Wrestling: For Warren's Kirkland, first step comes today (02-23-07)
By Chuck McGill (Daily Staff Writer)
FRONT ROYAL — Warren County's Trey Kirkland is almost perfect.
The senior wrestler is revered by his peers for his athletic ability, leadership and penchant for helping his teammates.
The 160-pounder is lauded by his coach, who cites his sterling 4.0 grade-point average, rare maturity and relentless politeness.
Only a single defeat in 35 matches this season leaves a blemish on his otherwise flawless resume.
"He's a fantastic kid," Warren County coach Matt Wadas said during practice Wednesday. "He's a hard-working kid and puts the work in the offseason. I'm so proud of his accomplishments."
Kirkland is one of 10 Warren County grapplers who will compete in today's Region II tournament at James Wood. The double-elimination, two-day event will send four wrestlers from each weight class to next weekend's Group AA state tournament.
The Wildcats hope to send as many as five wrestlers to the state meet, Wadas said. Kirkland is certainly among that group; boasting a 34-1 record — 139-29 in his career — he captured his third consecutive Northwestern District title last week.
"None of that matters now," he said. "Regionals and states — I've worked my whole wrestling career for these two weeks."
Kirkland's state title aspirations began in seventh grade when, as a newbie to the sport, he first attended the state tournament. At that point, he was determined to return to the event as a wrestler, a goal he fulfilled last season when he advanced to the state final at 160 pounds before losing.
"I always wanted to make it to states," he said. "That was my ultimate goal. Wrestling is all about the state championship."
Kirkland took the loss as a dream unfulfilled. He used the defeat to help him prepare for his senior year, training for more than four weeks in Pennsylvania in the offseason.
"The success never went to his head," Wadas said. "That's not him. He's got maturity you just don't see."
Wadas, a first-year coach at Warren County, even entrusts Kirkland to offer insight to the team before and after matches.
"He's the team captain; he's been there before," Wadas said. "He gets the last word — not me."
Kirkland, Chris Morris (125) and Kevin Wertz (130) each captured district championships last week, helping Warren County to a second-place finish behind James Wood.
"Our district is a real meat-grinder — it's amazing to me," Wadas said. "James Wood has one of the best teams I've seen in a decade. Second place says something."
Morris, a junior, is 31-6 this season. Wertz, a senior, is 26-4.
"This is my last shot," Wertz said. "I'm never going to wrestle again, so I want to go far."
Next year, Kirkland intends to wrestle at Division II North Carolina-Pembroke, where he is receiving both academic and athletic scholarships. He aspires to be a collegiate All-American, and when his wrestling days are finished, he wants to devote the rest of his life to teaching the sport.
"It's a hard-nosed sport; it's in my blood," he said. "I'll be involved with it until the day I die."
