Firen Gassman wins match at Virginia states
Firen wins first round consolation match
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Herndon wrestling finished second the 14th annual Capitol Challenge, and
three individual wrestlers were champions at the second and final day of
competition Dec. 29.
The first Hornet wrestler to win their weight class was 103-pounder Firen
Gassman who was undefeated after taking down Madison's Matt Palmer 9-0, and in
the process, made history by becoming the first female wrestler to finish in the
top spot.
Gassman, who finished fourth last year, may have made history, but was more
excited about having followed through with a goal she set.
"It's a dream come true," Gassman said. "In fourth grade I'd come to watch. I'd
say, 'One day I'll be a champion here and I did it.'"
As happy as she was with her own accomplishment, she was just as excited to see
her younger brother, freshman Reid Brown, claim the 125-pound division.
Brown won by edging out Osbourn Park's Dino Sfreddo 7-6. He said his victory was
"pure excitement" as he also followed through on a dream.
"I went the past four or five years. I was the boy watching the big guys
wrestle," Brown said. "It's great to win my first one. It feels great stepping
into the high school wrestling world."
The third wrestler to win for the Hornets was 140-pounder Andy Sova who defeated
Annandale's James Godbout 18-15.
Zay Lopez, at 171 pounds, placed second, 135-pounder Ben Brooks placed third,
160-pounder Ian Frances placed third, heavyweight Jake Deila placed third,
96-pounder Anton Dudzinsky placed fourth, 119-pounder Brian Thompson placed
fourth, 145-pounder Allen Brownell placed fifth, 152-pounder Sam Merrill placed
fifth and 130-pounder Joey Russell placed sixth.
Annandale, which had 13 wrestlers finish within the top six in their respective
weight classes, earned first placed at the two-day tournament. Two of the Atom's
wrestlers—130-pounder Morgan McNeil and 135-pounder Christian Dominguez—had
first-place finishes.
James Madison High School finished third, Osbourn Park finished fourth, Marshall
finished fifth, Stone Bridge finished sixth, Henrico finished seventh, Brookline
(Mass.) finished eighth and J.E.B. Stuart finished ninth.
 Firen amassed an 8-0 record last weekend at the James River Duals, powering 5 pins along the way. Firen showed complete dominance on the mat, her closest match was a major. |
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Firen goes 8-0 at James River Duals
Firen Makes History for Herndon
