The wrestling season has gotten underway in Hampton Roads, and this year promises to be one of the most exciting and transformational campaigns in recent history. With the continued growth of girls wrestling, which is now sanctioned by the VHSL, we may be seeing teams of female grapplers competing for regional and state titles before the close of the decade.
The region is also stocked with talent, with three teams defending their state titles from last year, as Grassfield (Class 6), Cox (Class 5) and Poquoson (Class 2) all earned first-place trophies at last year’s VHSL championships. Most of the wrestlers from the three teams are returning, adding to the high expectations from area wrestling fans.
Five Things to Watch For
1) Returning State Champions – Last year, Hampton Roads teams produced 19 individual VHSL state champions, along with two in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (VISAA) with Luke Murray (Peninsula Catholic - 165) and Townsend Winans (Cape Henry Collegiate – 175) winning crowns. Eleven of the 20 return, including all four of Poquoson’s gold medalists from Class 2 – Kam Harrell (106), Jared Goodson (132), Bryan Latta (144), Reed Booth (150). Tatiana Denig of Tallwood won a state crown at the girls VHSL tournament at 107-lb.
2) Kicking Off – The season will get off to a festive start this weekend with the 3rd Annual Heavy Hitting Hammers (HHH) Holiday Classic at Churchland High School on Friday and Saturday. Organized by Tallwood coach Travis Ferguson and HHH co-founder Angelo Patillo, this event unofficially marks the kickoff to the 2025-26 wrestling season and will feature 39 teams, showcasing some of the top teams and individuals in Virginia.
3) Girls Wrestling Sanctioned – The HHH Classic aims to showcase the upward trajectory in participation for girls wrestling. A major event for the movement occurred on May 7, as the VHSL Executive Committee voted in favor of sanctioning girls wrestling as an official league sport. As originally reported by WRIC-TV, a spokesperson for VHSL said “this decision was made due to a sharp increase in participation, with the sport growing from 273 participants to 631 in just three years,” adding “now that girls wrestling is sanctioned, we fully expect those numbers to grow as we continue to provide opportunities for female wrestlers in the state to compete for championships.”
One example of the growth in girl’s comes from the Southeastern District. According to Hickory coach Jeff Eldridge, their upcoming tri-meet against Indian River, Kings Fork and the Hawks, could feature enough female wrestlers to produce as many as seven girls matches between the teams competing, according to Eldridge. “We are going to have the available girls wrestle before the varsity boys and those matches will count towards their state records.”
Among local standouts for the girls are Tallwood’s Denig and Jayden Crotty of Tabb (VHSL finalist at 107).
4) Going for Four – Last season, Great Bridge’s Caleb Neal became the first wrestler from Hampton Roads since 2018 to win four consecutive state championships, as the Wildcat senior seized the 175-lb. division at the VHSL Class 5 tournament. This year, Jared Goodson of Poquoson is looking to duplicate the feat. Goodson won the Class 2 crown for 113 (2023), 126 (2024), and 132 last year. If he succeeds, presumably at 132, he will match the feat of the last Peninsula wrestler to win state titles in all four seasons, Patrick McCormick (2015-18), who now serves as an assistant coach with the Islanders.
5) The Granddaddy of Them All – It’s not wrestling season in Hampton Roads without the Virginia Duals, which will hold its 45th version at the Hampton Coliseum in Hampton, Virginia. There are three high school divisions, featuring schools from as far away as Utah and Arkansas. Twenty-two squads from Hampton Roads will join the fray this year in either the Black and Blue, American or National bracket.
Five Wrestlers to Watch
1) Brandon Cynar (Western Branch) – Cynar capped a perfect 48-0 season in February with a third-period pin of Robinson’s Troy Kang in the 120-lb. VHSL Class 6 championship bout. Now ranked first in Virginia for the 126-lb. classification according to virginiawrestling.com, what will the Bruin senior present for an encore?
2) Chris Funches (Grassfield) – Funches put the exclamation point on Grassfield’s Class 6 title march last year with his 7-2 win over Yorktown’s Basheer Hadi in the 285-lb. weight class. The Grizzly senior is also at the top of the Virginia rankings this season. He recently committed to wrestle at Ferrum College.
3) Nolan Mather (Grassfield) – Mather joins Funches as two of the three Grassfield grapplers on the top of the pre-season state rankings. The junior won the Region 6A title and placed third in Class 6 at the 106-lb. classification. He should improve on last season’s 31-12 mark.
4) Vincent Von Bernewitz (Great Bridge) – The Wildcat made quite an impression as a freshman, winning the Class 5 state crown at 106 pounds. He will bump up to the 113-lb class.
5) Rudy Wagner (Cox) – Ludwig (190 lb.) and teammate Karl Ludwig (150 lb.) won the two individual titles in the Falcons’ Class 5 championship win. This season, Wagner will be shooting for state win #3, which would put him one ahead of his father. The senior is committed to wrestle at George Mason next season.
