The Big Orange wrestlers finished in third place among 21 teams in last week’s
“Takedown The New Year” wrestling tournament at Heritage High School. William Byrd
put three wrestlers in the finals but didn’t come home from Lynchburg with a champion
in the last big tournament of 2023.
“We’ve finished third at the last two tournaments and hopefully we can continue
to finish in the top three at every tournament we go to,” said Byrd coach Thomas Kessler.
Host Heritage won the tournament with 153 points. Turner Ashby was second
with 211.5 and the Terriers had 165.5 for third. Rounding out the top five were Broadway
at 153 and Spotswood at 148.5.
Byrd sophomore Darin Witcher opened the championship round with another
match against Xaiden Wynn of James River. The two are among the top 106 pounders in
the state and Witcher had pinned Wynn in the Big Orange Classic final in Vinton the
week prior. This time, however, Wynn got the upper hand and edged Darin, 6-5, to place
first. Witcher had won his first three, two by pin and one by major decision.
Zane Taylor was the next Terrier in the finals at 126. He had a bye and three wins
before falling to Justin Porter of Heritage in the final.
Byrd’s third finalist was Gage Cockran at 144. After a bye and three wins Gage
took on Jackson Brockenbrough of Parry McCluer in the final and was edged, 2-1.
Two Terriers won consolation final matches to take third place, Bricen Lancaster
at 157 and Aidan Lucas at 190. Kyle Kalinke took a fifth at 113 and Curtis Dillon was
sixth at 138.
This week Byrd will split up the team for two weekend tournaments. Half the
team will go back to Lynchburg for a tournament at Liberty Christian Academy and the
other half will participate in the Knights of the Roundtable event at Cave Spring High
School.
Byrd also will be hosting a quad match next Wednesday, January 10. Patrick
Henry, Glenvar and Roanoke Catholic will join the Orange in Vinton and it will be
“Senior Night” for the William Byrd senior wrestlers.
