Despite a strong regional showing last week, Gloucester High School freshman Ethan Baker went 2-2 at the VHSL Class 5 wrestling state tournament to finish just outside of the top three. 

Baker won his first round match by fall at the 5:32 mark against Kyle Deguzman of North Stafford High School. His next match came against Garrett Chandler of Mills Godwin High School and resulted in a narrow loss after a 6-3 decision.

From here, Baker moved to the consolation bracket, where he rallied and soundly defeated Connor Regen of Thomas Jefferson Science and Technology by a score of 11-1. Unfortunately for the young Duke, Shane Morton of J.R. Tucker High overwhelmed him in the next round, winning 8-0.

Despite the results not being what Baker and his coaches were hoping for, the results showed head coach John Glockner that the young wrestler has potential. “Overall, he had a very strong showing for a freshman at the state level, finishing just off the podium,” said Glockner. ...