The VHSL state wrestling championships start Friday, with the 4A-1A championships at the Salem Civic Center while the 6A-5A tournaments are held in Chesapeake at Oscar Smith High.
Here’s a look at the local qualifiers.
Group 2A
Madison County advanced the most wrestlers of any area squad into the state tournament with six Mountaineers moving on to the Group 2A championships.
At 145 pounds, Zach Gibson won the Region 2A East title for the Mountaineers. He’ll take on Ben Humphreys out of Richlands in the opening round.
Madison’s Jalyn Simms was the runner-up in Region 2A East and will face Christophe Nichols of Randolph Henry in the first round at 132 pounds.
Dalton Dudley was fourth at 152 pounds and will take on Gate City’s William Lawrence in the opening round.
At 170 pounds, Gabe Farmer finished fourth in the region. He’s set to face Elliott Pedigo of Grundy in the opening round.
Joseph Manuel was the Region runner-up, he’ll take on Appomattox’s Leonard Marshall at 220 pounds in the first round.
Eric Cashman finished third in the region and he’ll take on Grundy’s Michael McCowan in the first round.
Group 4A
A quartet of Louisa County wrestlers advanced to the Group 4A championships in Salem, with Austin Mills at 120, Jaret Gimsley at 132, Jeffrey Sisk at 126 and Zeph Frankart at 113.
Sisk, who has a 49-1 record on the year, will face James Wood’s Zach Singhas in the opening round at 126.
Mills will face Woodgrove’s Derek Shockey in the first round. Grimsley is matched up with Lilo Quezada of HHS while Frankart will take on Fauquier’s Kyle Budd.
Group 3A
Two Western Albemarle wrestlers advanced to the state tournament with, Russ Hill coming in third in Region 3A West after falling in overtime in the semifinals. He’ll face Warren County’s Conner Jost in the opening round. Nate Riley will wrestle at 182 pounds. He’ll face Warren County’s Jacob Schneider in the first round.
Monticello’s Logan Zimmerman took fourth at 120 pounds and he’ll battle Brentsville’s Anthony Lattanze, the Region 3A East champion, in the first round.
William Monroe’s Greg Sizemore is the lone Dragon to qualify for the state tournament. He’ll take on Cave Spring’s Cody Amos, who is currently 36-0, in the opening round.
Group 5A
Orange County pushed two wrestlers through the always challenging Region 5A North tournament, with the Hornets’ Corey Champion advancing to the Group 5A championships in Chesapeake at Oscar Smith High at 138 pounds. He’s seeded opposite Glen Allen senior Austin Farr in the first round.
Hornets junior Dustin Shifflett advanced to the state tournament at 195 pounds and will face Green Run freshman Sean Yochum in the first round. Yochum is the No. 2 seed out of the 5A South.
One Albemarle wrestler, Nikolas Swoopes, advanced to the 5A tournament at 182 pounds. Swoopes is matched up with Hickory’s Eric Gamobni, the top seed out of the 5A South.
