After winning the Region 5C wrestling meet, FHS competed at VHSL Class 5 State Championship at Rock Ridge High school on Feb. 21-22. Freedom had a school record 12 athletes move on to the state meet: Hiemal Sultani, Connor Costello, Drake Coleman, Jake Beyer, Trey Pollick, Jack Eastman, Tim Nguyen, Jeffrey Strother, Caden Andberg, Cole Singer and Jacob Edwards.

There were several great performances at states, but the highlight was senior Jacob Edwards winning the 285 lb weight class title. Edwards defeated Mirvet Ducic of JR Tucker High School by a 5-4 decision.

“I don’t pin in the finals very often,” Edwards said. “It kinda felt like a regular tournament with extra nerves because it was at Rock Ridge.”

Edwards is just the third wrestler from Freedom to win a wrestling state championship from any weight class. Freedom’s previous champions are Dequante Timbers and Sean Crumbliss.

“It felt pretty amazing to finish off my long lasting wrestling career as the state champion,” Edwards said.

Senior Cole Singer also finished this tournament with all-state honors. Singer placed 5th in the 220 weight class with a victory over Kecoughtan’s Cordell Gregg.

“Getting All-state and fifth felt perfect,” Singer said. “My two goals going into this year were to place at states and win my last match of my career, and I was able to accomplish both.”