Even with a roster stunted by the opening of Patriot, the Brentsville District wrestling team holds standards for itself that perhap match the school's cross country teams.

Maybe that's because those two sports, along with swimming and cheerleading, are the Tigers' bread and butter. When it comes to state bids, the Tigers as a team might not qualify, but individual wrestlers do annually.

So perhaps that's why the team actually was disppointed by its second-place showing at the Dudley Martin Chevrolet Holiday Classic tournament in Nokesville this past weekend.

"We really expected to win today," said senior Brandon Thompson, who finished the weekend undefeated in the 220-pound class.

Brentsville's 189.5 score registered behind the victor Osbourn's 204 in the eight-team field. Region II rival Skyline ended up in third place (165) while Penncrest, Brookepoint, Hayfield, Courtland and Louisa rounded out the competition.

The Tigers' could buffer themselves with knowledge that Osbourn is a Group AAA team while BDHS is Group AA. Also, one of Brentsville's best wrestlers went down to injury early in the tournament. Three extra points and the Tigers would have won it all.

Still, Brentsville placed seven wrestlers at either first or second for their weight classes, which have changed throughout the state this year.

Thompson along with Jeffrey Walker (106), Tyler Fake (120), Justice Jacobs (132), Will Prados (170), Zach Roseberry (195) and Robbie Wood (285) all received wooden plaques at the end of the match, with Prados earning the team's MVP award.

As each member returned with the plaques to the Brentsville side of the matt, his teammates would stick their index fingers in the air and yell an extended, "twelve!" as part of an inside joke based on a YouTube video.

After eight times of the same thing, it became quite clear that, if anything, the team at least does not lack unity.

Prados emphasized how the team works on techniques every practice, with eight repetitions per wrestler in a rotation as they go around the room each day.

Brentsville's also focusing on "domination" drills, which are designed to wear down opponents until they can be struck.

Head coach Jess Moore joins assistant coach Tommy O'Neill as Brentsville grads that won multiple state titles in the 1990s. Moore candidly admitted that, after observing losses from last season, he concluded that those domination-style attacks played a role in several Brentsville defeats.

Thompson mentioned the Tigers practice situations "that we'll see on the mat and we'll (face) each other live."

The role of the seniors like those three is to "keep everybody in line," Fake explained, mentioned that the guys tout the "need to work hard" to the younger crop of athletes.

"We've got to influence them to do what we're doing," said Thompson.

Given that the squad is actually "a lot smaller this year" in terms of pure numbers, as noted by Prados, younger wrestlers are going to have to step up quickly to fill any gaps.

"They're getting better during the match," said Moore.

Moore noticed that in particular with 152-pound freshman Billy Cornwell.

He ended up piecing together a major win late in the tournament based on the experience he gained earlier, according to Moore.

"He wouldn't have beat that guy in the first round," said Moore.

Cornwell and sophomore 113-pounder Paul Ulisse are two up-and-comers Moore specifically mentioned as potential standouts in the light-to-middle weight classes

Big wins in there will would complement the team's strength, which is in the experienced, heavier veterans.

"Those freshmen are going to have to learn pretty quick because their teachers are going to be gone pretty soon," said Moore.

The seniors Fake, Prados and Thompson all qualified for states last year as did the junior Roseberry, who finished as the Group AA runner-up.

Also returning this year are heavy-weights Juan Funes and Robbie Wood. Funes is dropping down to the 195-pound class while Wood is holding his own on top.

Moore credited Wood's weekend showing to his "grind it out" mentality and low center of gravity.

"He is going to be hard for a lot of kids to wrestle because he's so short," said Moore, adding that the counter claim would also be true.

Then again, that didn't hinder Funes much last year on his way to placing third in the district with a 36-12 overall record.

According to Prados, the younger wrestlers need to remember to have fun and wrestle for their dignity each match.

Brentsville put that style on display this weekend, even though they could not mathematically top Osbourn by that point, by lacing together back-to-back-to-back pins to close the tournament.

"If you beat everybody, you're going to have fun," added Fake.