Warriors' region title team a throwback to past champions

Adam Schneider broke character, for just the slightest moment, and you knew the Warriors had won it.

Wando wrapped up the Region 7-AAAAA title with a dominant 49-21 win over defending champion Cane Bay last week in Mount Pleasant.

The Warriors, ranked No. 18 in the latest AAAAA state poll, finished more than a third of the night’s matches by pin to secure their first region championship since 2014.

“We thought this group had a chance to do something special,” said Schneider, who coached the Warriors to consecutive region titles in 2013 and 2014 — the only other region titles Wando wrestling has ever won.

“Cane Bay is tough. They’re a tough program. We respect them a lot. So to beat a team like that really says a lot about this team.”

Wando’s lineup is a mismatched group of personalities. Somehow they fit. They play off of each other nicely. They challenge each other. They lift each other up. Several guys are wrestling up a class to put as many of their best grapplers on the mat as possible.

“We’ve probably had better teams in the past not win the region,” Schneider said. “The difference is the way these guys came together this season. They’re selfless.”

The Rhue brothers sit at opposite ends of the sideline during matches. They’re twins but not identical. Their personalities are kind of the same way. Cooper is a little wild. He’s like a rabid wolverine at 126 pounds. He’ll power through you if his energy doesn’t already defeat you from the start. Walker is more reserved but only in his demeanor. He’s an assassin on the mat. A technical savant with more than 100 wins in his career.

The Warriors were staring down an 18-0 hole, losing each of the first three matches on their back, by the time it was Cooper’s turn to take the mat against Cobras sophomore Collin Leason. The energy in the gym climbed immediately. It was like a baseball team rolling out its big arm. Maybe not the ace, but the heat, the hurler. You were waiting for the walk-up music to blare; AC/DC Back in Black, or maybe something more recent with a little more bounce. The Warriors needed their best fastball and Cooper is all velocity.

He lifted Leason upside down and tossed him over his shoulder about a minute into the match. He landed two takedowns and two near falls before the first period was over. Leason resisted valiantly but Cooper landed two more takedowns on way to an overwhelming 13-2 win. Maybe not the pin he seemed to be reaching for early. The shutout was over though. Wando was on the board, now down 18-4.

“You’re going to have to wrestle 6 minutes and 1 second tonight,” Schneider told him team. “Not 5:59. Every second. The whole match.”

Warriors 132-pound junior Nick Kotiw followed with a pin in the next match. Still, Wando trailed 21-10 when it was Walker’s turn to step to the mat.

The cold look on the captain’s face is probably more intimidating than the brash theatrics others bring. It’s no surprise that he’s headed to either The Citadel or VMI for college, and on an ROTC scholarship. His energy is measured. He’s disciplined, and focused, surgical on the mat. Every move seems to bleed fluidly into the next. He too, like his brother, lifts his opponent off his feet. He lands a takedown and two near falls in the opening period before finishing things with a pin in the second. It’s one of the most decisive wins of the night and pulls the Warriors within 21-16.

“He’s a tremendous athlete,” Schneider said. “We can go to him for anything we need. Anything he’s asked to do, any weight class, he does it. And wins.”

Wando didn’t lose again the rest of the night. Micah DiCarlo pulled out a third-period pin at 152 pounds. Kole Barron, co-captain and another four-year starter also receiving an ROTC scholarship added to his 110 career wins with another at 160 pounds. Aidan Militzer won by pin in the second round at 170 pounds. RE Leasure pulled out a tight 8-7 win at 182. Zhane Chinn won by pin in the first round at 195. Justin Lucas then followed with a second-round fall at 210 before Mickey Lee closed the night with a 3-2 win at 285.

“There was a lot of heart out there tonight,” Schneider said. “A couple of those matches went right down to the end. We got turns in a couple right at the end. It’s just things like that. You never know during the match what is going to matter most.”

Schneider can be intense during matches. He’s focused. As sharp as he dresses. On this night he’s chosen a fitted royal blue dress shirt, black pinstripe slacks, a tie to match and a tie chain to adorn. His demeanor is just as serious.

He shuffles around the floor most of the night, tending to each of his wrestlers individually. He rides the ebb and flow of each weight class. His emotions remain in check. He finally settles into a low crouch near the edge of the mat toward the end of the night. The Warriors have built a considerable lead by now. Schneider’s face remains stale.

A group has assembled a few feet behind him. Familiar faces, guys like Ryan Williams, Devin DiCarlo, Tyler Egonut. Guys who wrestled on Wando’s last region championship teams. Schneider sent out an open invitation to his alumni a week ago. They understood what was at stake and showed up to support as colorfully as anyone in the gym. All of them several years removed from the Wando mats but still the loudest in the gym.

“You know what all these region championship teams had in common,” Schneider said. “They were all good teams but there have been better. It was the people on those teams that made the difference in winning or losing.”

Schneider shoots a glance over his shoulder and catches the eyes of his former wrestlers. Together they pan toward the region title banner hanging in the upper deck. 2013. 2014.

“They’re going to need to update that,” Williams declares.

Schneider grins back.

And in that moment you knew the Warriors had won.

Wando is expected to compete this postseason. The Warriors, as region champions, will host the first two rounds. Duals state titles and individual championships will be decided the last two weeks of February. Who knows where they’ll end up? One thing is for sure though. They’re going to have to update that region championship banner.