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Brentsville
wins states
By
Jim Crowley
Staff
Writer
SALEM – Brentsville made history before the VHSL Group
A finals even began Saturday.
Brentsville set a Group A school record by capturing its seventh state
title Saturday at the Salem Civic Center. Six Tigers finished in the top
three of their respective weight classes, including two state champions:
freshman Luke Siler (119) and senior Zak Thompson (145).
The Tigers led from start to finish. All nine Tigers won their first-round
bouts Friday, and seven advanced to the semifinals Saturday morning.
While Siler and Thompson were the only Tigers to reach the finals, junior
Brian House (125), senior Charlie Peele (140), freshman Steve Yanchuk (189)
and junior Bert Schlegel (215) all survived the consolation bracket and
clinched third-place finishes. Their performances Saturday afternoon ensured
Brentsville’s victory before the championship finals that night.
Before the finals, Brentsville coach Thad Kiesnowski and company returned
to the Salem Civic Center Saturday evening to learn that they would be the
2001 champions. It’s Brentsville’s second state title in three years. Brentsville’s
2001 state championship trophy will be added to their 1974, ’75, ’93, ’94,
’96 and ’99.
Kiesnowski marveled about his youthful team’s accomplishment.
“These kids are just not mature enough to do this,” Kiesnowski
mused. “They just wrestled their butts off.
“It’s really amazing,” he added. “Here, I’ve got three
seniors and the rest of them are j.v. kids. They really melded together
well.”
Brentsville finished with 140 points while Clarke County was second
with 119 and Strasburg third with 105.5.
With Brentsville’s championship sealed, the only thing left was to crown
its finalists.
Siler’s postseason dominance was capped with a 15-2 major decision over
Fort Chiswell’s Franklin Jones in the 119 state final. Siler was undefeated
– and virtually unmatched – during the postseason, sweeping Bull Run District,
Region B and Group A titles.
“It’s great,” Siler said. “I’ve been wrestling for a
long time. The only thing that changed was working with a high school team
– and another thing is wrestling in a lot of open tournaments. You’ve got
to get the mat time in.”
Siler (32-10) became only the fourth freshman in Brentsville history
to win a state title.
“For the last month, (Siler) had been wrestling really tough,”
Kiesnowski said. “He’s got a lot of heart.
“He deserves it. And his dad deserves it as well.”
Siler’s father, Steve, wrestled for Kiesnowski and finished second in
the 1970-71 state tournament. And Steve Siler was as proud as a father could
be.
“I’m glad for him, he’s done real well,” Steve Siler said.
“Every year he improves.”
The Silers were one of two father-son success stories for Brentsville
– Zak Thompson’s 6-2 state final win over Buffalo Gap’s Nick Hildebrand
at 145 secured the other.
Thompson edged a cautious Hildebrand, 5-3, for the Region B title.
In this weekend’s state final, it would again be a question of whether Thompson’s
technique would best Hildebrand’s strength.
Hildebrand came out aggressively against Thompson, but the Tigers senior
wouldn’t be pushed. Almost instinctively, Thompson made it 2-0 after scoring
a reversal with three seconds left in the first period.
“I seriously thought we had a minute and a half left,” Thompson
said. “I tried to keep my distance and wear him down.”
Thompson made it 4-0 late in the second with an escape and a penalty
point against Hildebrand. And Thompson’s reversal with 1:16 remaining in
the third would seal it.
“It’s a relief,” Thompson (40-3) said. “It’s been a very
long 13 years.”
It was Thompson’s second straight state title, and it gave him bragging
rights over his father, Alan, who was a 145-pound state champion at Herndon
High School in 1967. The younger Thompson had three district titles, three
regional titles and two state titles – all bested his father’s high school
accomplishments.
When Zak Thompson stepped off his mat, he received a big hug from his
father, and Zak smilingly whispered in Alan’s ear: “I beat you.”
Alan Thompson couldn’t find the words to describe his elation for his
son.
“I can’t explain it,” Alan Thompson smiled, adding: “He’s
better than I was.
“You couldn’t have asked for a better weekend.”
Last season, Thompson beat Manassas Park’s Shaun Guttridge in the 140
state finals. Right after that match, both friends agreed that this season
Thompson would move up to 145 and Guttridge would wrestle at 152 so they
could watch each other win state titles.
That wish came true after Guttridge (41-1) defeated Radford’s Cory Englehard
5-0 Saturday.
An aggressive Guttridge scored a reversal and three back points late
in the first period and the Cougar senior fended off any attack given by
Englehard for the next two periods.
“I feel like all my hard work has paid off,” a relieved Guttridge
said. “The match wasn’t pretty by far, but a win’s a win.”
Guttridge had come too far not to win. There were doubts about whether
Guttridge would even compete this year – a knee injury knocked him out for
more than two weeks at the beginning of the season. But the respected senior
came back even stronger, winning his first 35 matches.
When it was his turn to shine, Guttridge garnered the attention from
not just Zak Thompson, but from Brentsville and Manassas Park supporters
alike.
“He deserves it,” Alan Thompson said.
Manassas Park first-year coach Richard FitzSimmons rejoiced his standout’s
achievement – it was a long road.
“It’s been a rough year with the injuries. I thought this could
be the year from hell,” FitzSimmons said.
But Guttridge’s win overshadowed Manassas Park’s difficulties. The Cougars
finished with 30 points.
“It’s kind of the gold at the end of the rainbow,” FitzSimmons
said. “He’s just a great kid. He’s my first state champion and I’ll
never forget that.”
Group A Team Standings
Brentsville 140
Clarke County 119
Strasburg 105.5
Northumberland 92
J.J. Kelly 90
Mathews 88.5
Rural Retreat 86.5
Radford 85.5
Essex 61
Chilhowie 61
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