Highland Wrestlers Take Third at Weekend Tournament

The McLean High School wrestling team finished third in the Highlander Holiday Duals at McLean High School this weekend, finishing with a record of 5-2. Jeremy Bussard led the Highlanders, going undefeated in the meet with a perfect 7-0 mark.

McLean opened the meet with three wins on Friday night, besting district rival Marshall 48-21, then slamming Wakefield 53-17 and Oakton 49-27. The Highlanders opened Saturday well, beating J.E.B. Stuart 44-28, but then fell at the hands of W.T. Woodson 48-23. The Highlanders rebounded with a 62-4 thrashing of South Lakes, but dropped their final match to Fairfax 44-36.

Bussard cruised in the majority of his matches, including four pins and a forfeit, but was seriously contested by Marshall’s Steven Bradford. Bussard narrowly won that match by a final margin of 8-7. Bussard’s record stands at 17-1 this season.

McLean’s Robert Crawford turned in a 5-2 record at the meet in the 125-lb. class, including four falls, while Justin Johnson contributed four wins and a forfeit in the 112-lb. division and Andrew Smith won three matches and collected two forfeits at 160-lbs. Ben Fama (152-lb.), Tim Goodsell (215), Shane Mills (275) and Andrew Ullrich (189) each added four wins for the Highlanders.

Zach Hutchins (140) and Trevor Dawes (152) each picked up their first wins on the varsity level by pinning their South Lakes opponents. McLean next takes part in the Assault on Drugs Tournament at Mt. Vernon High School Dec. 22 and 23.