in Group AA before coach Kevin Dresser moved to Christiansburg, eventually landing at Virginia Tech. Grundy has moved from Group AA to Group A just this year and won’t be in Christiansburg’s shadow for a change.
Manassas Park is another traditional power in wrestling, bouncing between Group A and Group AA. Manassas Park is the defending Group A state champ.
Byrd finished eighth in the Region III tournament at Turner Ashby last weekend. Brookville won the tournament and Northside of the Blue Ridge was second.
Helm(138) and Bailey(160) each placed second while Cunningham(106), Harris(132) and Pruett(195) each placed fourth. Broughman is looking for them to do well this weekend.
“Our five qualifiers each are capable of bringing hardware back home to Vinton,” he said. “I’m excited about the opportunities in front of our qualifiers.”
A two-time state champion himself while wrestling for Lord Botetourt, Broughman knows what the boys are going through as they prepare for this important event.
“The state tournament is the culmination of the season,” he said. “It takes a particular toughness to survive the season and succeed in the gauntlet of District, Region, and State competition. Our region is competitive, often qualifiers from our area do well and place.”
This is the first trip to “The Show” for all five Byrd competitors. Harris is the only senior.
“They will gain valuable experience this week and grow as wrestlers,” said Broughman. “With only one senior in the mix we look to return four of our five wrestlers. That’s a significant upgrade to the competitiveness and experience within our room next year.
“Things are looking up. We are well prepared and ready to prove ourselves this weekend. It’s what we’ve been fighting for all year.”
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