FINCASTLE – Lord Botetourt welcomed back one of its all-time great wrestlers last week, only he was coaching the other team.
Ryan Broughman, a two time state champion for LB as a student, was on the William Byrd bench for the first dual match of the season for the two Blue Ridge District teams. LB won the match, 39-33, on “Senior Night” in Daleville.
“Byrd is much improved under new coach Ryan Broughman,” said LB coach Robert Haynie. “It wa an exciting match. This was the first time this year that we have been at full strength.”
Brandon Winger clinched the team victory with an exciting back and forth 5-3 overtime victory over Byrd’s Ryan Pruett. Adam Giambersio, Matt Bower, Daniel Lloyd, Aaron Gunter, and Michael Jones all put points on the board for LB.
On Saturday the Cavaliers participated in the 10 team Topper Duals near Bristol. This was a duals tournament with many good out of state teams.
“Since we have toughened up our schedule this year, I was anxious to see how we would compete and whether we have made any progress as a team compared with last year,” said Haynie. “
LB started the day off with a 50-14 loss to a wrestling powerhouse from Asheville, NC, TC Roberson.
“I was happy with the way we competed as the matches were much closer than the team score indicated,” said Haynie.
LB then got a high quality win over Eastside, the reigning 3A state champs from South Carolina, 37-32.
“That is, by far, the biggest dual win we have had since I have been coach over the past three years,” said Haynie.
The Cavaliers followed that up with a convincing win over Dobyns Bennett from Kingsport TN, 46-21, which put LB in the 3rd/4th place consolation finals. Botetourt then lost an exciting back and forth match to a very good squad from Wayne County, KY 42-33.
“We had two matches that came down to some very controversial calls at the end, which would have made the difference between us winning and losing,” said Haynie. “I was proud with how our boys handled themselves with sportsmanship and class under the circumstances. It’s one of those things that this sport teaches about life in general. Life isn’t always fair, and we can’t leave the decision in the referee’s hands.”
LB is now 4-2 in dual matches as the Cavs head to Lebanon, VA today to participate in the Pioneer Duals before the holiday break.