Great dynasty reigns again
Wildcats earn four Class 4 individual titles on their way to 22nd team trophy
VIRGINIA BEACH — The Great Bridge wrestling team faced little resistance as it scored the program’s 22nd state title, dominating the Class 4 Tournament that finished Saturday night at the Virginia Beach Sports Center.
The Wildcats entered Saturday’s final day of competition with just over a 30-point edge but pushed their lead toward triple digits (186.5 to 93 over Spotsylvania) during the afternoon’s consolation rounds.
With five wrestlers in the finals, the only question remaining was how wide Great Bridge’s margin of victory would be.
In the end, the Wildcats doubled the total of every other team except one, totaling 202.5 points. Eastern View, from Culpeper County, was second with 102.
Great Bridge’s 22 state wrestling titles are second behind Grundy, which on Saturday won its 26th crown by winning the Class 1 Tournament.
Great Bridge was the only local team to place finalists in Class 4, and the only one to place in the top 20 of team scoring.
The Wildcats drew hard and heavy from their strength, the 132- to 157-pound classes, placing finalists in four of the five championship bouts.
At 132, Myrin Nixon stepped onto the mat first and jumped to a quick 4-0 lead en route to an 8-2 decision over Handley’s Nick Baker. Caleb Neal followed at 138 and successfully won his second individual championship (he was first at 126 last year) with a 5-0 win over Luke Wirth of Jefferson Forest.
Neal is happy to see his team regain the tradition that has produced back-to-back state crowns, which gives coach Steve Martin — who returned to the program last season — a total of 14.
“It is good to see that our hard work is effective,” said Neal, a sophomore.
The future looks bright for Great Bridge, according to Neal.