CENTREVILLE WRESTLING

The 2012 wrestling season came to an exciting climax for two Wildcat wrestlers this past weekend. For Co-Captains Ryan Sepulveda and David Chenevey their high school wrestling careers ended on the podium among Virginia’s best. Centreville sent three grapplers to Robinson Secondary School for the VHSL State Championships, and all started off slowly. Ryan, David, and 220 pounder Joey Steinbach all lost their opening round bouts putting them in a do-or-die scenario. For the 3 Wildcats, their next loss could be their last.
Sepulveda opened up his consolation bout with a win over Steven Wittenberg of Osbourn Park. Chenevey too continued his senior season with a consolation win over Darrian McAllister of J.R. Tucker High School. Joe Steinbach ended his season with a second round loss to Eric Hess from Deep Run. Steinbach had a great season and only being a junior, has another chance to earn All-State honors next year.
Both Sepulveda and Chenevey went on a 3 match streak on their way to the 5th and 6th place bout. Ryan defeated Wittenberg, Randy Loving from Lee Davis, and Tyler Morson of Westfield before losing his battle with Cox’s Gunter Dicks dropping Sepulveda in the 5th and 6th place final. Dicks went on to take 3rd at 170 pounds. Ryan’s final HS match turned out to be a rematch of last weekend’s Regional Final bout with Dusty Floyd from Mount Vernon. Sepulveda avenged last weekend’s loss to Floyd by riding the Major senior out in the final overtime period ending his career with the fifth place medal.
For David Chenevey he too had a long second day of the state tournament, wrestling 4 matches. Chenevey defeated McAllister, 2012 Northern Region Champion Patrick O’Connor from Jefferson, and Patrick Sorey of Hanover. His match with Sorey came right down to the buzzer as David secured a takedown just seconds before the clock hit zeros. With the win, Chenevey found himself in the consolation semi final match against Omar Howar of Midlothian. Chenevey came up a little short in that bout dropping him into the 5th and 6th place match. The battle for fifth place pitted David with Salem’s Jefferey Stephen. Stephen won the bout handing Chenevey his sixth place finish and spot on the podium.
It was a fantastic ending to two wrestling careers. The Wildcat’s last state placer was Ricky Williams back in 2010 who placed 8th. Centreville’s co-captains got used to winning all season together and it was only fitting that they both secured All-State status.