The Apprentice School wrestling team had three members named to the 2012-13 Virginia Sports Information Directors All-State Wrestling team announced on Wednesday. Sophomore Ian Jones earned first-team honors at heavyweight, while senior Kyle Spruill (149) and freshman Josh Rodriguez (184) earned second team honors.
This marks the fifth straight year that the Builders have had a first-team All-State selection. The wrestling team is the only team done by VaSID that combines the university division (NCAA Division I) and the college division schools.
Jones had a very impressive sophomore campaign as he opened the season winning his first 11 matches and he topped that to start 2013 as he won the first 18 bouts in the second half of the season. He won the NCWA Mid-Atlantic Conference title at heavyweight, the USCAA National Invitational and Builder Invitational, while finishing second at the Central Florida Invitational and third at Waynesburg Invitational. His 41 wins are the sixth best single-season total, while his winning percentage of 91.1% is third-best all-time. He is a native of Painesville, Oh. and is a heavy metal fabricator apprentice. This is his second straight first-team selection.
Spruill earned second team honors at 149 pounds after a senior campaign that saw him finish with a 28-12 record. He had a stretch in the second half of the season that he won 12 out of 13 matches as he won the USCAA National Invitational, took second at the NCWA Mid-Atlantic Conference and took third at the Builder Invitational. The Williamsburg native and outside machinist apprentice placed fifth at 149 pounds for his first NCWA All-American honor. He ended his career with a 99-43 record which placed him sixth on the career wins list.
Rodriguez took second team honors at 184 pounds after a freshman season of 21-20. A Virginia Beach native and electrician apprentice, Rodriguez took first at 184 pounds in the Builder Invitational, third at the USCAA Invitational and Central Florida Invitational along with fifth at the Mid-Atlantic Conference meet.
2012-13 VaSID All-State Wrestling Team
Major Award Winners
Coach of the Year: Kevin Dresser, Virginia Tech
Rookie of the Year: George DiCamillo, Virginia
Wrestler of the Year: Pete Yates, Virginia Tech
First Team
125 - Jarrod Garnett, Sr., Virginia Tech
133 - George DiCamillo, Fr., Virginia
141 - Zach Neibert, Jr., Virginia Tech
149 - Nick Brascetta, So., Virginia Tech
157 - Jesse Dong, Sr., Virginia Tech
165 - Pete Yates, Sr., Virginia Tech
174 - Jon Fausey, Jr., Virginia
184 - Stephen Doty, Jr., Virginia
197 - Mike Salopek, Sr., Virginia
285 - Ian Jones, So., Apprentice
Second Team
125 - Matt Snyder, Sr., Virginia
133 - Erik Spjut, Jr., Virginia Tech
141 - Joe Spisak, So., Virginia
149 - Kyle Spruill, Sr., Apprentice
149 - Derek Valenti, Sr., Virginia
157 - Jedd Moore, Sr., Virginia
165 - Nick Sulzer, So., Virginia
174 - Austin Gabel, Fr., Virginia Tech
184 - Josh Rodriguez, Fr., Apprentice
197 - Jacob Henderson, So., Old Dominion
285 - David Marone, Sr., Virginia Tech