The Salem High wrestling team took 13th out of 23 schools in the annual “Big Blue Invitational” wrestling tournament at Christiansburg High School last week. Host Christiansburg won the tournament.
“We wrestled very tough,” said Salem coach Lawrence Van Liew. “We were in the top 10 for most of the tournament, dropping to 13 as the tournament closed. It was a total team effort, everyone winning at least one match.”
Tae Hale placed fourth at 220. He lost to the number two and three seeds but beat the top seed.
“He is really starting to wrestle tough,” said Van Liew. “I expect to see him wrestling in a few weeks at the state tournament.”
Patterson pins Christiansburg’s Jack Thompson. PHOTOS BY KYMN DAVIDSON-HAMLEY
Jeremy Muncy wrestled well and placed seventh at 113. He overcame some tough losses to end with a win.
Salem will head to EC Glass this weekend to compete in a 10 team dual tournament of all Region 4A teams. Next Tuesday the Spartans are at Lord Botetourt for a dual, and they’re off until the regional on February 10 at Liberty Christian Academy.
“Our season is almost at the win or go home stage,” said Van Liew. “I look forward to having several wrestlers compete at the state tournament this year.”