With 48 high school teams, including many of the top-ranked programs in the nation, and 22 college teams competing side-by-side at the Hampton Coliseum in what is widely regarded as the most prestigious wrestling event in the country, the 34th annual Virginia Duals this weekend is all about experience for most Bay Rivers District teams.
Perennial district powers New Kent and Poquoson could turn some heads — the Islanders are seeded No. 2 in the Black and Blue Division while New Kent figures to be competitive in the other high school bracket, the National Division — although neither are expected to upset national powerhouses Nazareth (Penn.) or McDonogh (Md.) for the championship trophy.
Ask coaches from York, Lafayette, Tabb and Grafton, though, and they will tell you winning is not their main objective heading into tournament, which begins with matches at 9 a.m. Friday morning and continues until 9 p.m. Saturday evening. Click here to view a complete schedule and list of opening-round pairings.
Sure, standouts like Tabb’s Hunter Starner or York’s Marcus Wakelyn figure to be competitive and perhaps win some matches, but experiencing one of the most unique and popular wrestling events in the world is most beneficial, coaches say.
“We are going for the experience,” said York coach Todd Parrish, who will bring a team full of underclassmen with no juniors and three seniors. “We know we are going to have our hands full as far as competing, but this is such a unique tournament with some of the top high school and college teams in the country, the kids will get to see top-notch wrestling. You can’t experience that type of atmosphere anywhere else.”
First Lafayette coach Chris Wiatt, who had participated in the Duals each of the past 15 years while coaching at Smithfield, Menchville and Warwick, did not receive an invitation from the tournament committee until Wednesday after Western Branch decided to drop out of the Black and Blue Division.
“I was ecstatic,” said Wiatt, who took over Lafayette’s program in September after all the spots for this year’s tournament had been already been filled. “I have four seniors – three who have been wrestling since their freshman year – and they’ve never seen the Duals, at least not as a participant, so I was heartbroken that they weren’t going to get to experience it.”
In addition to competing alongside close to 50 other quality high school programs, coaches said part of the appeal of the Duals is having their players witness the interactions of those at the next level.
“When they’re not wrestling, obviously, I want my guys watching Virginia Tech and ODU,” Wiatt said. “I want them to see how coaches and players prepare at the next level.”
Wiatt added the Duals also offer him and other high school coaches the opportunity to showcase their players in front of college teams.
“All it takes is one [college] coach noticing, ‘Hey, that guy can wrestle,’” Wiatt said. “There’s no other stage like [the Duals]. It’s great for the kids, the parents and everyone involved.”
34th Annual Virginia Duals
When: Friday, Jan. 9-Saturday, Jan. 10
Where: Hampton Coliseum
For live streaming and results throughout the weekend, click here.
Opening-Round Pairings for Local Teams
Black and Blue Division
Grafton vs. No. 1 Fauquier, Friday, 5 p.m., Mat 4
Tabb vs. No. 5 Hickory, Friday, 5 p.m., Mat 9
York vs. Nansemond River, Friday, 7 p.m., Mat 3
Lafayette vs. No. 2 Poquoson, Friday, 7 p.m., Mat 7
