Middlesex’s Anderson, Austin, Byers, Campbell, Hampton, Tolomeo and Wilson qualify to compete in VHSL state wrestling championships
by Larry Chowning –
The Middlesex High School (MHS) Charger wrestling team had seven wrestlers to qualify for the Virginia 1A state wrestling meet Saturday at Cumberland High School in the Region A wrestling tournament.
“I was really proud of how hard these kids wrestled and how much work they all put in this season,” said MHS wrestling Head Coach Joel Anderson.
“We had alumni come all the way out to Cumberland supporting this team, parents came out and supported the team, and even old coaches,” he said. “It felt great to have the support and I know it made a difference in how well the team did.”
The Chargers were paced by 120-pounder Thomas Wilson (3-1) and 220-pound Cameron Byers (2-1), who both finished third in their weight divisions. Colin Tolomeo (2-2), Tucker Campbell (1-2), Rowan Anderson (2-2) and Elliott Austin (2-2) qualified by each finishing fourth in the 126-pound class, 138-class, 152-weight division and 182-pound class, respectively.
Lucien Hampton (1-3) finished sixth in the 132-pound class to qualify for state. Joseph Rowe (1-2) and Owen Wynberry (1-2) both took seventh place in the 113-pound class and 158-class and will go to state as alternates.
MHS finished seventh overall as a team in Cumberland with 96 points. Riverhead dominated the team scoring with 310.5; Buffalo Gap, second, 166 points; Cumberland, third 133; Mathews, fourth, 126; Franklin, fifth, 122; Lancaster, sixth, 115; Essex, eighth, 68; Northampton, ninth, 63.5; Washington and Lee (Montross), 10th, 33; Rappahannock County, 11th, 30; and Northumberland, 12th, 26 points.
The Chargers will travel on Friday, Feb. 18, to the Salem Civic Center near Roanoke to compete in the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 1 state wrestling championships, which start at 10 a.m. The center is at 1001 Roanoke Blvd.
