St. Christopher's School Wrestling

The wrestling season is right around the corner- are you ready for the madness? Many members of the wrestling team have spent their off seasons training and preparing for what could possibly be one of the most successful years in St. Christopher's wrestling. The talent coming back to the team for the 2009-10 season is amazing. Four National Prep All-Americans. Two VISAA State champions. Seven VISAA State placers. And add in two outstanding new wrestlers and you can see just how much potential this team has! The goals for the season include State title number nine in a row, and a top ten finish at Nationals.

Ted Gottwald, a two-time VISAA State champ and 2009 National Prep All-American leads the team, along with All-American Loren Phillips, 2009 VISAA State champ Mark Burlee, and two-time VISAA State placer Rennie Merhige as captains. Their outstanding leadership will improve things just a little bit more inside and out of the wrestling room.

These kids are hungry for success. They see what they did last year and realize that everybody has to step up and work just a bit harder to realize their goals. The talent in the room is amazing, just with the senior captains, but add in guys like David Wesley, who finished 5th at National Preps in '09, Robert Janis, and Trey Tarr, and even the underclass is ready to roll.

The 2009-10 season will also feature the debut of freshman sensation Brandon Jeske, who recently finished 2nd at the Super 32 tournament in North Carolina- probably the toughest pre-season tournament in the nation. He beat a bunch of really good kids on the way to the finals. Jeske comes to St. Christopher's as one of the top five middle school wrestlers in the US. He won the FILA Cadet Nationals in Greco and took 3rd at the Cadet Nationals in Fargo this summer. Jeske is ready to set the wrestling world on its heels this year. The Saints also have a quality transfer in sophomore Tyler Cornett, who comes to St. Christopher's from Massaponax HS in Fredericksburg where he was a AAA Northwest Region qualifier as a freshman. Cornett is a very hard working and determined wrestler. His enthusiasm and passion for success will definitely be contagious!

This is going to be a fun season; you have to be part of the action! You do not want to miss out on following this team. What separates them from other great high school teams is how down to earth and humble they are. These kids know that they are good, but understand that they have to take things to the next level and are willing to put in the time and effort to be successful. St. Christopher's begins the season at the Hopewell Classic on December 4th and 5th. This is going to be a very tough opener for the Saints. Wyoming Seminary, AA State champion Christiansburg, rising AAA power Frank Cox, and AAA Northern Region champions Westfield will be there, along with a host of top individual wrestlers. Be sure to follow St. Christopher's wrestling on our website: http://stchriswrestling.com and we will see you on the mats in 2009-10!