Grapplers Hope To Go Far In Postseason
Returning eight wrestlers, including six state qualifiers, the Parry McCluer High School wrestling team has lofty goals this season.
The experience bodes well for the Fighting Blues, who had one of their best seasons in program history last winter, placing fifth in the Class 1 state tournament after winning the Pioneer District title and placing third in the Region 1C title.
PM graduated just one senior, Scottie Garrett at 144-pounds, and now will look to three seniors and three juniors to lead their promising younger wrestlers.
“We had a lot of talent coming back,” said PM head coach Jeremiah Brockenbrough, entering his 17th year guiding the program.
All but three of the Blues’ 12 wrestlers played football this fall, with Brockenbrough coaching the varsity team to a 6-5 record and an appearance in the Region 1C playoffs. The football season ended with a 52-14 road loss to Narrows in the regional quarterfinals on Nov. 15, and those going to the mat have been working hard to get into shape for the winter wrestling season. “At a small school, kids should do as many sports as they can,” said Brockenbrough.
One of the football players who will lead the Blues’ wrestling is senior co-captain Jackson Brockenbrough, who placed second at 150-pounds last year after winning the regional title. He returns to the same weight class this year.
Jackson, nephew of Jeremiah, is one of four of the Blues’ co-captains. The others are seniors Junior Convers and Cyler Driscoll and junior Jacob Shafer. Convers, who will wrestle at 175, was the runner-up in the regional tournament at 165 last winter before placing sixth in the state tournament. Driscoll, who will compete at 126 or 132, was the runner- up in the regional tournament at 120 before placing fifth in the state. Coach Brockenbrough said Shafer (132) was on track to be a state placer last winter before he had to sit out the latter part of the season with an injury.
Another returning state placer is junior Clyde Vassar, who finished third at 106 in the regional tournament before placing fourth in the state. This year, Vassar moves up to 126. The Blues also return junior Timmy Lesher (286/heavyweight) and sophomores Jordan Brockenbrough and Brad Spinner (215). Lesher placed second in the regional tournament and fifth in the state last winter, and Jordan, a nephew of Jeremiah, placed second in the region at 126 and sixth in the state. Jordan will wrestle at either 132 or 138 this year. Spinner placed fifth in the region last winter, missing the state tournament by two spots.
While experience is key for the Blues, youth is also strong, with four freshmen. Brody Julian, who will wrestle at 113 or 120, has gained valuable experience in the middle school program. “We’ve been waiting on him for a while,” said Coach Brockenbrough.
Also promising are freshmen Michael Fleming (150 or 157), Tyler Shafer (113 or 120) and Timber Thomas, who will challenge Lesher for the heavyweight spot. Coach Brockenbrough said the freshmen are “a good group I’ve been waiting on.”
The Blues will fill 11 of the 14 weight classes this year, and Coach Brockenbrough believes he has 10 wrestlers who can place pretty high in tournaments. From 113-pounds to 157, he said, his wrestlers will have a good chance of placing in the top four or five in the state.
The top three teams at the state tournament win trophies, and the PM coach is confident in his team’s chances. “Our goal is to bring home a trophy at the state tournament,” he said. “We have a chance to do really well.”
In the Pioneer District, the Blues’ lone rival will be Bath County. Last winter, PM beat Bath 46-36 for the district title. PM will travel to Bath for a dual meet on Wednesday, Jan. 15. In Region 1C, the Blues hope to challenge three-time defending champion Grayson County and Galax, the runner-up last winter.
Returning to the coaching staff are assistant coaches Patrick Driscoll and Zack Fowler. New to the staff is James Julian, father of Brody. Last year, James was in charge of the middle school team. Fowler will coach the middle school wrestlers this year.
PM’s schedule includes duals and weekend tournaments, starting with the Blues Invitational at PM on Saturday, with wrestling beginning at 10 a.m. The Blues are expecting 10 teams this weekend.
The Blues have a home tri-meet scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 6 p.m. against Alleghany and Giles. In January, they have home meets scheduled for Thursday, Jan. 9 and Wednesday, Jan. 29.
The team photo will be published after it has been taken next week.
