This past weekend the varsity wrestling team competed in the inaugural FUMA Invitational.  The meet was comprised of 18 teams made up of both public and private schools.  The Tigers had a very good weekend overall, having 11 competitors wrestle out of the 14 weight classes.  Some of the highlights from the weekend include:

Sam Thomas started off things off for the Tigers at FUMA and went 2-2 overall which had him on the podium for a fourth place overall.  Sam was able to grind out through sheer resiliency and toughness, earning two very close wins by decision to get himself to the consolation finals.

First year wrestler Rainey O'Malley had a fantastic tournament, won 2 matches by pins and earned a solid 5th place for the Tigers.

After falling to the eventual champion of the tournament in the initial match, Cameron Beck battled back hard in the consolation rounds and won 2 more victories for the team, and was one round away from getting himself on the podium.  

Will Thomas certainly was the talk of the tournament at 160lbs.  Will's first match put him up against his formal school, St Stephens St Agnes, but Will made quick work of his opponent.  Will had the fastest pin of the tournament and perhaps set a new school record for Woodberry.  Will took his opponent down from neutral and put him right on his back for a fall of only :08 seconds.  He then went on to dominate his next 3 opponents and earned first place.  After picking up his medal for first place it was announced that Will was also the MVP for the middle weight classes of the tournament.  

Davis Smith continues to improve his overall win record at Woodberry.  He wrestled tough through the tournament, earned 3 wins and placed first overall at 170lbs.   

Emmett Aydin won his first match at the tournament by pin, and then went on to earn one more victory for the Tigers while finishing in 8th place for the Tigers.

Bill Clark, the team's anchor at heavyweight  this season, had two hard fought victories by decision and put himself in position to challenge for first place.  Bill went out and finished the first place match early by pinning his opponent from Blue Ridge in just 45 seconds, and earned a top place on the podium.  

Overall the Tigers finished just outside of the top 5 schools at the tournament, earning a very respectable 6th place for the first tournament of the season.  The team made tremendous strides on the mat this weekend and I was extremely proud of how each individual performed.  Woodberry will have its first home matches of the season this Friday beginning at 6:30pm in the Reily Wrestling Room.  Please congratulate the boys as you see them on campus.