Consolation prize: Kellam wins tournament with just 1 champ
VIRGINIA BEACH — While it’s preferable to win numerous individual titles, Kellam proved tournaments can be won just as easily in the consolation bracket.
Jake Thompson won the Knights’ only individual crown at heavyweight, but 10 others finished sixth or better as Kellam (267.5 points) won the Ocean Lakes Invitational comfortably over Great Bridge (208.5) on Saturday at Ocean Lakes.
“We got a guy at every weight,” said Thompson, who won his final with a pin in 4 minutes, 44 seconds. “Everyone really cares about the team. It’s not so much about ourselves, it’s the team, so even if we take a loss (in the championship bracket), we’re coming back for those extra points (in the consolation bracket).”
Kellam’s Mason Ingram (120) and Cameron Fentress (132) were runners-up while Guy Hall (145), Garrett Schrantz (152) and Brycen Buchner (182) placed third.
Thompson’s win, also the final match of the day, capped a formidable showing by the Knights, who aim to contend for a Class 6 state title.
“I had a good mindset this tournament,” Thompson said. “I had confidence, I felt good in my moves and didn’t get out of position. Last year my main fault was I’d falter with my mind and I wouldn’t think I could win, so this year it’s pressure, mindset and getting after it.”
Great Bridge’s secondplace team finish was boosted by six wrestlers who made the finals.
Eric Doran (120), Jesse Alvarado (145) and Kolby Allred (152) won, with Max Martin (106), Ty Chittum (138) and Harrison Smith (160) finishing second.
Doran was the biggest surprise of the day. The freshman stunned Poquoson senior Cole McCormick, ranked No. 1 at 120 in Hampton Roads, in the semifinals by a 6-3 decision before beating Kellam’s Mason Ingram 12-0 in the final.
Alvarado beat Archbishop Spalding’s Nick Paolucci 6-2, and Allred notched a 13-2 major decision over Mount St. Joseph’s Chris Roybal.
Smith fell to Landstown’s Bryce Sanderlin 9-6 in a matchup of the top two ranked wrestlers in the area at 160.
Poquoson’s Karon Smith was a runner-up at 113.
The tournament was one of the last instances some of the area’s best teams will see each other before postseason action begins in separate classifications with Kellam and Landstown in Class 6, Great Bridge in Class 4 and Poquoson in Class 2.
“Everyone’s dedicated throughout the season and worked hard,” Thompson said. “We got a bunch of seniors and we wanna send them out on a high note for sure.”
HOCKEY
Long shots, women cap skills event