Turning obligations into opportunities: Different mental approach helps Nansemond River wrestler Owen Rawls

VIRGINIA BEACH — Wrestling is fun again for Owen Rawls.

The Nansemond River senior won a state title as a freshman, but he finally feels like himself again.

“Last year, after the COVID year happened and we missed a full year of wrestling, I just felt sluggish out there and I didn’t want to be on the mat,” Rawls said. “This year, I’m out there having fun instead of everything being a job.”

He’s the top-ranked wrestler in Hampton Roads at 126 pounds, and he won the 126 title at the Mike Duman Toys for Tots Invitational last Friday at Ocean Lakes.

Nansemond River finished third as a team behind champion Independence, a Northern Virginia school, and runner-up Cox.

Despite feeling slow, Rawls rallied for a third-place finish at last season’s state tournament.

“He has that competitive fire in him and it’s never going to go away,” Warriors coach Tripp Seed said. “It’s just the burnout pretty much is what happened.”

Rawls has taken a different mental approach this year, choosing to see practices and tournaments as opportunities instead of obligations.

“That’s just really helped me turn wrestling from more of a job to a sport I enjoy again,” Rawls said.

As a senior, Rawls also has enjoyed passing on knowledge to the younger wrestlers.

“I’ll see him have three or four guys after practice showing them different moves and situations,” Seed said. “That’s a good quality. That’s something we’ve lacked over the last couple years.”

But it’s hard to duplicate Rawls’ unorthodox style.

“He has this funky style that I don’t teach, but he still always goes back to it,” Seed said. “I’ll be like, ‘No, don’t do — OK, go ahead’ because it works.”

Seed and Rawls hope it leads back to the state final.

“The old Owen is back,” Seed said.

Parker powers his way to pin

Losing earlier this month brought out Parker Tillery’s emotions.

Tillery, a Cox wrestler ranked No. 3 at 157 pounds, lost a 5-3 decision to No. 2 Jaden Campos of Ocean Lakes.

“I went back to the wrestling room and threw my headgear. I was mad,” Tillery said. “I used that for motivation and going to the gym, working out every day, getting my weight right and drilling hard.”

Tillery pinned Campos in the second period of Friday’s 157 final.

“The first time I wrestled him, he got two sweeps on me, so I knew that was coming,” Tillery said. “I tried to stay low so when he did it, I put him in the front headlock, ankle-picked him and pinned him from there.”

Tillery is one of several strong seniors for the Falcons. He hopes to improve on two straight fourth-place finishes at the state tournament.

“Last year, I wrestled 160 and I could feel how strong those kids were,” Tillery said. “Over the summer and during this season, I spend as much time as I can in that weight room. I want to be stronger and more powerful than anybody I wrestle.”

Earning wins over top competition like Campos fuels that desire.

“I know there’s other tough kids out there,” Tillery said, “but after that, I think I can beat anyone.”

Irizarry wins 1 vs. 2 battle

Top-ranked Josiah Irizarry, a Tallwood junior, held off No. 2 Christian Silvey of Salem 1-0 in the 106-pound final.

Irizarry rode out Silvey the entire third period to preserve the win.

“I love wrestling guys like that,” Irizarry said. “It’s so fun and helps you get better. I love it.”

Irizarry found success immediately with a sixth-place finish at the state tournament as a freshman and third place last season alongside a region title.

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“He’s a solid wrestler all across the board,” Tallwood coach Eddie Whiteman said. “He works hard and does a lot of the things you want a kid to do on top and in neutral.”

Irizarry is sound fundamentally, and his grinding top work produces results.

“He’s tough on top,” Whiteman said. “He gets a lot of pins for a little guy. That’s probably where I’d say his hallmark is.

“When he’s on the mat, he’s coachable. During breaks, he’ll listen, so he responds that way.”

Irizarry hopes to continue his upward trajectory at the state tournament and reach the final for the first time with improved offense.

“I think maybe my setups and my shots,” Irizarry said of what he’s working on. “More offensive — probably my biggest thing.”

Ray Nimmo, ray.nimmo@pilotonline.com