McLean's Bussard, Hayre Make States

McLean's Jeremy Bussard (171-lbs.) and Troy Hayre (130) earned trips to the Virginia State Wrestling Championships in Chesapeake next week by winning their consolation round semi-finals matches this afternoon at Hayfield.

Bussard continued smashing his way through the 171-pound bracket with his third first-period fall of the tournament. If he won his match later that day (result unavailable at press time) he will head to the state tournament with a 47-2 record and 19 pins. His only losses have been by one point each.

Hayre took a different tack, as he fell behind Westfield's highly regarded Paul Grinnups 16-7 in the third period. With time running out, the lanky McLean sophomore hit a backward roll, throwing Grinnups over the top, and onto his back. Hayre landed on top and tightened the hold, planting Grinnups in the mat.

Bussard will wrestle Ryan McGrath of Robinson for third place. Hayre will carry a 31-11 record into his match with Melot Treymorian, who he defeated last Saturday for the Liberty District championship.

McLean's other entrants did not fare as well. Junior Tim Goodsell lost a 9-7 overtime decision to his Herdon opponent at 215, but won fifth place by defeating Langley's Jeff Allen, in a rematch of last week's Liberty District championship match. Goodsell's two victories over Allen in the past week, avenging three previous lopsided losses, are clear evidence that the Highlander junior should have a big senior season next year.

Senior 152-pounder Danny Houck wrestled his final matches as a Highlander, losing first to Herndon's Ben Haynes 6-0, and then to Lake Braddock's Jeff Sivek, 5-4. Haynes finished sixth in the state last year; Sivek defeated Houck yesterday in the championship quarterfinals. Houck finished in sixth place.

Mike Hume may be emailed at mhume@fcnp.com