Other members of The Times-Dispatch 2008 All-Metro Wrestling team.

St. Christopher’s returned from the Prep National tournament at Lehigh University in Pennsylvania with five All-Americans. Sophomore David Wesley placed fifth at 140 pounds, leading the Saints to a 12thplace team finish. St. Christopher’s senior heavyweight Jackson Freeman was sixth. Juniors Loren Phillips (145), Ted Gottwald (160), and Chris Gill (215) each placed eighth.

103 : Caleb Richardson (GRAS) d. Jake Smith (ROB) 5-4; 112 : Beau Martino (BATT) d. Ryan Hunsberger (FAUQ) 1-0; 119: Shane Gentry (CF) d. Peyton Walsh (DR) 5-2; 125: Michael Garofalo (CF) d. Aaron Runzo (KELL) 12-5; 130: Ian Squires (CF) d. Brian Beatson (KELL) 4-2; 135 : Jared Anongos (JR) d. Roman Perryman (ROB) 3-1; 140: Ben Dorsay (Cox) d. Hunter Adams (FRAN) 6-1; 145: Cody Allala (HOPE) m. dec. Blake Roulo (MAT) 10-2; 152: David Helmer (LANG) d. Chris Moon (FAU) 6-5; 160: Daniel McGillivray (FAUQ) d. Daniel Fissmer (SB) 1-0; 171: Andrew Clement (GRAS) p. Colin Lenhardt (GLO) 1:24; 189: Austin Fallon (WF) d. Marcus Hathaway (ROB) 5-2; 215: Victor Njomo (ANN) d. Robby Mello (GB) 8-5; Hwt : Jack Burbank (Cox) d. Randon Key (WAR) 2-1 (4 OT)

CHESAPEAKE—For Jared Anongos, it took more wins than any other wrestler in Virginia history before he finally got the one that means the most. The senior 135-pounder won his first Group AAA title last night at Oscar Smith High School, the first winner for James River and the first for the Central Region since 2002. Showing his signature quickness, Anongos scored a crisp takedown in overtime to defeat Robinson’s Roman Perryman 3-1.

Jared Anongos won his first Group AAA state title, 3-1 in overtime over Roman Perryman of Robinson.

Deep Run junior Peyton Walsh lost by decision in the Group AAA 119 pound finals, 5-2 to Shane Gentry of Colonial Forge.

Rapids’ Dix advances to wrestling semifinals For the first time, Jordan Dix leads James River into the semifinals of the Group AAA wrestling tournament at Oscar Smith High School. The 130-pound senior has placed before, even taking fifth last year. But for the first time in his career, the three-time Central Region champion advances to the state semifinals—one win away from the championship match.

Matt Hatcher, Mills Godwin’s Central Region champion at 140 pounds, is one of more than 200 Virginia high school wrestlers competing this weekend in the Group AAA tournament at Oscar Smith.

A look at the championship finals from the 2009 Central Region Tournament at James River High School.

Antwain Britt, a former standout wrestler at Indian River High, now is a professional in mixed-martial arts. His next payday is Saturday at the Patriot Center. Few think of high school wrestlers as some day going pro, but the possibility exists. Take Antwain Britt for example. He was a Southeastern District and Eastern Region 215-pound wrestling champ for Indian River High School.

James River’s Jared Anongos (top) defeated Hanover’s Ben Wilson to win the Central Region 135-pound title. The Rapids also won the team championship. If James River coach Mark Helberg could have chosen a wrestler to be lock up the Central Region championship in his home gym, senior Jared Anongos would have been the one. Chance chose Anongos, however, and the 135-pounder, the most experienced winner in Virginia High School League history, won yet again.

This was uncharted territory for St. Christopher’s. The championship round had moved to the 189-pound division, and the Saints still hadn’t clinched their VISAA wrestling title. Two third-period takedowns later, Mark Burlee was swarmed by teammates and the Saints began celebrating their eighth consecutive state wrestling title, a 5.5-point victory over Bishop O’Connell. Unlike previous years, this one was far from assured.

Cam Granderson’s moment came early in the Central Region tournament. The Hopewell heavyweight caught Callen Larus in a rare awkward moment, taking the Midlothian standout to his back in the quarterfinals. At first, Granderson couldn’t quite believe his good fortune. He wouldn’t call it luck exactly, because there’s a lot of hard work that goes into being a lucky wrestler. But as he settled his body against the taller, leaner Larus, he was working only to earn near-fall points that would be a decided advantage in usually low-scoring heavyweight matches.

John Dommert carries his family on his back. When Thomas Dale’s senior 171-pounder strips down to his singlet before a match, the reminder is tattooed across his shoulders.

What he did: In the Central District final Saturday at Matoaca, the senior 152 was winning his district championship when he tore his ACL defending a shot from Matoaca freshman Xavier Edwards. Rogerson gutted out the remaining 45 seconds of the match, even scoring on a reversal, and won 9-4. An MRI earlier this week revealed the torn ligament, and Rogerson is unable to wrestle in the Central Region tournament. Age: 17 Strengths: “I’m good getting off bottom and most of the time, if I want to take someone down, I’m going to take them down.“ Three words his friends would use to describe him: Dedicated, trustworthy, and respectful. Was working to improve: Technique. “I could do things. Everything would just be a little sloppy.“ Match he can’t wait to watch: Matoaca sophomore Blake Roulo and Hopewell freshman Cody Allalla at 145 pounds. Biggest craving: “Anything greasy and bad for me. Anything that will mess up me cutting weight.“ Best sports memory: The final seconds of his championship match Saturday. “I heard my side, Dinwiddie, start chanting my name. It spread through mostly the whole gym. That got me a lot more pumped. . . . I didn’t feel anything, pain-wise.“ Biggest challenge: “Myself, self doubt. That’s definitely been the biggest hump I’ve had to get past in my wrestling career and in general. The first person you’ve got to beat is yourself.“ If he had one wish: His knee to be healthy in time to wrestle today. Possession he can’t do without: VMI hat. “I wear it in my warm up before a match, I wear it at school, at home, at my job. . . . I keep it with me all the time.“ On his iPod: Disturbed, Nickelback and ZZ Top. Facebook or MySpace: MySpace One thing most people don’t know: Loves to sing in the car. “Journey . . . That’s another one on the iPod.“ Plans for next year: Major in psychology and philosophy at Virginia Military Institute. Sports figure he looks up to: Professional cyclist Lance Armstrong. - Andee Sears