They have had stronger teams over the last seven years, squads with a deeper lineup or more potential Northern Region champions. But none of those powerhouse Langley teams ever performed like the Saxons did at the Northern Region tournament on Saturday night at Centreville.
There, the seven-time Liberty District champions finally earned the historic victory they had long sought, winning the region team championship for the first time in program history.
“It didn’t matter if we weren’t the best team that’s been here,” said junior 130-pounder Colin Zoski. “All that mattered was we all pulled together. We believed it was possible this time.”
The 130-pound Zoski was one of four Saxons to win an individual championship and one of six to qualify for the Group AAA state tournament at Robinson this week. He joined junior Michael Bowman (112), sophomore David Helmer (140) and junior Malachy Morris (189) on top of the podium. Freshman Anthony Kotoriy was runner-up at 103 pounds and junior Peter Dulany (125) was third. Langley finished with 165 points to edge Hayfield (153 points) and Westfield (149 points).
Bowman and Zoski had the easiest time in their championship matches. Bowman pinned Lake Braddock’s Ross Renzi in the third period and Zoski earned an 11-3 major decision over Chantilly’s Sharif Gray. Helmer beat T.C. Williams senior Sharif Dorghod, 9-4, while Morris decisioned Dan Mills of Hayfield, 3-1.
It was the second region championship for bothHelmer, who won at 130 last season, and Bowman, the 103-pound champ. Langley returns all six of its state qualifiers next year and just three of 14 starters graduate.
“Last year we came so close to winning the whole thing and I think it really hurt us to come up short like that,” said Zoski, who was the runner-up at 125 in 2006 as his team earned 154.5 points to place third behind Hayfield (160.5) and Robinson (157.5). “It was important we prove we had what it takes to win here. That was our goal and that’s what we did.”
Last call
» The end of the high school wrestling season starts Friday when Robinson hosts the two-day Group AAA state tournament. Tickets are $6 per session while an all-session pass costs $18. Finals are at 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
» The Virginia High School League has awarded the Northern Region the Group AAA state wrestling meet next year as well. Before 2005, the event had been held at Oscar Smith in Chesapeake the previous 11 years.
» Chantilly senior Enrique Camacho beat Jefferson sophomore Mike Howard in the 119-pound final, 13-6. That victory helped the Chargers finish fourth with 113 points.
