by Lloyd Combs
Sports Reporter
    Grundy wanted its trophy back, and, as a team, from top to bottom, the Golden Wave simply went out and took it.
    Five Grundy wrestlers won individual titles and 13 of 14 wrestlers placed as the Wave shot past defending champ Franklin County to win at the 28th annual Agie Skeens Memorial wrestling tournament over the weekend at Riverview Elementary-Middle School.
    The Golden Wave topped Franklin County, 303-228.5, for the team title, and a mix of youngsters and veterans led the way.
    Two freshmen, Sean Vandyke (103 pounds) and Jeremy Hurley (112), a sophomore, Ethan Owens (130), and two seniors, Josh McCowan (160) and Josh Lee (189), won titles for Grundy, which sent nine wrestlers to the finals, including eight A-teamers and one "C" teamer.
    Eleven wrestlers reached the championship semifinals and ten finished in the top three in their weight class.
    Derek Anderson (119), Cody Rife (125) and Jon Dotson (135) reached the finals for the Golden Wave. Dakota Vance wrestled for the Wave C-team, and lost to Hurley in the 112-pound finals. Kaleb Smith (145), and Demarco Owens (171) each placed third, as did B-teamer Tanner McClanahan (160). Other Grundy place-winners were Brandon Hankins (5th at 140), Morgan Owens (6th at 215) and Alex Edwards (8th at 285). Smith, Hankins and Demarco Owens made it to Saturday morning's semifinals.
    "I thought we wrestled pretty well in a pretty good tournament," Grundy coach Travis Fiser said. "There were a lot of good teams that had several good individuals."
    A number of Golden Wave wrestlers dominated their respective weight class, including Vandyke, Hurley, Owens and McCowan.
    In their first Agie Skeens tournament, Sean Vandyke dominated the 103-pound weight class and Jeremy Hurley dominated at 112 pounds.

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    In a game played Dec. 19 that was not reported in time for last week's edition of the Virginia Mountaineer, Grundy ended a three-game losing sreak with a 66-56 win over J.I. Burton at Grundy High School.
    Cody Billiter scored 20 points to lead Grundy. Bobby Peck and D.J. Gelenster each added 10 points, while Joseph Stephens and L.C. Mutter scored nine points apiece for the Golden Wave.
    Ethan Stewart scored 21 points and Pat Begley added 20 for the Raiders.
    Grundy coach Greg Rife benched his starters for the first quarter and started four freshmen, including Mutter, whose three three-pointers in the period kept the Wave close.
    The starters entered the game in the second period and outscored the Raiders 21-10 to give Grundy the led for good.

For more of the story, see the print edition of the Mountaineer, on sale at newsstands now.  For more information on how to subscribe to the Mountaineer, call 276-935-2123 today.