Cox crowns 4 champions as the Falcons win title
VIRGINIA BEACH — It took a little longer for Liam Flynn to put his match to bed, but once he locked in the cradle, the referee slapped the mat to signal good night.
Flynn won the 182-pound Class 5 Region A title with a third-period pin over Green Run’s Tyler Baker to become one of four Cox champions as the Falcons won the team championship Saturday at Green Run High.
“Last match I wrestled against him was only one period — I got a pin late in the first period, so I knew he was gonna be strong out of the gate,” Flynn said. “I knew he was gonna come out hard in the first period, so I had to keep my head down and keep pushing through, and I got him on something I knew I could hit him on and it worked.”
Flynn and fellow senior Austin Manning (145) won titles along with junior Colin Bridges (152) and sophomore Dylan Kassir (195). Anthony Pardo (126), Parker Tillery (132) and Tyler Haley (138) finished in second for the Falcons.
The seven top-two finishers helped Cox to a comfortable team win with 191 points to second-place Salem’s 155. First Colonial, Kempsville and Princess Anne rounded out the top five.
Other individual champions included: Kempsville’s Christian Ballon (106) and Jaden Flores (113), Salem’s Kyree Flamer (120) and Riley Stevens (126), First Colonial’s Seth Stoddard (132), Thomas Stofka (138) and Ryan Henderson (170), Gloucester’s Josh Seaton (160), Green Run’s Kaden Baker (220) and Princess Anne’s Miguel Rijo (285).
“The regional title feels great,” Cox coach Dalton Head said. “We’ve been scratching and clawing trying to find a room to work out in, a place to get the boys together, a time to get the boys together just to get some work in. I’m just so proud of the work the boys put in. They found the time, came to the workouts and it shows.”
There were no spectators allowed at the tournament, which was streamed online, because of COVID-19 restrictions. However, the Falcons replaced the lack of fanfare with their own, particularly for Kassir.
The sophomore was one of just two entrants in the 195 bracket, and when he cashed in the opportunity with a pin in 3:50, his teammates erupted in jubilation.
“Dylan’s had an up-and-down year, but he was out there fighting like crazy for the team,” Head said. “He had limited success all season long, and this is the one where it felt like he stomped his foot down and said, ‘I’m not going to lose.’”
Manning pinned his opponent in 46 seconds to add another accolade for his career.
“I was just doing what Coach told us: to go out strong and if you get the pin, get it for team points,” Manning said. “I’m just looking forward to states now.”
Bridges recorded his 3-2 decision win right after Manning as the two drill partners matched each other title for title.
Manning “doesn’t take any time off,” Head said.