Thursday, September 28, 2017

Lions' dynamic duo proving everyone right

   McCoy and McGill.
   McGill and McCoy.
   Even as Chestnut Ridge was beginning to take over the District 5 wrestling stranglehold that belonged to rival Bedford a few years ago, much of the conversation centered around the future of the Lion program and how it could rise to greater heights.
   And that discussion never took long to get to two young men, Justin McCoy and Jared McGill, in whatever order you wanted to have them.
   Just before the 2013-14 season began, Eric Knopsnyder and I had a chat through Facebook Messenger which overall was about the district in general.
   I found it in my messenger archives yesterday. Here are the comments pertaining to McCoy and McGill.

   Ryan: "I actually think Ridge will be better next year (2014-15) despite losing (Austin) Buttry after this year. They have a couple decent freshmen (Morgan Deremer and Dylan Williams), and they have a stud eighth-grader coming (McCoy)."
   Eric: "At least one stud eighth-grader, right? Aren't McGill and McCoy both pretty good?"
   Ryan: "McGill is in seventh (grade) as far as I know."
   Eric: "Ok. Man, I've been hearing about him for years already!"

  As things turned out, my prediction (not to brag) that the Lions would be better the next year was right. With McCoy on board as a freshman 120-pounder, they had a total team effort in their memorable run to the PIAA Class AA team finals.
   On an individual level, McCoy and McGill have been brilliant. Like Eric stated having heard about McGill for years back then, so much was anticipated and expected out of both of them. They've surely delivered.
   McCoy has 122 wins and is well within striking distance of becoming Bedford County's top wins leader (Aaron Burkett, 152). He can also become Chestnut Ridge's first four-time state medalist. And of course, a second state title would place him in rarified air as Jan Clark is the only multiple-time state champ from the county.
   McGill is over the 70-win mark in two years and would have been higher in that column had he not missed a few matches his freshman season due to a broken nose. He's on track to eventually join McCoy as a four-time state medalist.
   Going back to my lead of 'McCoy and McGill', if one does, the other one is not far behind. On Sunday night, McCoy announced he has committed to wrestle at the University of Virginia. Just hours later, McGill signed on with Army West Point. Given their wrestling credentials, seeing these two advance on to Division I institutions in the near future is no surprise. I have stories on both college commitments further down in this blog.
   Just like former Bedford standouts Ryan Easter and Jonathan Gabriel, and some others I've had the pleasure of watching compete, the pair of Chestnut Ridge stars have lived up to the hype. Congratulations to Justin and Jared on what they've done so far on and off the mat, and I only wish them the best as they each shoot for more state hardware and eventual NCAA glory.

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

McGill picks West Point

   Jared McGill still has two years left to wear the Chestnut Ridge singlet, and he already knows what colors he'll don at the next level.
   The Lion junior decided that Army West Point was the place he wanted to be a long time ago, so he didn't want to wait any longer. He made it official on Monday night in committing to the Cadets.
   "It's the most prestigious school out there," he said. "The campus is beautiful, and there's so much history there."
   McGill chose the service academy over Bucknell, Clarion, Penn, and Franklin & Marshall.
   At Chestnut Ridge, McGill is a two-time state placewinner, first finishing sixth at 132 pounds as a freshman. He then made a big weight jump last season, to 170, and took fourth in the PIAA tournament. He's likely to be at 170 again this year, and will be among the favorites if not the guy to beat for a state title.
   McGill joins teammate Justin McCoy in making a Division I college commitment. On Sunday night, McCoy announced he signed with Virginia.
   "I didn't expect to commit now, but West Point has always been a place I wanted to go. I know it's the place for me. Now I can focus on winning that state title at Ridge."

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Ridge champ McCoy picks UVA

   Justin McCoy has always believed in getting better every day, which has taken the Chestnut Ridge senior to enormous heights on the wrestling mat.
    He was a standout on the youth level and has parlayed that into much more success in the high school ranks, the biggest accomplishment coming in the form of a state championship last March. All of that and more made McCoy a hot commodity among some of the best NCAA Division I programs.
   Earlier tonight, McCoy made things official by choosing the University of Virginia as his next destination. He picked the Cavaliers over fellow Eastern wrestling powers Cornell, Lehigh, and Virginia Tech.
  "I chose Virginia because I felt like I really fit there," he said. "I felt really comfortable with the coaches and future teammates."
   McCoy will enter his final season at Chestnut Ridge with a career record of 122-16. That puts him 31 wins away from becoming the new victory leader in Bedford County history. McCoy's former teammate Aaron Burkett currently holds the mark at 152 wins. Last year, McCoy went 43-3 and swept the postseason wins at 145 pounds, culminating in his 5-2 decision over Bishop McDevitt's John Pipa for the state's Class AA title. Should McCoy take the gold again, he would join Northern Bedford legend Jan Clark as the only multiple-time state champions to hail from the county.
   "I'd like to be an undefeated state champion," he said upon his goals for the upcoming season.
   At Virginia, McCoy projects at either 165 or 174 pounds. He will probably compete at 152 for the Lions this winter. He's undecided as of now on an academic major in Charlottesville.
   Chestnut Ridge coach Greg Lazor holds high praise for McCoy.
   "It is great to see a young man who does the right things on and off the mat succeed at this level enough to get a great opportunity at the next level," Lazor said. "He's the most hardworking and dedicated wrestler I've had in 20 years of coaching. I couldn't be happier or proud about him."
   Also a standout on the football and baseball teams at Chestnut Ridge, McCoy is happy to have the recruiting process done.
   "It was actually pretty difficult and stressful at times. It was very long but I'm glad I was patient, and I feel I made the right choice."