Wrestling: Freedom Coach Nagy on His Team's Big Win Thursday

You can tell a lot about a wrestling team in the heart and passion of its coach. Kent Nagy has taken over the Freedom High School program this season from Pat McNanley, who moved up to become the Eagles Assistant Athletic Director, and Nagy has guided Freedom to a golden season, none more golden than last night with eight champions crowned at the Dulles District meet. McNanley, who build that foundation, was on hand as was new Freedom AD Matt Oblas -- and former Freedom AD and new Woodgrove AD Rusty Lowery was there as well! -- as Freedom earned its first ever district title in any boys sport (actually two if you count the dual season). Nagy along with coaches Greg Northart and Marc Smaldino are great to watch on the sidelines and after the win Nagy urged his wrestlers to continue their magical run into regionals next week. Nagy was nice enough to share his thought on his team's big win:

As a coach I am not sure I have ever had a prouder moment of my kids than I did last night, when they proved that hard work can really lead to great things.

The Freedom Eagle wrestling team won the Dulles District wrestling championships by 82 points, one of the largest margins of victory in recent history. We qualified all 14 of our wrestlers for the Region II wrestling tournament at James Wood High School next weekend. We had 9 individual finalists, eight of which went on to be crowned Dulles District Champions. Prior to this weekend, Freedom had only had 3 district champions in the four previous years of the program.

However, it is the individual stories behind each of the kids which I think is so special.

Our 112 Steven Marquina, won his first ever district championship last night despite being regarded as one of the top low weights in the district over the past couple of years. A rivalry that broke out between Steven and Briar Woods' T.J. Julia left Steven a couple of points away from a possible district championship, and also kept him from going to the State Wrestling Tournament. When Steven made the district finals this year, it seemed only fitting that he would wrestle a Briar Woods kid in the finals. Brian Hulcher wrestled an outstanding match but ultimately it was Marquina that turned Hulcher onto his back and pinned him in a 0-0 match to win his first ever District Championship

At 119 Chuong Le won the rubber match against Loudoun County's state medalist Tyler Anthony. After losing to Anthony earlier in the season Chuong, pinned Anthony on Senior Night at Freedom two weeks ago. This set up one of the most anticipated matches in the finals. A takedown, a nearfall and a reversal, helped Chuong jump out to a 7-1 lead before holding on to a 7-6 win over Anthony, in what appears to be a matchup of two of the best 119lbers in the state. It was a great moment for Chuong who is one of the hardest working, most respected kids in not only our wrestling room but in the district, because of his attitude and the fact that he has never said a negative word to anyone.

125 might have one of my all time favorite stories. As a freshman Michael Hosti was thrown into the starting lineup at Freedom without any wrestling experience. HIs 5th place finish in the district left him just a little bit short of his goal of qualifying for regions, and left him with a hunger and a love for the sport. As a Sophomore Michael hit a growth spurt and because of Marquina, Le and Philbrick, he was knocked out of the starting line up. Many kids in this situation would have quit. To have been a starter as a freshmen, only to have to sit and watch as a Sophomore had to be very frustrating. As his coach we consistently had to tell Mike to be patient and his time would come, but during that time Michael may have been the hardest working kid in our room. He was training for this season...when he could get back into our lineup. On Thursday night he was not only back in our lineup but was crowned a District Champion! It was a very emotional moment for both Mike, and the Coaching Staff at Freedom to see a young man's perseverance pay off.

130- Like Michael Hosti, Sean Gaetani was on the bench a season ago, but unlike Mike he had never been a starter. Sean, has quietly waited his turn over the past two years, wrestling on the Freedom B-team and filling in when other starters were injured. Many wrestlers who have not broken into the starting lineup after their Sophomore year don't come back for their Junior season. Yet, Sean attended camps, clinics, workouts all spring and summer in order to make his Junior year a special one. On Saturday he did, as he walked away a district champion.

145- Joe Sheptock became the first ever 2X Dulles District Champion in Freedom history. One of the undisputed leaders of this team, Joe pinned every one of his district opponents this season, and looks to wrestle next year at either Stevens Institute of Technology or Walk on at George Mason University. He will be the first Eagle to ever wrestle in College.

171- Charles Constantino won his first ever district championship after two previous places. Chuck is kind of the under appreciated kid on our squad. He isn't as flashy as Sheptock or Chuong, but his grind it out attitude is the real definition of what we try to teach at Freedom. Charles has an amazing work ethic and a great attitude which makes him a strong leader in our room and will eventually make him a tremendous Marine one day. Charles's teammates have taken to chanting Hu-rah, when Charles takes the mat as a tribute to him and his demeanor, character and ambitions

189- Chris Freda- the "Quiet Giant". One of the nicest kids on the planet, a year ago no one would have even thought that Chris would have been in our starting lineup. Freedom was supposed to return defending District Champion Marshall Haas, and Charles Constantino at 171 and 189 making it nearly impossible for Chris to get in the lineup. When Marshall's family moved to Germany this past summer it left an opening for the Sophomore to try to make his mark on the program. Freda's incredible weight room efforts, and his dedication to learning the sport this season, left him as one of the great surprises of the tournament. I have never seen Chris wrestle better than how he wrestled in the finals on Thursday night, when he too became a district champion.

285- DaQuante (DQ) Timers- A young man with very little wrestling experience coming into this season. DQ was a kid that started wrestling season as a football player that was giving wrestling a try. Yet as the season progressed his remarkable athleticism showed DaQuante that he could become an elite wrestler as well. Over the past month their has been a maturation in this young man and his ability. He still brings the football like intensity to work with him for every match, but he is determined to prove that he isn't just a big strong athlete that wins because he can overpower his opponents. DQ is proving that he has found a family in the wrestling team and that he truly can be a great wrestler. On Thursday night the Sophomore who is currently ranked in the state of Virginia one his first ever District Championship.

I wanted to just take one moment to say something about my 152lber. Matt Murphy did not win the Dulles District Championship this weekend. Many people may know him better from being behind the plate at a baseball game. Yet, Matt came into the Dulles District Championships as the #1 seed and he had a great opportunity to join the rest of these boys in the finals. Unfortunately because of things beyond his control he ended up wrestling the eventual district champion in the first round. Matt lost a heart breaking overtime match to County's Kenton Perez, and I can honestly say that I was worried about how this young man would respond. After a very disappointing tournament last season which left Matt at home for Regions, a lesser young man might have packed it in. However, Matt battled back by pinning his next two opponents on his way to a 3rd place finish. I am very proud of Matthew and all of the boys who battled back to earn a spot at Regions.

In every tournament and on every team of this kind there are a ton of great stories. I just thought I would like to share a few of my favorites off of a team full of special kids.

Placers for the Eagles
103- Levi Hamm(3rd)
112- Steven Marquina(1st)
119- Chuong Le (1st)
125- Mike Hosti(1st)
130- Sean Gaetani(1st)
135- Tom Philbrick(2nd)
140- Tyler Young(3rd)
145- Joe Sheptock(1st)
152- Matt Murphy(3rd)
160- Jason Scrivo(4th)
171- Chuck Constantino(1st)
189- Chris Freda(1st)
215- Jason Cardozo(3rd)
285- DaQuante Timbers(1st)

VivaLoudoun editor Dan Sousa: Well said coach! We'd love to hear the thoughts from other teams as well ... VivaLoudoun is a site for every team and every sport ... feel free to use it!