FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Todd Wetmore, Liberty
April 15, 2011

Virginia’s Henrich Repeats as VaSID Wrestler of the Year

LYNCHBURG, Va. – For the second year in a row, Virginia’s Chris Henrich has been selected as the top wrestler in Virginia, while Virginia Tech’s Devin Carter and Kevin Dresser have been named the Commonwealth’s top freshman and coach, as selected by the Virginia Sports Information Directors (VaSID) on Friday.

Henrich, a four-time first-team VaSID all-state selection, earned All-America honors by finishing sixth at the NCAA Wrestling Championships in Philadelphia, Pa., last month. The 2010 and 2011 VaSID Wrestler of the Year helped Virginia to a third-place finish in the ACC and 19 duals wins, the most in program history.

The 174-pounder is the Cavaliers’ first-ever three-time All-American, finishing the season with a 35-5 overall record. The senior finished his four-year stint in Charlottesville, Va., with 136 victories, including 79 dual match wins.

Carter is the third Hokie in the last three seasons to earn VaSID Rookie of the Year honors, joining fellow teammates Jarrod Garnett (2009/125 pounds) and Brian Stephens (2010/149 pounds).  During his first season in Blacksburg, Va., the 133-pounder posted a 35-7 record and was named ACC Co-Rookie of the Year. He set a new program record with 21 dual victories and led the team in falls (11) and major decisions (12).  The ACC champion qualified for the NCAA Wrestling Championships and advanced to the Round of 12, where he fell to eventual eighth-place wrestler Bernard Furtell of Illinois.

Dresser guided Virginia Tech to a 20-4 dual meet record this season and a perfect 5-0 record in regular-season ACC dual events. The Hokies’ 20 dual victories tied a program record.  Dresser helped seven of his grapplers advance to the NCAA Wrestling Championship and guided his program to a runner-up finish at the ACC Championship.

Virginia and Virginia Tech dominated the 2011 VaSID all-state teams, taking home 12 of the 20 total spots on the Commonwealth’s top wrestling listing. The Hokies led all Commonwealth programs with seven selections, while the Cavaliers took home five of the available 10 first-team honorees.

Six different programs managed to be represented on this year’s all-state wrestling teams, which is comprised of wrestlers from the Division I, Division III and NAIA ranks.  ehind Virginia and Virginia Tech was the Apprentice School and Liberty, each collecting three all-state honorees, followed by Old Dominion and VMI, who each had one all-state selection.