MPHS Wrestling Team Captures State Title

High school wrestlers often aim at wrestling at the lowest possible weight in order to gain a competitive advantage. The pressure to be at a low weight before a match has led to the practice of cutting large amounts of weight in a relatively short amount of time. Although not all wrestlers take part in this practice, it is not uncommon, and a full athletic season of “making weight” can take an extreme toll on a high school athlete.

So, it was only fitting that the newly crowned Virginia group A state champion Manassas Park High School celebrated their victory with a hearty Waffle House dinner after their victory on Saturday evening.

Ten MPHS students traveled to Salem, Va. to take part in the Virginia Group A State Championship wrestling meet in the Salem Civic Center Friday and Saturday, February 18-19. Out of the ten Cougar wrestlers, an astounding nine of them placed in the top six in their respective weight class.

119-pounder Ember Gaiten and 189-pounder Kevin Gonzalez each placed second in their weight class.

The lone MPHS individual state title belonged to Kent Cadle in the 125-pound weight class. Cadle defeated three top-notch wrestlers on his way to the championship, where he beat undefeated Ryan McCall from Castlewood High School.

Other individual results were:

103 Gilbert Rodriguez:Third

119 Ember Gaiten: Second

130 Marvin Escobar: Fourth

135 Parth Mehta : Fourth

145 Osmin Flores :Sixth

152 Marsalis Carlos Fifth

171 Tyler Wagner: Eighth

189 Kevin Gonzalez: Second

215 R.J. Garrett:Third

Manassas Park finished with 169.5 points, 47 ahead of the second place team, Floyd County High School.

For complete individual and team results, please visit the Virginia HS Wrestling website: http://www.hswrestling.net/2011/02/17/2011-virginia-high-school-wrestling-state-tournament-results-brackets/