Four Mathews wrestlers won regional championships and the team as a whole took home the Region A title following Saturday’s tournament at Lancaster High School.
Seniors Alexis Deagle (106 lbs., 26-8 record) and Cody Deagle (132 lbs., 32-3 record), freshman Ivan Schaible (144 lbs., 27-10 record), and junior Fabian Cardenas (150 lbs., 31-4 record) won their respective weight classes at the regional tourney.
Five other Blue Devil wrestlers placed on Saturday to earn a spot in the VHSL Class 1, 2, 3 state championships, which will be held on Friday and Saturday at the Salem Civic Center.
Taking second in the regional tournament were freshman Salvador Cardenas (113 lbs., 17-7 record), sophomore Sawyer Stark (120 lbs., 16-10 record) and junior Noah Wright (150 lbs., 27-5 record). Placing third in their weight class were sophomore Mikey Ray (126 lbs., 17-15 record) and freshman Roane Gray (138 lbs., 12-10 record).
Mathews scored 212 team points to win the tournament, with Northampton (198 points) and the host Lancaster Red Devils (156 points) placing second and third. Other teams in the regional tourney included Middlesex (151 points), Essex (131 points), Washington and Lee (127 points), Northumberland (53 points) and King and Queen (44 points).
“We are young and hungry,” said MHS head coach Josh Schaible, who was also crowned Region A Coach of the Year. “Anytime you have a large group of young guys who find a little success early in their high school career” like freshmen Ivan Schaible, Salvador Cardenas and Roane Gray, “it bodes well for the future. We plan on carrying this momentum to Salem and surprising some folks.”
It’s been quite a while since Mathews has taken home the state wrestling trophy. The Blue Devils won back-to-back titles in 1990 and 1991 and placed second in Brentsville District in 2003.
Schaible and his Blue Devil wrestlers are hoping to get back in the winner’s circle next week. And, with such a young squad, if that doesn’t happen this year, as Schaible pointed out, “it bodes well for the future.”