Moms are awesome, #family is important. @WrestlingNWHS standout @ggammell44 has been an awesome high school athlete to get to know since I've moved to Iowa. Always a great interview!
Loved his answer about the moment with his family yesterday. @UVAWrestling getting a good one. pic.twitter.com/5jUrXgY6F4
— Colin Cahill (@colincahill13) February 20, 2022
Members Of UVA's Incoming Class Grab Nine State Championships
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – Nine wrestlers who will be joining the Virginia wrestling program for the 2022-23 academic year ended their season atop the podium as state champions over the past two weekends, adding to the resumes for a class that already featured 13 state championships.
The nine state titles include two from Nebraska for Garrett Grice and Nick Hamilton, two from California in Jack and Michael Gioffre, and two Virginia state titles for R.J. May and Cooper Rudolph. Griffin Gammell (Iowa), Kyle Montaperto (North Carolina) and Keyveon Roller (Tennessee) also claimed state championships.
According to InterMatWrestle.com, the nine state titles currently gives Virginia’s incoming class the most state titles of any recruiting class in the country this season.
Griffin Gammell |Waukee, Iowa | Waukee Northwest
Gammell took home his first Iowa state championship when he won the class 3A title at 182 pounds. Previously, Gammell had twice been a place winner at the state tournament, including finishing on the podium as runner up in 2021.
Jack Gioffre | Clovis, Calif. | Buchanan
Gioffre became a state champion for the first time when he claimed the 132-pound title over the weekend. It comes after he has twice finished on the podium as a state place winner – including a runner-up finish in the 2019 championship.
Michael Gioffre | Clovis, Calif. | Buchanan
Michael Gioffre joined his brother, Jack, on the podium over the weekend as he claimed his first title when he won the championship at 138 pounds.
Garrett Grice | Bellevue, Neb. | Bellevue East
Grice became a four-time state champion in Nebraska when he won the title last week at 138 pounds. It was the fourth different weight class that saw Grice at the top of the podium. He had previously won Nebraska state championships at 113 pounds, 120 pounds and 132 pounds.
All I can be is thankful…to the man above, for my family, friends and, coaches, for Bellevue East, and all the unlimited support I’ve received from everyone over the years!! https://t.co/uifi0jpjmQ
— Garrett Grice (@GarrettGrice) February 20, 2022
Nick Hamilton | LaVista, Neb. | Papillion LaVista
Hamilton claimed the Nebraska state championship at 152 pounds, earning his third state championship and second in Nebraska. Hamilton also won the state title in Iowa in 2020 and was a runner-up for the state title in Iowa as a freshman in 2019.
Nick Hamilton-four time finalist, three time champion. pic.twitter.com/MJzNPkU5QY
— NEwrestle (@NEBwrestle) February 20, 2022
R.J. May | Powhatan, Va. | Maggie Walker Governor’s School
May claimed the Virginia class 3A state championship at 182 pounds last week, giving him his second state title for his high school career. May previously claimed the 138-pound championship in class 2A as a freshman.
Kyle Montaperto | Charlotte, N.C. | Central Academy
Montaperto completed the four-peat (although at different weight classes) as he claimed his fourth North Carolina state championship – this time at 126 pounds. Montaperto had previously won state titles in North Carolina at 106 pounds and twice at 120 pounds.
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Keyveon Roller | Knoxville, Tenn. | Lakeway Christian Academy
Roller claimed his second state championship of his career when he won the 132 Tennessee state championship. Previously, Roller had claimed a Tennessee state championship at 120 pounds a year ago. Roller was also a state runner-up in 2020.
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Cooper Rudolph | Fairfax, Va. | J. W. Robinson
Rudolph claimed the Virginia state championship at heavyweight, marking his second consecutive Virginia state title at the weight class for his career. The state championships helped J.W. Robinson claim the state title as a team for the fifth time.
TWO INCOMING HOOS GRAB RUNNER-UP FINISHES
In addition to the nine state champions, two more incoming Hoos finished on the podium with runner-up finishes at their state championships.
Robert Avila | Lisbon, Iowa | Iowa City West
Avila turned in a runner-up finish at 145 pounds at the Iowa state championships two weeks ago. A three-time Iowa state champion already, Avila finishes his high school career as a four-time state place winner in Iowa.
Nick Sanko | Rochester, N.Y. | Pittsford HS
Sanko capped his high school career with his third time finishing on the podium when he took a runner-up finish at 160 pounds recently. Sanko is a four-time New York state championships qualifier.
Nick Sanko @NYSPHSAA reaching the NYS Wrestling Championship at 160 @PCSDAthletics @SecVWrestling Good luck in the finals, Nick! #OneTeam pic.twitter.com/afSxFfx4CQ
— Pittsford Wrestling (@PCSDwrestling) February 26, 2022