William Byrd wrestler Darin Witcher took care of unfinished business Saturday.
The sophomore Terrier pinned his way through the state 106 pound bracket to win the
Class 3 championship a year after finishing second as a freshman.
Witcher was Byrd’s only finalist as the Big Orange finished 12th among 45 teams
represented in the Class 3 state tournament. The Salem Civic Center hosted the “Big
Dance” once again for the Class 1, 2 and 3 state tournaments. William Byrd’s Blue Ridge
District and border rival, Staunton River, won the Class 3 state team championship for
the second straight year while traditional powers Grundy and Strasburg won in Class 1
and 2, respectively.
Witcher spent less than four minutes on the mat in his first three matches. He had
a 21 second pin in the first round over Simon Dronov of Broadway, then pinned Justin
Savage of Warren County in 1:30 in the quarterfinal. Turner Ashby’s Bisrat Mussie
almost made it out of the first period, but not quite, as Darin pinned him with one second
to go at 1:59.
That set up a match with Jacob Buffum of Skyline in Saturday evening’s
championship. Buffum came in at 43-8 on the season and the 106 pound match led off
the night of 42 state championship matches, 14 each in three Virginia High School
League classifications.
For the first time in the state tournament Darin didn’t get a first period pin.
However, he worked on top and got in a good position in the second period and was able
to put shoulders to the mat 34 seconds into the period for a 2:34 fall.
“As soon as his shoulder hit the mat and I sunk a half, that’s when I knew I
was in a good spot,” said Witcher.
The victory was a sweet one for Darin, who finished 35-9 as a freshman
but lost in the 106 pound final. He was determined not to let that happen again.
“I wrestled as much as I could with my awesome practice partners,” said
Witcher. “I wrestled one of my practice partners over the summer twice and he
was two of my three hardest matches, but it definitely helped prepare me for
States. The State Finals match was just as hard, if not harder.”
One of his regular practice partners is Derek Bush of Salem, who won the
113 pound state championship at the Class 4 tournament in Virginia Beach last
weekend. They split two matches this season when Darin bumped to 113 to go
against Bush, and they were both epic battles.
“Darin has improved so much over the last year,” said Byrd coach Thomas
Kessler. “Last year he made it to the finals and weighed 99 pounds soaking wet. This
year he has physically grown and has to cut to get to 106. It showed on the mat and he
was able to physically dominate everyone he wrestled. I am so excited to have Darin
back for the next two years, he represents the school so well.”
Witcher finished with a record of 32-2 and he’s now 67-11 in his high school
career. He scored 30 of Byrd’s 56.5 state points with his four pins.
Byrd’s only other place winner at the state tournament was Gage Cockran, who
finished fifth at 138. Gage won his first two matches then lost in the semifinals. He split
two in the consolation bracket for fifth and finished 35-10 on the season.
“I was very happy for Gage, who ends up being a four-time state qualifier and a
two-time state placer,” said Kessler.
Zane Taylor won two matches at 126, Bricen Lancaster won two at 157 and
Aidan Lucas won two at 190. Graylen Castleberry lost twice at 175 and Stephen
Underwood came down with the flu and was not able to wrestle after qualifying for the
state at 165.
“Aidan and Bricen lost in the quarterfinals by one point and almost made it to the
semis,” said Kessler. “They both lost close matches in the blood round as well. We
showed up ready to wrestle and those guys gave it their all. My heart breaks for them
being so close to placing but just missing it by a match.”