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."