Orange County’s wrestling team has some strong wrestlers back in the fold this year, led by 2018 state placers Chance Bowers and David Steigler.
They’re off and rolling again this season.
The Hornets put together a big performance Friday night to win the second annual Monticello Friday Night Invite at Monticello High.
Orange’s 217.5 points outpaced second place Jefferson Forest’s 152.0 points, sparked by Steigler’s individual title at 138 pounds that earned him Most Outstanding Wrestler honors after edging Lancaster’s Domonique Veney 9-7. Bowers, a senior, also took home an individual title at 160 pounds with an early pin in the title match and another state qualifier from last season, Nicky Benner grabbed a championship at 145 pounds. Throw in Aaron Ratcliff’s title at 170 and Truth Wilson winning at 220 pounds and it was an impressive top end performance for the Hornets.
Host Monticello finished fifth overall while William Monroe took eighth and Charlottesville took ninth to round out the local squads’ performances.
Senior Jackson Perry led Monticello with a championship at 120 pounds, winning 6-0 over the Hornets’ Blake Wilson. Sam Lewis took second for the Mustangs behind Bowers at 160.
Taylor Jenkins took second for Orange at 152, losing a narrow 3-1 decision in the title match while Wyatt Mills fell in sudden victory in the title match at 106 pounds to grab a second place finish for the Hornets.
Quentin Morris finished second for the Dragons at 170 pounds to lead their effort while Alex Lloyd and Ben Yates led Charlottesville with third place finishes at 170 and 182 respectively.
