Parry McCluer High School sophomore wrestler Brody Julian placed second at 126-pounds at the Class 1 state tournament to lead three Fighting Blues who earned medals by placing in the top six in their weight classes on Saturday at the Salem Civic Center.
With four wrestlers competing, the Blues placed 16th of 42 teams, scoring 42.5 points.
Julian, who was coming off winning his second consecutive Region 1C title, faced Rural Retreat senior Caleb Gibson, a three-time defending state champion in the finals of the two-day tournament that started on Friday. Gibson took control early, going up 5-0 in the first period. Julian battled to avoid getting pinned, but Gibson prevailed in a 10-0 major decision to win his fourth straight state title.
After placing fifth at the state tournament last year at 120-pounds, Julian moved up a weight class this year. In the quarterfinals on Friday, he pinned John I. Burton’s Anthony Green in 2:28. Juilian then faced Eastside’s Gage Stephens in the semifinals on Saturday morning and won in a 9-6 decision. Julian finished the season with a record of 25-5.
Also earning medals for the Blues were sophomore Timber Thomas in the 285-pound/heavyweight division and junior Jordan Brockenbrough at 138-pounds. Thomas, who went 0-2 in his state tournament debut last year, started this year’s tournament by defeating Castlewood’s Brunner Houchins in an 8-3 decision. In the quarterfinals, he was pinned by Northampton’s Justin Suarez. Thomas bounced back by defeating Riverheads wrestler Mason Flint in the first round of the consolation bracket before losing to Bath County’s Tyler Shaver in a 13-1 major decision.
In the fifth-place bout, Thomas trailed 4-1, but he battled back for a 5-5 tie. He then scored on an escape to win 6-5 in an ultimate tiebreaker. Thomas finished the season with a record of 22-13.
At 138, Brockenbrough earned a state medal for the third state year, after placing sixth as a freshman and fifth last year. Brockenbrough defeated Grundy’s Jacob Fields in a 5-2 decision in the first round before beating Sal Cardenas of Mathews 11-7 in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Brockenbrough lost in a 17-0 technical fall (lead of 15 points or more) in six minutes to Rural Retreat’s Justin Walker, who would go on to win the state title. Brockenbrough was then pinned by Bath County’s Jeremy Burns in 2:03 in the consolation semifinals. In the fifth-place bout, Brockenbrough faced a 3-0 deficit and battled back before losing to Holston’s Maddox Buchanan in a 6-5 decision. Brockenbrough finished the season with a record of 20-13.
Making his state tournament debut for the Blues was freshman Isaiah Gilbert (132), who went 2-2. Gilbert defeated Rappahannock’s Garrett Dunn in a 17-1 technical fall in 4:20 in the first round before he was pinned by Eastside’s Braylan Rose in the quarterfinals. Gilbert then overcame Northwood’s Malikye Frye in a 10-9 decision in a 10-9 decision before he was pinned by Patrick Henry-Glade Spring’s Bishop Ratliff in 3:35. Gilbert finished his season with a record of 18-16.
The Blues had no seniors this year and have high hopes for the future.
For the full story and photos, with team results and comments from PM head coach Jeremiah Brockenbrough and the Blues’ state placers, please see our Feb. 25 newspaper.
