Mathews placed ninth overall in the VHSL Class 1 state championship tournament on Friday and Saturday at the Salem Civic Center. The Blue Devils also had three wrestlers take home individual medals.

As a team, Mathews scored 62 points. Grundy won the VHSL team title with a score of 269.5, followed by Rural Retreat (164.5 team points) and Riverheads (160.5 points). Among Region A teams, Mathews came in third behind Franklin (tie, fifth place, 81 points) and Lancaster (eighth place, 66 points).

Junior Aaron Miles placed highest among Mathews wrestlers, taking third place in the 120 lbs. weight class. Senior Jacob Dalton took fourth place at 182 lbs., while senior Haden Higginbotham placed sixth at 132 lbs.

Miles, who compiled a 31-6 record this year, went 3-1 in the state tournament. After receiving a first-round bye, he pinned Jacob Huff of Rural Retreat in 1:11. His only loss came in the semifinals, losing a 9-2 decision to Ty Townsend of Galax. He battled his way back in the consol...