Ben Smith of Blacksburg works his Monticello opponent’s shoulder down to the mat during Saturday’s West regional wrestling match at Christiansburg High School. Smith placed seventh at 132 pounds.It took little time for Christiansburg’s Xander Whitehurst to win over his Rockbridge County opponent. Whitehurst placed first at 120 pounds.Placing first at 132 pounds, Christiansburg’s Marshall Keller drives his Turner Ashby opponent down to the mat.Christiansburg’s Daniel Hoge, second at 145 pounds, pauses against his Brookville opponent to assess his next action.Hunter Bolen of Christiansburg, who placed first at 160 pounds, rolls his Brookville opponent into the winning pin of their match.Placing second at 195 pounds for Christiansburg, Ty Kwak locks down his Rustburg opponent’s arm during this match.
Christiansburg High School will defend its 3A state wrestling title belt this weekend after claiming another West regional championship Saturday.
The Blue Demons have now won 16 straight regional titles and hope to put another notch in their belt with 16 state titles—something that would set the program on a pedestal all by itself.
Four Blue Demons took individual wins Saturday at Christiansburg High School, Xander Whitehurst at 120 pounds Marshall Keller at 132, Hunter Bolen at 160 and Gage Levine at 170 pounds.
As a team, Christiansburg outdistance second place Cave Spring 309 to 183 points Western Albemarle was third with 153.5 points.
The host school and defending state champion will send 11 wrestlers into Saturday’s state match at Salem Civic Center.
