EASTVILLE—Franklin’s wrestling team returned home from the region tournament on Friday without a win or a pin.

That’s because the Broncos never made it to the state-qualifier at Northampton High School. High winds forced them and more than half of the 13 teams from crossing the 23-mile Chesapeake Bay-Bridge Tunnel, said Franklin Coach Bull Johnson.

“They wouldn’t let us cross with the bus,” Johnson said.

The tournament scheduled for Friday and Saturday is rescheduled for Sunday and Monday.

Marsh Pruitt, secretary for the tunnel’s police department, said when winds exceed 47 mph, buses cannot cross the bridge, which connects Virginia’s Eastern Shore with the Virginia mainland. The winds were at 55 mph Friday; restrictions were implemented at 5:45 a.m. and lifted at 1:04 p.m., Pruitt said.

The Franklin wrestlers arrived at the bridge at 10 a.m. Friday.

“They had a parking lot where you can wait,” said Johnson, noting once the tournament was postponed, the Broncos returned home.

Will Leland, wrestling coach for Northampton and tournament director, said other teams that would’ve had to cross the bridge were Washington & Lee, North Umberland, Lancaster, Middlesex, Mathews, Sussex, King William and Essex.

“If they were coming by bus, they had to deal with those weather restrictions,” Leland said. “I had to contact all 13 schools. We had teams coming from three hours away that would have had to drive three hours back.”

This is first time this season restrictions kept teams away, Leland said.

“Last year we got caught over there and had to spend the night,” he said.

As for Franklin, Johnson believes he has at least six wrestlers who could qualify for the state tourney at the Salem Civic Center on Feb. 15 and 16.

“(That’s based) on what they’ve done prior to getting to regions and some of the kids they’ve already beaten,” Johnson said.

During Franklin’s final match on Wednesday at home, the Broncos lost to Hertford and beat Sussex.

Finishing 2-0 were senior Xavier Freeman, who dropped to the 132-weight class; senior Nathan Jones, 160; senior Zach Hopkins, 195; and sophomore Anthony Lott-Davis, 285.

Going 1-1 were junior Cheyenne Banks at 106, sophomore Lauren Sheehy at 113, freshman Benny Jones at 145 and sophomore Alson Cromwell at 152. Junior Shane Walker at 170 was 1-0.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

EASTVILLE—The Franklin wrestling team is headed to Northampton High School in Eastville for the opening of the region tournament at 6:30 p.m. today, Feb. 8.

The state qualifier will continue 10 a.m. Saturday. The top four in each weight class will advance to the state tournament on Feb. 15 and 16 at the Salem Civic Center.

Bronco Coach Bull Johnson believes at least six could qualify for the state tourney.

“(That’s based) on what they’ve done prior to getting to regions and some of the kids they’ve already beaten,” Johnson said.

During Franklin’s final match on Wednesday at home, the Broncos lost to Hertford and beat Sussex.

Finishing 2-0 were senior Xavier Freeman, who dropped to the 132-weight class; senior Nathan Jones, 160; senior Zach Hopkins, 195; and sophomore Anthony Lott-Davis, 285.

Going 1-1 were junior Cheyenne Banks at 106, sophomore Lauren Sheehy at 113, freshman Benny Jones at 145 and sophomore Alson Cromwell at 152. Junior Shane Walker at 170 was 1-0.