Independence wrestling reaching new heights in fourth overall season

With its first tournament title secured, Independence delivered another championship performance at the Mike Duman Toys for Tots Invitational on Dec. 22-23 in Virginia Beach.

"We've always had high expectations for these guys ... but the level of belief that they have now is ten-fold because they are seeing the success," Tigers head coach Paul Grinups said after watching his team win consecutive tournament titles.

"In the past three years, we have not had that much team success. We've been working hard to get better," Grinups continued. "Now, they see it and those expectations seem more real and more attainable. It's pretty exciting to see."

Independence seniors Peyton Beal (144 pounds), Thomas Newman (150), Rafael Hipolito (165) and Jack Kellen (190), junior Anthony Dimitriou (275), sophmores Luke Johnson (120), Arav Reddy (126) and Logan Swanson (138), and freshmen Anthony Ciotoli (106), Esau Oliveira (132) and Nick Kellen (157) have each placed individually in one or more events this season.

Beal, Newman, Hipolito, Johnson, Ciotoli and Nick Kellen each stood atop the podium as tournament champions, highlighted by three individual titles for Johnson.

Travis Beggs, Jack Kellen, Beal and Newman are each in their fourth season with the Tigers.

"These seniors have been part of the program since day one. Most of them as freshman wrestlers were not very good," Grinups said. "Through hard work, buying in and everyday just trying to get better, those guys are placing in tournaments as seniors. It's really good for our other wrestlers to see that."

Hipolito, committed to continue his wrestling career at Virginia Tech, is in his second season at Independence. He claimed a state championship to cap his junior season and recently finished third at the prestigious Beast of the East tournament.

"He's something special, it's been a lot of fun coaching him," Grinups said. "He's great for our program because there are a lot of ripple effects. The way he competes, our guys watch him and they buy into what he does as far as working hard and being a competitor in the practice room and on the mat."

The Tigers are guided by a group of coaches who have worked together for nearly a decade. Assistant coaches Eric Russo, Jake Carey and Patrick Nufable have worked with Grinups since the group started the Rock Ridge wrestling program in 2014.

Ryan Ciotoli joined the Tigers coaching staff prior to this season. Grinups, Nufable and Russo also teach at Independence.

Along with his wrestlers and coaching staff, Grinups credits school administrators (principal John Gabriel, athletic director Ryan Rogers and assistant athletic director Mat Shannon) for aiding the program's rise.

"We are having success because our wrestlers are buying in, we have a great mat room for them to get better and everyone at the school supports us with anything we need."

Following the holiday break, the Tigers will compete in their first Potomac District match of the season. Independence will travel to Purcellville on Jan. 4 to face Briar Woods and host Woodgrove, one of the top teams in the state.

Stone Bridge, Riverside and Potomac Falls are also part of a challenging Potomac District contingent. In addition to Potomac District teams, Region 5D features teams that finished first through third at last year's Virginia Class 5 state tournament: Brooke Point, Riverbend and Mountain View.

"Our district and our region is probably one of the toughest in the state," Grinups said. "We are having a lot of [early] success. Now it's time to get ready for some big competition in January."