Union, Central take wins in Mountain 7 wrestling competition

NORTON — Both the Bears and the Warriors fought hard and found themselves with some wins in Saturday’s district wrestling competition held at Central High School.

John Battle posted the biggest team total with 174 to take the overall team award. The Bears were second with 149 points while the Warriors were just shy in third place with 147 points.

Union sophomore Thomas Potter continued his undefeated streak, now well into his second year of competition. He defeated Trojan freshman Theron Newton by fall in a mere 17 seconds, extending his record to 30-0 this year.

In his freshman year, Potter competed at 152 pounds on his way to a VHSL championship. This year, he has gone up a weight class 160.

“It’s cool to go up a weight class. It’s all new kids. I’ve not wrestled anybody I wrestled last year,” Potter said.

When asked about the level of competition he was facing, Potter was not rattled.

“It’s not been too hard yet,” Potter said. “I’ve had a few stronger kids, but it’s nothing I can’t handle.”

Potter’s wrestling career began at just five years old with club wrestling in and around Kingsport, Tenn. He began his school wrestling career in Norton until fifth grade until moving to Abingdon. Potter than moved back into the Big Stone Gap School system in the seventh grade and started his high school career for the Bears. He met Union assistant wrestling coach Nick Polier, his son Mason Polier, a former VHSL champion himself and current wrestler Johnny Satterfield and began working out extensively with them.

“I met coach Schenck and Mason and started to workout with them a lot. It’s mainly just me, Mason and Johnny and we have worked hard together,” Potter said.

Warrior junior Brady Sturgill won his second Mountain 7 championship in the heavyweight division as Lee High’s Logan Moore was forced to bow out of the competition. This came after Sturgill deftly handled his semifinal match.

In 2021, Sturgill was sidelined with an injury and unable to compete. He does not intend to let that happen again this year.

“I am just happy to be back here and to be wrestling again,” Sturgill said. “I just want to keep moving forward.”

Sturgill also won the heavyweight division at the Bobby Bates tournament earlier in the year and sports a 30-5 record for this season.

“This is just the road to state for me,” Sturgill said. “There’s a lot of great wrestlers in our region. I’m just going to put in the work. I’ve always got to be the hardest worker in the room.”

At the 106 pound weight class, Battle’s Owen Almany was victorious over Central’s Keelan Ventro by fall 1:35 into the match.

The 113-pound division saw Christopher Faust victorious over Central’s Aiden Belcher by pinfall at 3:31.

At 120 pounds, Ryan Spates of John Battle defeated Tyler Herron of Central via medical forfeiture.

Dalton Minnick of Abingdon defeated Bryce Ramey of Union with a fall at the 5:09 mark at 126 pounds.

Battle’s Christian Rector took down Union’s Isaiah Pennington by a fall at 1:03.

Central’s Jude Davis made quick work of Nate Faust from Battle with a pin at 1:13.

At 145 pounds, Landon Davis from Central took down Braedyn Bailey of John Battle by pin at :49.

Mason Bryington took a big win at 152 pounds over Collin Davidson of John Battle with a pin at :57.

Union’s Satterfield outlasted Jason Pittman of John battle at 170 pounds with an 8-2 decision.

The 182-pound weight division saw Lee’s Grayson Hall defeat Samuel Bentley of Central.

At 195 pounds, Union’s Zack Hall took the 6-3 decision win over Noah Burnham of Central.

Casey Mooneyhan of Lee High upended Central freshman Luke Josey by fall at 3:04.