2021-2022 IAC WRESTLING CHAMPS

COACH KATZ report on the competition– He’s a BEAR and every member of this team is one, too.

It was a good day for the Bears! We are starting to peak at the right time.  It was a team effort all around.  Out of the 14 weight classes, we had 10 in the finals with 5 champs.  Thank you to those fans who showed up and those who watched the live-stream.  We had a strong crowd and got loud when we needed it. 

At 106, freshman Theo Shockey loss a tough one in the semi-finals, but bounced back for 3^rd place.

At 113, sophomore Seamus McNamara had a breakthrough day.  He took second place and wrestled really well against a state ranked wrestler from Georgetown Prep in the finals. 

At 120, Senior Daniel Samuel also had a good day by making the finals.  He lost a close 5-3 to a solid St. Albans competitor. 2^ND PLACE

At 126, we had no entry due to Jibreel Muhammad not feeling well.  Special Kudos to Freshman Talan Smith.  He has been the ultimate team player all year.  He was called early in the morning to fill the spot and he did everything in his power to make weight and support the team.  He did his job, but due to unfortunate circumstances he was not able to compete.  He most likely would have made the finals as well. 

At 132, Junior Captain Joel Brown continues to show his skills by beating the #4 ranked wrestler in MD from Bullis: 6-2. Our first head to head with Bullis in the finals.  1^ST PLACE

At 138, sophomore Will Levy took out the #21 ranked wrestler in MD and #5 ranked in privates in MD from Bullis. Will won with a take down in overtime. Will drew energy and emotion from the crowd and finished the job. Will has moved down a weight for the tournament season and this win will help him earn a decent seed at the State tournament.  Bears 2 Bullis 0.  1^ST PLACE

At 145, Junior Conrad Brady earned a 4^th place. A team player and work out machine, he lost a heart-breaker in overtime in the consolation finals.

At 152, Senior Captain Daniel Robinson made the finals, but took second place.  He got the first takedown, but then got caught on his back in a scramble by his Georgetown Prep opponent.  Daniels leadership this season has been phenomenal, as he gave another memorable speech to the team before and after the competition.  2^ND PLACE

At 160, Sophomore Nate Furgeson had his best match of the year to avenge his only loss of the season. Nate wrestled a smart match and eventually pinned the # 3 ranked private school wrestler in Virginia from Episcopal. 1^ST PLACE

At 170, Junior Captain Anthony Savoy had an amazing day.  This weight class had the most depth in the tournament with 5 tough wrestlers.  Anthony won his semi-finals 5-3, and then finished strong in the last seconds of the finals against Bullis.  Anthony was down 2 points with 30 seconds left on the clock.  He earned a takedown and back points for the win as the period ended.  Again, the crowd was right on the side of the mats cheering him on for the win.  Landon 3 Bullis 0 in the finals.  1^ST PLACE

At 182, Junior Nico Schermer went up a weight class to help the team due to an injury to Junior Captain Will Abramson.  Nico was a beast as he pinned his Bullis opponent in the semis, and then gave everything he had in the finals to push his opponent. The St. Stephens St. Agnes wrestler is ranked #1 in Virginia private schools and is a returning National Prep place winner. 2^ND PLACE

At 195, Junior David LaPrade went up a weight class to make our line up as strong as possible.  While he was disappointed in a tough loss in the semis against St. Stephens St. Agnes, he rebounded and crushed his opponent from Episcopal for 3^rd place. 

Freshman Tiller Smith bumped up to 220 and made the finals.  He had an amazing match in the semi-finals to avenge a loss against St. Stephens, the #4 ranked wrestler in Virginia privates.  In the finals, he lost a close match in the finals against a tough senior from Episcopal who is ranked #3 in Virginia’s privates schools.  2^ND PLACE

To wrap up the day at 285, Junior Ty Reyes sent the final message to the league.  With the crowd going nuts, Ty pinned his Episcopal opponent in the 3^rd period.1^ST PLACE

 This team still has work to do, but this was a great start to the tournament season. Go Bears!

SORRY: THESE WERE THE ONLY PICTURES THAT I FOUND ON SOCIAL MEDIA- EVERY BEAR THERE SHOULD HAVE A SPOT HERE!!!

Here is a link to the Washington Post Coverage:  

https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/02/05/landon-finishes-strong-iac-wrestling-championships-securing-first-outright-title-since-2018/