Five Saints are All-Americans in Prep National wrestling meet

Five Saints make A-A status in national event

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.

Saints coach Frank Kiefer took seven individuals to Lehigh. Illness kept senior standout and two-time All-American Tyler Spangler out of the tournament.

Eagles' Crocker to step down after 15 years

Steve Crocker is retiring after 15 years as Mills Godwin's coach. He plans to continue as an assistant football coach and hopes to stay involved with the wrestling program as well.

"I'm trying to help and still be on the football staff, and be around to help the new head coach," he said.

Originally from Hampton, Crocker played football and wrestled at the University of Richmond. He graduated in 1977 and taught in Hampton for two years before returning to Richmond. His more than 30 years of coaching and teaching included 13 at Hermitage. Godwin finished 13th in the Group AAA tournament at Oscar Smith on Saturday, led by seniors Matt Hatcher (140) and Matt Brunke (152) each taking third.

Central Region had 22 top-8 state finishers

Led by two individual winners, 22 of the 56 Central Region representatives placed in the top eight at the Group AAA tournament.

James River senior Jared Anongos (135) was the first state winner for the Central Region since 2002 and the Rapids' first school winner. His title was matched a short time later by Hopewell freshman Cody Allala (145), the first Central District wrestler to win a Group AAA crown since Meadowbrook's Dan Austin in 1992.

On the strength of Allala's win and older brother Clint's fifth-place finish at 160 pounds, the Blue Devils finished 11th in the team standings.

Central Region champion James River was eighth, led by Anongos' win. James River and Hermitage each had four wrestlers in the medals. - Andee Sears