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.