Two of the nation’s top high school wrestling teams squared off last week in a match that had several twists and turns and all-out connections.
When Cliff Warden took over the Christiansburg High School program earlier this year, he knew of the Blue Demons domination including 16 straight state titles.
He left a program in Independence, West Virginia that had its own success with as many as four state titles during his time.
The schools had faced each other in several major tournaments around the country, but never in a dual meet situation until last week on the mats at Virginia Tech’s Cassell Coliseum.
Warden and his son, Nathan who now wrestles at 152-pounds for Christiansburg, admitted they were both nervous going into the match against their former school.
Nathan Warden said the match gave him a sense of being back on the practice mat with childhood friends.
Warden, who is only the fourth coach in Christiansburg’s history, led Independence to four consecutive AA/A state team titles while twice earning WVSSAC Coach of the Year honors and the 2015 NFHS Mideast Section Coach of the Year award. Warden wrestled collegiately at Edinboro University with current Virginia Tech Wrestling Coach Tony Robie, who suggested the high schools wrestle shortly before the Hokies-WVU match last week.
Both high schools are tops in their classifications in West Virginia and Virginia, and should make a run for state titles in each. The dual meet just seemed natural for the schools.
On the scorecard, fans were treated to one of the best high school matches in decades. Independence jumped out to a 12-4 lead, and Nathan Warden fell 7-2 in his match against a former teammate. The visitors would lead 24-16 before Erik Eva picked up a decision at 182 pounds.
Christiansburg would win the next two weight classes and push a slight lead in the team total. Xavier Wright would finish three sets tied with his Independence Heavyweight opponent and lose in sudden death, sending it to the final match of the evening.
Independence would then forfeit the final weight class as their athlete was injured earlier in the week, thus giving the Blue Demons the hard-fought 32-27 win.
This match was just another step in Christiansburg wrestling being our top sports story of the year, repeating for 16 straight years as such. The book has plenty of blank pages as fans, wrestlers and coaches hope for number 17.
The success of the Christiansburg dates its early days to when Kevin Dresser left Grundy High School, where he had several state titles, and moved to the New River Valley. He started Christiansburg’s state title run that continues today.
He left CHS to become the head coach at Virginia Tech where he built a successful collegiate program, thus his part in this wrestling being folklore continued in the spring when he resigned at Tech to take a similar job at Iowa State.
In 11 seasons, Dresser was 160-51 with two ACC tournament championships and three ACC Dual Championships. Last year, he was named the National Wrestling Coach of the Year.
“I am proud of what we were able to accomplish at all three places. I can walk away knowing that I am leaving them in better places and with better programs,” said Dresser. “Virginia Tech should be strong for a long time as we laid the foundation for a great program.”
The Christiansburg and Tech connection has also brought back Zach Epperly to where he got his start to become an assistant coach in his old school colors.
Two other former wrestlers and coaches from CHS have also now taken over the program at Blacksburg High School so the Blue Demon wrestling program continues to spread its connection as 2018 is upon us.
Following the conclusion of the high school competition, Virginia Tech downed West Virginia in their dual match with another Christiansburg connection. Hunter Bolen picked up his first pin as a collegiate wrestler. The Christiansburg wrestling story continues.
