PREP WRESTLING: Grundy eyes return to glory

The wave of fans from Buchanan County will wash over Salem Civic Center again today.

The legions of Grundy High School wrestling diehards will take their customary seats – most of the time filling up an entire section – unfurl the banner emblazoned with their logo, watch intently as a Grundy guy is on the mat and go wild when one of their matmen gets his hand raised after a victory.

It will be much of the same, but much different.

For the first time, Grundy will be competing in the state wrestling tournament as a Group A school.

“It’ll be different,” said Jake McCowan, Grundy’s 220-pounder. “It’ll be the left side of the stadium where our fans will be now. … It’s been pretty crazy [this season] but the schedule’s about the same. It’s just a different division of wrestling.”

Grundy won 15 Group AA team titles, including 12 consecutive championships from 1987-1998. However, the Wave hasn’t hoisted a team trophy since 2001 and Christiansburg unseated them as the team to beat in Group AA.

Like many high schools in Southwest Virginia, Grundy has seen a dramatic decrease in enrollment over the last few years and that has even impacted the Golden Wave’s storied wrestling program. The team actually had two forfeits in its lineup this year.

“The numbers have dropped and we’re half of the numbers than when we first started,” said Grundy coach Travis Fiser, who took over the program in the mid-1990s. “But the philosophy is still there – work hard, wrestle hard, try to wrestle the best kids. The boys kept that up and I think that’s kept us toward the top. We’re just trying to be like everybody else and fight for it right now.”

Grundy won last week’s Region D tournament by 42 points over Eastside and will have 10 guys competing in the Roanoke Valley this weekend. Austin Hurley (106-pound weight class), Austin Compton (120), Dylan Raines (126), Justin Street (132), Trey Smith (138), Tyler McClanahan (170), Kensey Hankins (195) and McCowan all won regional titles for the Golden Wave.

“Really, going into [a season] you don’t know what to expect,” Fiser said. “It’s been a fast year. When it’s fast that’s usually good because the kids are cooperating and the kids are coachable. We seem to have that this year. We’ve got a good bunch and right now it’s just a matter of wrestling hard. Records don’t mean anything and we’re trying to do the best we can.”

Manassas Park and Region C champion Rural Retreat could stand in the way of Grundy and a possible team title. Whatever the outcome, Grundy has certainly ratcheted up the competition in the Group A ranks.

“It’s going to make everybody in the district a lot better and region-wise, too,” said Lee High coach Eric Satterfield, whose team finished second to the Golden Wave in the Clinch Mountain District tournament. “It’s going to put pressure on everybody to improve.”

J.I. Burton’s Colby Dean will be going for another state championship this weekend, John Battle’s Jeremy Fisher will try to become his school’s first state champ since 1997 and Lee High heavyweight Christian Robbins will attempt to complete a dominant season.

But the biggest storyline will be Grundy seeking a return to glory.

“Hopefully, we can get the team title this year,” McClanahan said.

thayes@bristolnews.com | Twitter:@Hayes_BHCSports | (276) 645-2570