This past Saturday, April 23rd the Bird o’ Prey Wrestling Club with a make-up of a ten club wrestlers headed to Skyline HS for the annual VAWA Freestyle Club Duals. With six mats down on a gym floor and embracing the importance of not exposing ones back had wrestlers from around the state learning the sport of Freestyle while they competed. A learn curve for some as the second Freestyle event of the spring season had tons of State talent on display.
Sixteen Club teams from across the State of Virginia wrestled head to head in a dual tournament format had teams grouped into four pools wrestling three head to head Freestyle matches through the first morning rounds. Based on the club’s records through the pool play the tournament then re-grouped teams in a bracket for two more matches.
Freestyle for the most is geared for wrestlers to compete on an individual level but this weekend brought on a team concept. For kids in Virginia this allows wrestlers to step away from their zoned based high school programs to compete at a USA wrestling club sponsored event. Over the years, Virginia wrestling has moved forward and allowed club teams to showcase wrestlers that they train out of season who want to participate in wrestling year round. This past weekend is evidence of this as wrestler must adapt to the international Freestyle scoring and the end results tends to make kids better.
Q: How can Freestyle make kids better at Folkstyle?
Coach Fisher: "It forces wrestlers to have better position with a point system that makes is easier to score points when your opponent’s position is not perfect. In addition, it encourages match perfection as if your opponent scores 1 or more match points, he receives a team point regardless of the outcome of the match."
With 15 weight classes the BoP wrestling club may not have had the muscle to win many team matches as the lack of a full line up contributed to a few team loses but the Birds showed a fight with some great individual matches.
Q: Any reflection with how team looked on the mat?
Coach Fisher: "Head to head we did considerably better than when the forfeits were included. Overall, though, it was the first freestyle event this season or ever for all but 2 team members. They were certainly very rusty and hesitant."
BoP Wrestling Club ended in 13th place with a 1-4 record. Outstanding performance came from 160 lbs Sam Fisher and 170 lbs Eric Galloway who both went 5-0 in dual matches. 100 lbs Gino Carmarca, 126lbs Kyle Budd, 138 lbs Shane Maryk and 145 lbs Austin Reams all went 3-2 for the day.
Q: What is the nexted event for team BoP?
Coach Fisher: "I think we are heading north again to PA and the Lehigh Valley Freestyle/Greco Qualifier May 7th. Then VAWA Freestyle/Greco States the following weekend."
Dual and Match results below:
Round 1: Peninsula Wrestling Association defeated Birds o’ Prey 35-29
Team Birds o’ Prey went 6 and 4 matches.
113 - John Carayiannis (Birds of Prey) over Connor Ruff (Peninsula Wrestling Association) TF 14-4
126 - Kyle Budd (Birds of Prey) over Hunter Darouse (Peninsula Wrestling Association) TF 13-2
138 - Shane Maryk (Birds of Prey) over Cole Parks (Peninsula Wrestling Association) Fall 1:25
145 - Austin Reams (Birds of Prey) over Zach Gillette (Peninsula Wrestling Association) Fall 4:55
160 - Sam Fisher (Birds of Prey) over Ian Burress (Peninsula Wrestling Association) TF 17-6
170 - Eric Galloway (Birds of Prey) over Jacob Walker (Peninsula Wrestling Association) Fall 0:47
Round 2: Virginia Elite defeated Birds of Prey 55-9
Team Birds o’ Prey went 2 and 8 matches.
160 - Sam Fisher (Birds of Prey) over Gage Levine (Virginia Elite) Dec 12-10
170 - Eric Galloway (Birds of Prey) over Andy Smith (Virginia Elite) TF 13-3
Round 3: Sick Nasty WC defeated Birds of Prey 43-29
Team Birds o’ Prey went 7 and 3 matches.
100 - Gino Carmarca (Birds of Prey) over Brandon Ahlemann (Sick Nasty WC) Dec 14-6
126 - Kyle Budd (Birds of Prey) over Curt Boswell (Sick Nasty WC) TF 12-2
132 - Ethan Jordon (Birds of Prey) over Talon Keel (Sick Nasty WC) TF 10-0
138 - Shane Maryk (Birds of Prey) over Brandon Doffermire (Sick Nasty WC) TF 15-5
145 - Austin Reams (Birds of Prey) over Tyrelle Robinson (Sick Nasty WC) TF 13-3
160 - Sam Fisher (Birds of Prey) over Jacob Grady (Sick Nasty WC) TF 12-0
170 - Eric Galloway (Birds of Prey) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
Consolation Bracket: Birds of Prey defeated Botetourt WC 29-28
Team Birds o’ Prey went 6 and 4 matches.
100 - Gino Carmarca (Birds of Prey) over Nicholas Young (Botetourt WC) TF 11-0
113 - John Carayiannis (Birds of Prey) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
126 - Kyle Budd (Birds of Prey) over Hudson Stewart (Botetourt WC) Fall 3:40
145 - Austin Reams (Birds of Prey) over Tyler Mann (Botetourt WC) TF 15-4
160 - Sam Fisher (Birds of Prey) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
170 - Eric Galloway (Birds of Prey) over Logan Poff (Botetourt WC) TF 10-0
13th Place: Beach Boyz defeated Birds of Prey 35-25
Team Birds o’ Prey went 4 and 6 matches.
100 - Gino Carmarca (Birds of Prey) over Foster Stravino (Beach Boyz) TF 14-3
138 - Shane Maryk (Birds of Prey) over Unknown (Unattached) Forf
152 - Cam Franklin (Birds of Prey) over Nick Serrano (Beach Boyz) Fall 2:30
160 - Sam Fisher (Birds of Prey) over Wilson Hardy (Beach Boyz) TF 10-0
