Those who know hard working West Long has a beautiful Bride 👰 and an adorable daughter but he desperately needed a date to take to the Salem Civic Center for the State Tournament slated for February 21st and 22nd ( weather permitting).
Long is finishing up his second season in his 18 year plan and he has worked nonstop over the past 12 months. The vision in place is next level and I’m as on board with him as I can get. From writing ✍ to sponsorship to hosting his Senior Night just recently, I am all in on the West Long Express. Having at least one wrestler qualify for State would be such a shot in the arm for the foundation that is being built on The Hill.
Virginia has 14 High School 🏫 Weight Classes and 10 Cavaliers earned the right to ride the bus 🚌 up to Staunton River High School on Saturday morning. One young Lady and 9 young Men made Weight after surviving the rain 🌧 soaked trip.
Four of the Ten wrestled their way into the Consolation Semi-final, meaning that they were one more victory from the Promise Land of HS Wrestling.
First up was Amelia Dalton and the two of us have a History, going back to her Freshman season at the Regional tournament. Please take a look back at her profile from that day to get a greater understanding of what this young Lady is made of. Next season the hope is that Virginia will catchup with the rest of the United States by making Girls Wrestling an official sport but Miss Dalton didn’t wait for it. She was willing to wrestle the Boys.
Amelia came up just short in her efforts down the stretch but my take away from the day will be with me for quite some time. The combination of her desire and her Father’s Love was something worthy of an After School special.
Next up was Samuel Collins and anyone who knows this young Man knows he loves life and is trying hard to enjoy his home stretch on The Hill.
Collins, who for the sake of my appreciation for Junior Varsity is the older brother of Judah Collins. Judah plays Basketball 🏀 for Jason Stockner.
Collins won his match and couldn’t wait to celebrate with his nearby family and teammates. He was well aware of his accomplishment and he knew how hard he worked to get there. Collins did fall short in his next match, leaving him in the #4 spot and he will be one of 16 in his weight class in Salem.
The next two competitors now share a similar story. Both Fisher Myers and Louis Marshall lost their next match before winning their final one.
The significance of their finishes places both of the friendly as can be Student Athletes in a unique position. They finished 5th, which is the first alternate for Salem. We can go back two years ago when one of our Alternates ended up in Salem.
This gets tricky because after months of trying hard to make weight, when the season ends one wants to eat everything that was a no-no over the past months. I remember that our Wrestler was running through the streets of Salem that morning at 5am in hopes of making weight.
West Long also has a way cool Father-in-law, an amazing Assistant Coach and both Myers and Dalton coming back. He’s got me trying hard to beat the Drum for the program and now he has a Date for State !
The long term goal is to have the team qualified for State and while this might be seen as a Baby 👶 step, trust me, its so much more !
A.S.P.N on The Hill 