Wrestling opens 2011-12 with questions, expectations

A strong nucleus of lettermen make the outlook bright for Ireton wrestling

Bishop Ireton’s wrestlers have enjoyed success the past few years, winning the Catholic state duals two years in a row and capturing the Bishop Ireton Holiday Classic last season as well as St Stephen’s Christmas tourney. While graduation has left some holes in the lineup, those wins have raised the expectations in the wrestling room for the 2011-12 edition of Cardinal wrestling, according to assistant coach Kwinten Brown.

“Last year was a very good one for us.” said the Alexandria native who is listed number 2 on the list of all time wins in Bishop Ireton history. “I know it raised the expectations I have for our guys.”

All Met 103 pounder Elliot Mondragon has graduated, but a number of veterans return, including Andrew Lutterloh, Nick Womack, Darcy Gomez, Andrew Bladen, Mike Rodriguez, Ben Nagao, Tommy Fessehaye, Gibson Hawk, and Andrew Baehre.

The Cardinals open the season at defending WCAC champs, Good Counsel, in a triangular meet with the Falcons and St John’s Cadets. They follow that Dec 7th opener with the annual trip to Fairfax High School for the Northern Virginia Regional tournament on Dec 9th. The Cardinals 9th place finish last year was the highest finish by a Virginia private school among the 32 teams participating.

The Ireton Classic is set for Saturday, Dec 17th in Godley Gym, the Cardinals also have the St Stephens holiday tourney on their plate after Christmas, the 6th annual Nick Mason Classic at King George High School on January 7th, the City championships on Friday, Jan 13th and Capitol Duals on Jan 14th, before the lone triangular meet of the season on Jan 25th when DeMatha and Gonzaga visit Godley Gym for Senior day.

The season begins its conclusion with the WCAC championship at PVI on Feb 4th. The St Albans annual tourney, States the following weekend, and finally National Preps at Lehigh complete the weekends of wrestling action.

2011-2012 Schedule (Home events in BOLD)

D7 Triangular meet @ Good Counsel, SJC 4:30pm

D9, 10 NOVA Classic @ Fairfax High School

D12 Triangular meet @ McNamara, PVI 5pm

D17 Bishop Ireton Holiday Classic (9 teams) 9am

D21 @St Albans 5pm

D22 @Benedictine 4:30pm

D30 St Stephens/St Agnes Holiday Tournament

J7 Nick Mason Tournament @ King George HS 9am

J10 Triangular @Potomac School, Randolph Macon 5pm

J13 Alexandria City Quads @ SSSAS

J14 Capitol duals @St Johns 9am