Dean, Drummond rally Rams to first place

View larger image Strasburg’s Hunter Dean, above, looks down at his opponent Warren County’s Terrace Thompson during the Strasburg Duals on Saturday in Strasburg. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Strasburg's Nic Campbell, above, has the advantage over Warren County's Kyle Montague during the Strasburg Duals Wrestling Tournament on Saturday in Strasburg. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Strasburg's Michael Capone, above, has Warren County's Brandon Ketola in a hold during the Strasburg Duals Wrestling Tournament on Saturday in Strasburg. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Strasburg's Hunter Dean, above, looks down at his opponent Warren County's Terrace Thompson during the Strasburg Duals Wrestling Tournament on Saturday in Strasburg. Andrew Thayer/Daily View larger image Strasburg’s Tyler Drummond, left, works to gain control of Warren County’s Wayne Starks during the Strasburg Duals on Saturday in Strasburg. Andrew Thayer/Daily

By Dennis Atwood - sports@nvdaily.com

STRASBURG -- Junior Todd Dean and sophomore Tyler Drummond came through, just when Strasburg needed them most, to turn a 10-point deficit into a frenzied 37-36 championship round win against Warren County in the Strasburg Duals meet Saturday.

The Rams (Group A) and Wildcats (Group AA) finished first in their respective pools in the 10-team duals, to face off in the seventh round of the day, which started with the 152-pound weight class.

The Wildcats won seven of the first 10 matches in the championship round, including pins by senior Robert Canby (160), and junior Zach Poehler (285) and three Strasburg forfeits.

Success for the Rams came with junior Willy Rutz's pin of Jacob Hill (170), and wins by two freshmen, Hunter Dean's 17-4 major decision over Terrace Thompson (106), and Nic Campbell's 12-3 decision over Kyle Montague.

After those 10 results, the Wildcats led 36-14, and appeared to be in good shape to win first place.

But the Rams won the last four matches to pull out the victory.

At 126, senior Michael Capone pinned Brandon Ketola in 3:40, followed by freshman Marco Gallagher's 5:27 pin of Tristan Ward in the 132-pound match, to narrow Strasburg's gap to 36-26.

Todd Dean (140) then pinned junior Tyler Peterson in 1:14, cutting the deficit to 36-32, as Drummond got ready to enter the circle against Wayne Starks in the final match of the day at 145 pounds.

"[Strasburg] Coach [Trey Kirkland] came up to me, and said, 'Well, you gotta go in there and get it done,' and I said 'All right,'" Todd Dean said. "I went in there strong, gave it my all, and came out with the six [points]. I used an under-over throw [to set up the pin]."

The fully engaged crowd knew the championship was on the line, with the Rams needing at least a tech fall (winning margin of 14 or more for five points), or a pin (six points) to pull out the win.

Drummond held a 5-0 lead after the first period, and increased it to 9-0 with a near pin at the end of the second period.

The crowd went from being loud to boisterous in the third period as Drummond continued to out-maneuver Starks until he reached a 16-1 lead, and won with the essential tech fall.

"I've been sick, so it was pretty hard [today], but I guess it worked out," the understated Drummond said.

Campbell had a 5-0 day, to improve his season record to 31-1.

"I've been wrestling seven or eight years. If I could beat [Montague], just imagine what I can do in Group A states. He was the most difficult of all my matches. Conditioning really helps. Once they get tired, I don't, and that really helps me in the third period."

Warren County won 37-36 over Clarke County in its first match of the day.

The Eagles took third place by walloping Central, 60-22, in the consolation match. Senior Peter Levi (132) earned his 100th career win for the Eagles with his third period pin of Skylar Wolf in that round. Jesse Longerbeam (138) was the only Eagles wrestler to have a 5-0 day.

East Rockingham took fifth place, 41-27, over Madison County. Parry McCluer topped Harrisonburg, 54-24, for seventh place; and Smithsburg (Md.) won ninth place, 48-30, over Bishop O'Connell.

The duals sweep improved Strasburg's season record to 33-1, with the only blemish a 42-38 loss to Wilson Memorial.

In addition to sharing the championship round with Warren County, Kirkland, a first-year coach, shares some of his resume with the Wildcats.

Kirkland wrestled under Wildcats coach Matt Wadas. After graduating from UNC-Pembroke, Kirkland returned to be an assistant for two years under Wadas, before taking over the Rams' top job.

"We've been wrestling good all year, but, now, we have a few injuries," Kirkland said. "Besides that, we're really coming into our own, and wrestling right where we should be. We're planning on wrestling our best in the post season. Right now we're getting at it, but I still think we have some room to improve.

"I couldn't have stepped in at a better time. To have all those freshman already as good as they are. Now, I'm just trying to work on them to really work on their skills, and get them on the top of the podium down at states."