Preview: South Lakes Wrestling

South Lakes senior Ryan Forrest finished the 2010-11 wrestling season with a 41-1 record and a third-place finish in the Virginia state wrestling tournament.

So naturally, the Seahawks are looking for another outstanding season from the 152-lb. wrestler. South Lakes coach Bruce Hall says Forrest is up to the task.

"He should be really strong this year," said Hall. "He is looking a wrestling for a Division I school next year, too."

To that end, the Seahawks will be without Forrest, whose only loss came at the state tournament, when they open the season Saturday at a tournament at Chantilly High School. Forrest will be taking the SATs that day.

But Forrest's brother, Josh, will be there. Josh Forrest, a sophomore, will wrestle 160. The younger Forrest  - their father, John, is also an assistant coach for the program - won more than 20 matches as a freshman last season and also placed third in the Liberty District tournament.

As a team, the Seahawks are coming off a 19-6 dual meet record in 2010-11. That was a pretty good year, Hall says, since they had lost eight seniors from the previous season.

Other experienced wrestlers returning to the team: Sophomore Kevin Argueta (106), who narrowly missed a spot in the state tournament; sophmore Ian Schweppe (195); Sophomore Alex Smurda (Heavyweight), whom Hall calls "tough as nails"; Colby Laxton (185); Tommy Rugari (132); and senior Devon Johnson (138).

South Lakes Wrestling Schedule