Westfield Wrestling Defends NOVA Classic Title

Brett Campbell and Beau Donahue won individual championships Saturday night that lead Westfield to a repeat Northern Virginia Classic wrestling title at Fairfax High School.

The Bulldogs won the two-day event 271.5 - 253 over Fauquier High School, which was the meet leader after the first day. Chuck Hoskins' squad, the annual Northern Region favorite and one of the top teams in the state, lost a number of strong wrestlers to graduation.

But wrestlers like Campbell, a junior who won this tournament at 103-pounds in 2009, are aiming to keep Westfield on top.

"It's early season, not everyone's expecting as much as they have been in the past," said Campbell, moments after winning the 112-pound title over Bennett Payne of Fauquier. "All those guys graduated last year, but I think we'll do good [this season]."

Campbell earned the win after about a five-minute delay due to Payne needing medical attention to stop a bloody nose.

"It's one of my favorite tournaments, it's always a blast to come out here and try to get a win," Campbell said. "It's a good way to open the season."

It wasn't just individual honors that put the Bulldogs on top in the team competition; it was the fact that Westfield placed six wrestlers in the championship match, plus three wrestlers in the match for third place. Fauquier had three individual champions, but only three other wrestlers who finished in the top-5 of their weight class.

Donahue won his 140-pound championship match in dominating fashion, 15-3, over Stephen Gwaltney of North Stafford. Other top finishers for the Bulldogs were Dennon Caranza-Kee (119), Derek Arnold (125), Stephen Aiello (130) and Tyler Deleon (heavyweight) who all finished second. The other Westfield wrestler to win his final match of the tournament was Harry Van Trees, who won the bout for third place at 152-pounds over Ricky Lopez of Chantilly.

Campbell explained how the Bulldogs maintain a team-first mentality even in what seems to be an individual sport.

"It feels great [to see so many teammates in the finals], we all just practice hard and try to make each other better," he said. "Every time someone else is out there you feel like you're part of that."