Although all great athletes learn to lose with grace, the Langley wrestling team has not needed to do that very much. On Feb. 4, they won the Liberty District championships for the twelfth time in a row.

Despite being modest about their twelve-peat, Coaches Jeff Mye and Brian Childress have reason to hold their heads high. After wining only 9 of 14 matches in the regular season, Langley dominated the District Championships. They scored 218.5 points, beating their closest rival, Marshall High School, by 26.5 points and the third place team, South Lakes, by 74.5 points. Wrestlers score 16 points for first place, 12 for second, 9 for third, 7 for fourth, 5 for fifth and 3 for sixth place.

Four Langley wrestlers won their weight classes; three placed second and two placed third.  Five others scored points by placing in the top six.

Senior grapplers Leland Jenkins (126 pounds), Mo Sahm (145 pounds), and Jay Ives (138) all won their weight classes, as did junior Tate Dulany (220 pounds).

“Going in, we were really confident that a few of our guys could finish first in their weight class,” said Dulany. “Jay,Mo, and Leland are some of the finest in the district, and I’m happy to be included with them.”

In a preview of years to come, featherweight freshman Anthony Panetta placed fourth while sophomores Jacob Adams (120 pounds) and Gabe O’Neal (170 pounds) placed second in their respective weight classes, both of which are very competitive. Mye and Childress expect great things from all of them in coming years.

Up next for the Saxons is the Northern Region tournament, to which Langley will be sending ten wrestlers. “Our goal is to be considered one of the best in the state,” said Dulany. Regionals will be held at Hayfield High School on Friday, Feb. 10 and Saturday, Feb. 11.

Additional reporting by Justin Speros