Ocean Lakes wrestling spent the summer preparing for the new season in hopes of improving their record this year. With last year’s record of 18-4, they were ranked fourth in the region and seventh in the state.
“I am very excited to see the wrestlers compete in some of our big tournaments we host on an annual basis and wrestling in the Virginia Duals at Hampton Coliseum,” head coach Christopher Barnhart said.
The Dolphins lost seven seniors who positively impacted the team last year, with Logan Chambers going on to wrestle at Virginia Military Institute. However, this may create opportunities for younger players.
“Losing that many seniors hurt, but we have some young wrestlers working hard to make the team better every day,” Barnhart said. “Seniors Chris Castillo, Paul Chapman and Noah Ripley are three seniors that should have a great season this year.”
The team began conditioning in the summer and continued throughout the fall to get their bodies ready for the season.
“I believe that conditioning is fundamental to wrestling because a match is like a six-minute sprint,” Paul said. “We need to be well conditioned to be able to compete in matches.”
They had two scrimmages so far; they competed in their first tournament on Dec. 7, 2024, in Charlottesville, Va. Ocean Lakes brought two teams which they both wrestled for five rounds.
“I [was] very excited to compete in Ocean City, Md., at the War on the Shore Tournament. It is a great opportunity to wrestle teams we normally would not,” Paul said.
Every winter, Ocean Lakes holds the John Kelly Invitational Tournament. This year it will take place Jan. 24 to Jan. 25, 2025.
“The John Kelly Invitational is a tournament that we host every year at Ocean Lakes. Some of the best people from all around Virginia and North Carolina [come]. I am looking most forward to bonding with the team at all of the tournaments and trips we will take this season,” Chris said. “It was named in remembrance of the late John Kelly.”
