The three diocesan high school wrestling teams performed well in recent weeks. At the competitive Virginia Independent State Championships, O'Connell placed third, Paul VI fifth and Ireton eighth. The championships were held Feb. 15-16 at Woodberry Forest H.S. in Orange County.

The Knights, coached by Bill Carpenter, were the 2001 Virginia Independent Champions. This season however, they could not overcome first-place St. Christopher's from Richmond and second-place St. Stephens/St. Agnes from Alexandria.

Spearheading the Knights 2002 efforts was sophomore Steve Ratley (152 pounds). Ratley took first place and was named the tournament's "most outstanding wrestler" by virtue of five consecutive pins. Ratley improved his season record to 40-0 (31 pins).

"Steve is very coachable and very intense," Carpenter said. "He definitely deserved his most outstanding wrestler award," said coach Carpenter.

The Washington Post ranks Ratley first in the area in his weight class.

Other Knights of note included: sophomore Warren Negri (heavyweight), third place, improving to 30-17 (25 pins); senior Joe Yates (189), fourth place, 36-16 (20); junior Dan Yates (140), fourth place, 36-13(18); freshman Mike Laird (171), fifth place, 22-15 (15); sophomore Norman Anderson (112), sixth place, 33-15 (17); and freshman Kris Park (119), sixth place, 29-20 (13).

"We wrestled very well on day one," Carpenter said. "On the final day, we didn't do quite as well as I would have liked. Nonetheless, I am pleased overall - it was a total team effort."

The Panthers, coached by John Welcher, had a number of wrestlers excel. Spearheading the PVI effort was senior Matt Horton (145 pounds) and junior P.J. Worosz (160), who both placed first. Horton improved to 46-2 (22 pins). Worosz improved to 47-2 (27). The Washington Post ranks both high in the metro area.

"I have been very pleased not just with my season, but with the season and with the depth of the entire team," said Worosz.

Senior Ed Watkins (189) and sophomore Jeff Marcey (215) captured second place. Watkins improved to 40-9 (22). Marcey improved to 17-7 (13). Senior Joey Carpenter (125) captured fourth place and improved to 23-5 (13). Senior Jamie Kaye (135) captured sixth place and improved to 19-7 (nine).

"We performed very well," Welcher said. "The guys wrestled to the best of their abilities."

The Cardinals, coached by Scott Racek (sixth season), also had a number of wrestlers excel. Spearheading the Ireton effort was junior Brendan Pauls (119 pounds) and sophomore Jon Horbaly (103). Both earned third place medals.

Pauls improved to 43-9 (33 pins), one of the highest totals in Cardinal history. Horbaly improved to 41-12 (25).

"I was seeded first going into tournament, but I became sick," Pauls said. "Even though I lost a one point decision in the semi-finals, I was able to fight back and earn third place."

Freshman Jay Regner (135) captured fourth place and improved to 37-16 (31 pins). Senior Seamus Owens (160) and sophomore Matt Fogarty (171) captured sixth place. Owens improved to 35-17 (28), and Fogarty improved to 23-21 (15).

"I finished fifth place in each of the past two seasons," Owens said. "The wrestlers at 160 pounds this season were very, very good."

"I have improved a great deal since the beginning of the season," said Fogarty.

In addition, the three diocesan teams did well at the prestigious St. Alban's Invitational Feb. 8-9, one of the premier invitational on the East Coast. Paul VI finished third, O'Connell fifth and Ireton 14th.

The Knights, Panthers and Cardinals will conclude the season this weekend, Feb. 22-23) at the "National Prep Championships" at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.

It will be the final meet for Joe Yates and Adam Hinesley of O'Connell; Matt Horton, Ed Watkins, Joey Carpenter and Jamie Kaye of Paul VI and Seamus Owens of Ireton.