Hargrave Military Academy Cadet Cameron Spangler managed a Top Eight finish at the 46th VISAA State Wrestling Championship on Saturday, February 20, 2016. Cameron claimed 6th in the 195 lbs. weight class. The Championship was held at Deep Run High School in Glen Allen, Virginia.
“(Spangler is) a sophomore facing hardened seniors and taking wins by catching and taking opportunity of his opponent’s mistakes,” Coach Ed Ott said. “He mentioned several times during the tournament, ‘I did what you said and it worked! What else can I do?’ His growth in his first year of wrestling is shown by the sixth place medal he proudly wore around his neck on the podium.”
Spangler is the son of Gary and Linda Spangler of Wilmington, North Carolina.
While the Hargrave varsity wrestling program was only able to take six wrestlers to the Championship, the six made their mark by claiming 19th out of 29 teams. An injury to Cadet Layton Decker prevented further advancement.
“Decker wrestled like a champion up until he hurt his shoulder, which brought him his first loss,” Ott said. “In another match he hyper-extended the same arm at the elbow and could barely move it. The scene was completely cliche’ as he begged the trainer to tape it up and let him continue, very nearly saying, ‘Keep me in, Coach. I can still race!’ With one arm, and more determination than I have seen from anyone before, he beat his opponent 15-6. The injury eventually caught up with him costing him a medal.”
Decker is the son of Daymond and Molly Decker of Castroville, Texas.
Other team members include: Cadet Robert Englander of Levittown, New York; Cadet John Mize of South Boston, Virginia; Cadet Kevin Pedersen of Mercer Island, Washington; and Cadet Andrew Scott of Brooklyn, New York.
