By David Steinbacher
Special to the Herald
(From the issue of 1/22/04)

The Ireton wrestling team defeated WCAC rival Gonzaga to improve to 4-7 overall on the season. The Cardinals, coached by Scott Racek and Don Dight (eighth season each), knocked off the Eagles 41-38 to notch one of their most impressive victories of the season. The match was held Jan. 19.

Senior Jon Horbaly (125 pounds) recorded a key third period pin to break open a close match and catapult Ireton to a 29-20 advantage. Down the stretch, Ireton recorded two more pins and held on for the 41-38 victory.

Horbaly, a wrestling captain and a soccer captain as well, has over 100 wrestling victories in his standout four year career.

"Wrestling is a lot of hard work. I wouldn’t have had this much success without all of the coaches helping me out," said Horbaly.

On the season, Ireton has also defeated: George Mason High School 38-32, Potomac School 66-15 and Good Counsel 49-24.

"The Mason, Good Counsel and Gonzaga wins were all real special. Good Counsel had defeated us the past couple of years," said assistant head coach Don Dight.

The Cardinals feature a balance of older and younger wrestlers. The normal starting lineup includes: freshman Andrew Murray (103 pounds), senior Chris Bass (112), Horbaly (119 or 125), junior Kwinten Brown (125), junior Nick Dight (130), senior Chris Helmuth (135), junior Sean Helmuth (140), sophomore Conor Owen (145), freshman Tim Dean (152), senior co-captain Matt Fogarty (160, forfeiting at 171 pounds), junior Tanaka Mutumbaka (189), senior Jake Valentino (215) and freshman Cameron Gadway (275).

In addition, sophomores Ray DiNunzio and Ray McLaughlin fill in at 112, 119 and 135 pounds intermittently.

Spearheading the Cardinals success are Horbaly (27 wins/four losses/19 pins), Brown (24/four/19), Dight (17/five/10), Bass (15/10/six), Fogarty (13/five/six), Valentino (11/10/seven) and Gadway (11/11/10).

"I’ve been working hard and really pushing myself this season," said Horbaly.

Brown is likely on pace to also achieve 100 career wins at some point next season.

"I’ve been wrestling tough. I work hard in practice. My goal is to do the best that I can," said Brown (cousin of Annandale Atom standout sophomore running back Keith Watson). Brown, Valentino and Gadway play football for Cardinal head coach Brian Inman.

"My nephew (Nick Dight) transferred down to Ireton from New Jersey. He learned how to wrestle in a very physical style up there. He’s been working hard and is in very good shape," said Coach Dight.

Regarding his 15 wins Bass said, "I’ve always been a pretty good technical wrestler. This season however, I’ve really gotten my head into the sport of wrestling."

Co-captain Fogarty commented said, "I’ve learned a lot of new moves, and I know what works for me. My experience and my conditioning makes it easier to go all six minutes. Being a captain, along with Jon, it’s important to correctly teach all of the younger guys."

Valentino stated said, "The team is really close this year — the wrestlers and the coaches. I’ve been able to work on a number of new moves this season. The coaches have really been helping me out a lot."

Gadway’s pin percentage is 91 percent — one of the highest in Cardinal history.

"The sport is completely new to me. I’ve been working four to five hours every day in practice. I lift weights and jump rope. The coaches have helped out a whole lot," said the freshman, Gadway.

At the prestigious "NOVA Classic" early in the season, Horbaly placed third and Brown placed fourth.

At the "Ireton Christmas Classic" Horbaly, Brown and Dight placed first; Fogarty and Gadway placed second; Bass placed third.

At the powerhouse "Archbishop Curley, Baltimore Invitational" Horbaly and Brown both placed sixth.

At the "Bayside High School Virginia Holiday Classic" Brown captured the "gold" medal, Horbaly captured the "bronze" medal and Dight placed sixth.

Ireton hosted both O’Connell and St. Mary’s Ryken. The WCAC Championships will take place Feb. 7 at Paul VI High School.

It will be no easy chore for Racek to replace Horbaly, Bass, Fogarty, Valentino and Helmuth next season.

"We’re pretty young this year. I’ve been impressed with how tough our older and our younger guys have been. We should be pretty good next season," said Coach Racek.