Sunday, January 27, 2013

Strong competition rules Loudoun Valley Duals


by Michael "Moe" Murphy
loudountimes.com
 
Five Loudoun schools competed in the Loudoun Valley Duals Wrestling Tournament Jan. 18-19 in Purcellville. Broad Run, Freedom, Heritage, Loudoun Valley and Potomac Falls participated in a 13-team field that included squads from West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Virginia.


Freedom senior Brendan Kammerdeiner locks up with Westfield’s Austin Knies
in a 195-pound  bout during the Loudoun Valley Duals Wrestling Tournament
Jan. 19.—Times-Mirror Photo/Michael “Moe” Murphy
“Every year we’ve just tried to keep on improving the tournament itself,” said Loudoun Valley coach Troy Mezzatesta before rattling off several of the top teams in this year’s event. “Just some good quality teams that up the competition and let your wrestlers know where they are.”

Westfield, considered one of the top Virginia AAA teams, won all nine of its matches in the two-day tournament to earn top team honors. Stafford (7-2) and Pennsylvania school North Lebanon (7-3) produced solid records as well.

Freedom delivered the best showing among Loudoun schools. The Eagles went 5-2 with victories over Hedgesville (W. Va.), Potomac Falls, Liberty, Washington (W. Va.) and Sherando.

“We were coming in with a record in dual meets of 25-5,” Freedom coach Kent Nagy said. “We’ve battled injuries and we only have two kids returning from last year’s starting 14, so we are winning with a whole fresh batch of kids.

“We talk about the no names,” Nagy continued. “We have a lot of no name kids out there that nobody really knows to this point and we are hoping at the end of the year they will. They’ve worked really hard and they waited their chance and now they are getting it.”

Freedom is led by Brendan Kammerdeiner at 195 pounds and Jason Cardoza at 170. The two captains have worked hard to lead the team not just during wrestling season, but year-round.

“Brendan Kammerdeiner was fifth in the region last year and won the district,” Nagy said. “He is probably in the top five in the state this year. Our other captain Jason Cardoza is pushing 40 wins this year. Not a whole lot of flash but he grinds matches out. A real tough kid and a great leader. Andy Hinricks at 145 and Jack Wrenn at 160 are two juniors who also have solid experience and have wrestled year-round since entering high school.”
 
 

 

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