Top 15 Teams
1) Grassfield – The defending Class 6 champs barely had to reload, returning 13 of 14 starters. Along with Funches, state champ Luca Schinelli returns at the 132-lb. class. Schinelli just signed to continue his collegiate wrestling career with Mercyhurst, of the Northeast Conference. Both Moore brothers, George Mason University commits Nick (165) and Nate (175) return. The two have placed in the top five at the Class 6 tournament three times and one, or both wrestlers, look to find the top of the podium this season. Other notables include Leland Mendez (120), Chase Burns (215), and state finalist Simone Barrett (144). Barrett’s younger brother Nico, a freshman will “make an immediate impact,” according to coach Patrick Shuler. Junior Sonora Shuler, who placed sixth at last season’s Region 6A tournament, will represent the girls’ squad.
2) Cox – On the heels of its state winning campaign, coach Dalton Head returns state winners Ludwig and Wagner. Seniors Carson Miller (third in Class 5 at 126), Caleb Rafal (third at 144), and junior Izaque Tomaz (285) are among others to watch.
3) Poquoson – The Islanders return eight of nine state finalists from last year, including runners-up Brayden Bunting, Logan Keesee, Nate Quiroz, and Austin Conley. Quiroz (175), Conley (190), and Brayden Agnese (215) will be getting a late start on the mat as they are still involved with Poquoson’s football team, which reached the VHSL Class 2 semifinals.
4) Landstown – The second highest placing team at VHSL Class 6 last season, the Eagles return Elijah Phoutasen, who was runner-up to Grassfield’s Schinelli at the Class 6 132-lb. class, as well as Lucas Bundy at 113.
5) Great Bridge – Never count out a Steve Martin coached team. Fourteen state titles don’t lie. Along with Von Bernewitz, look for heavy hitters in Tke Egley (120), Xavier Kovacs (class 5 runner-up at 113), and Ayden Christain (175). Says Martin, “this is a very young team that will be tested early and often to get ready for the post-season”
6) Kellam – The Knights return Ashton Campos (138), Tanner Clark (165), and Derek Shultz (175) as statewide top 10 ranked wrestlers from last year’s Class 5 team
7) Granby – Last year’s Comet team placed seventh at Class 5, their best finish since the Billy Martin era of the 1970’s. Now co-coached by professional MMA fighter Samson Sausser and Keith Goff, Granby is led by seniors Keith Fernandez (113), Jonah Burrus (144), Joseph McAuliffe (175/190) and Jalen Hughes (132). They are bolstered with some talented freshmen that “may crack the lineup and make some noise,” according to Goff.
8) Nansemond River – In spite of not having a feeder program or middle school wrestling in Suffolk, coach Kyle Cox takes pride in “building kids once they get to us.” After a 28-6 season last winter, the Warriors return 12 state qualifiers, and three state place winners in Terryl Wright (120), Trystin Boggs, and Charles Falkenstein.
9) Western Branch – Third among area teams at the Class 6 finals last year, the Bruins return arguably the area’s best wrestler in Cynar. Kyler Swenson (175) joins him as a preseason top five ranked, according to virginiawrestling.com.
10) Tallwood – Colton Hepp returns as a state champion at 113 and may emerge as a top three wrestler in Hampton Roads. Team will be easier to gauge after they host the HHH tournament this weekend. Tatiana Denig is the region’s lone returning girls state champion. Denig (20-0) registered a 14-5 decision over Oakton’s Hana Coutts in the 145-pound final to become the Beach District’s first girls state champion.
11) First Colonial – Sophomore Reid Stoddard (138) is ranked sixth among state wrestlers in his class.
12) Ocean Lakes – Region 6A runners-up Skiles Burkhead (113/120) and Noah Xiong (138/144) will lead the Dolphins. Burkhead also placed third in Class 5 at 106.
13) Norfolk Academy – Matteo DeFilippo (126) and Davis McNulty will lead the Bulldogs, as they aim to win the TCIS, with Peninsula Catholic and Cape Henry as their main competition. Others to watch are Noah Knittig (144), Nolan Buck (175), Logan Robinson (175), and sophomore Finn Burgess (120). Says long-time coach Chris Runzo, “the loss of several athletes from last year’s squad makes this interesting.”
14) Gloucester – The Dukes placed third in Class 4 last season. Led by junior Kenneth Hamilton (190), Gloucester will begin its quest for another top three finish.
15) Cape Henry Collegiate – Winans is the returning VISAA champion and has amassed 137 wins in three seasons. But there is more talent in the cupboard for coach Josh Conklin, including Conner Walck, who was a runner-up at 132 and has also won 113 bouts. Other VISAA placers are Malik Peralta (144) and Luke Feldman (150).
Others to Watch: Phoebus, Peninsula Catholic, Tabb, Deep Creek
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