Fort Chiswell wrestling team has the numbers to compete

By JIM CUNNINGHAM/Staff

With several new people on this year’s Fort Chiswell wrestling team, Head Coach Dan Dolewski can’t predict how well the team will do this year.
But he knows one thing for sure: the Pioneers will not have to forfeit as many weight classes as they have in recent years.
The FC wrestling team has at least 26 wrestlers on the team this season. “We’ve got the numbers,” smiled Dolewski. “I’m looking forward to us filling all of the weight classes.”
Although many of the wrestlers are relatively new, the coach said they all have a great attitude and plenty of potential. “We’ve got some strong athletes…They’re a good bunch of kids with a lot of enthusiasm.”
Five wrestlers return to the team this season. Two qualified for the regionals last year: senior Braden Hatifield and sophomore Jesse Monahan. Also returning are juniors William Taylor and John Brewer and sophomore Guiseppe Calo.
And Dolewski said he appreciates the help of assistant coach James Whitlock and volunteer assistant Jonathan Grimes, who is a former FCHS wrestler.
The coach predicted that Galax will once again be the team to beat this season in the Mountain Empire District this year, but he is confident that the Pioneers will be competitive and have several wrestlers who could do well at the district and region levels.
The Fort Chiswell wrestling schedule was not available at press time but will be printed at a later date.