Blues Should Benefit From MS Feeder Program
On paper, it may look as if Parry McCluer High School’s wrestling team is struggling during regularseason action this year, particularly through the early part of the season. But when tournament time rolls around, things could turn around.
The Blues, as of early last week, had only seven grapplers on their roster, though that number is expected to increase. In PM’s case, however, quality is more important than quantity, and the quality of this small contingent could keep PM’s streak of top-10 finishes in the Class 1 state tournament alive.
“We’ll have some issues in dual matches, but I think we have a pretty good tournament team,” said head coach Jeremiah Brockenbrough, who is entering his 18th season leading the Blues on the mat. “You can have holes in your lineup, but if you have five or six pretty good kids, you can go a long way. I watched Rural Retreat win a state championship one year with only eight guys on their team.”
PM enters the season with some notable absences from last year’s roster, including Jackson Brockenbrough, who graduated after finishing second in the state tournament at 150-pounds, and senior Clyde Vassar, who was one of the top wrestlers a year ago but will miss the season because of a hip injury. But those wrestlers who have opened early practices show promise in the preseason.
A pair of returning regional champions and state medal winners lead the way for the Blues, who placed eighth as a team at the state tournament a year ago.
Brody Julian finished first in the Region 1C tournament as a freshman last year at 120-pounds, and he placed fifth in the Class 1 state tournament. Jordan Brockenbrough, a junior, also took home a regional championship medal last season, standing atop the podium at 132-pounds. Like Julian, he battled back in the consolation bracket at the state meet to take fifth place.
That duo both won more than 30 matches last winter and will serve as PM’s captains this season. While their final weight classes are to be determined, Julian and Jordan Brockenbrough should be expected to wrestle anywhere from 126 to 144-pounds.
“I think both of those guys have an opportunity to have a pretty special year, especially in the postseason,” Coach Brockenbrough said.
Also returning from last season’s squad is sophomore Timber Thomas. A first-team All-Pioneer District performer for the PM football team as a lineman this fall, Thomas earned a spot in the state wrestling tournament last winter, posting a 2-2 record in the championships. He will man a heavyweight spot for the wrestling team.
“Timber won [nearly] 30 matches last year as a freshman,” noted the PM coach. “He’s a pretty special kid right now.”
Pushing Thomas for time at the heavyweight spot will be junior Brad Spinner. Spinner was also on last year’s team and will be counted on to score points when they matter.
Three rookies round out the PM squad. The trio of freshmen includes Lucas Ramsey, who will most likely see mat time at 132; Isaiah Gilbert, who will look to take control of the 138-pound class; and Liam Long, who will probably slip in at the 150 spot.
“This is where our middle school program is finally starting to kick in a little bit,” Coach Brockenbrough said. “We’ve got kids who can score points.”
“The kids that we have right now are the types of kids you want in any sport,” praised the PM coach. “They love wrestling. They love to push themselves. They’re grinders because wrestling is that type of sport where you have to come in every day mentally prepared to wrestle.”
The season will begin with the annual Blues Invitational at PM this weekend, starting at 5 p.m. on Friday and at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Early in the season, Coach Brockenbrough expects things to perhaps start a little slow. However, that does not mean the team hasn’t set lofty goals.
“To keep our tradition as a top five team in the region and a top 10 team in the state, that’s our goal,” he said. “We want to get as many kids as we can into the state tournament, and we want to wrestle to our potential in each match and get better each week.”
“It’s going to be a matter of coming into the room and busting our tails each day,” he continued. “They’re already working hard. That’s what it takes. We have to stay healthy, and we have to push each other each day.”
While the Blues are focusing on this varsity season, they also have their eyes on the future.
“We have [three] freshmen starters this year, and next year we’ll bring in seven or eight eighth graders,” said Brockenbrough. “We’ve got 30 to 40 kids on our club [team]. Wrestling is being built; the future is bright for wrestling here.”
For the present, patience is the key as the Blues endure some growing pains and continue to improve.
“We have a tough schedule in December,” Brockenbrough said, noting dual matches at Wilson Memorial next Wednesday, Dec. 10, and a home tri-meet against Giles and Alleghany on Wednesday, Dec. 17, at 6 p.m. “By the time we get to January, I think we’ll be OK.”
Editor’s note: The team photo will be published after it is taken.
