Benedictine College Prep renovates wrestling facility
RICHMOND, Va. — Benedictine recently completed a top-to-bottom renovation of its wrestling facility, and its grappling team is thrilled to be able to practice and compete in the new wrestling room. One of Benedictine’s strengths has always been its reputation for athletics. Particularly, the school’s athletic reputation has been built on the strength of its football, wrestling and baseball teams, with the wrestling crew finding a successful footing over the past decade.
This refurbishment was well earned, as the team has made playoff appearances the last eight years, winning five state championships and finishing as runner-up the other three years. To go along with this accomplishment, the wrestling team has had multiple state champions, including two current All-Americans: Brycen Arbogast and Lane Foard.
The hardworking wrestling team’s room was ready far before the season began, allowing the Cadets more time and room for improvement. Their mat space was doubled to go along with new exercise machinery, including bikes. The restrooms for the team were totally renovated, and a washer and dryer were added.
There are many physically taxing sports, but none comes close to wrestling. Health and safety are of the utmost importance when participating in a sport with such a high physical demand. The team’s new room and mats eliminate the possibility of minor injuries due to the superior room conditions.
Benedictine’s wrestlers received off-season training and open gym sessions as soon as the space was ready for use. The new exercise equipment can also be used if it is too cold outside to run, but the athletes still would like to condition. This dedication is one of the reasons the team is so successful.
The athletes are loving the room and are exhilarated to be able to put it to good use during the season and let their off-season work show. The most astonishing part, however, is not the room itself, but the means by which it was built. Neither fundraising nor any professional help was involved: only donations from coaches, alumni and parents. The donations of materials, equipment and, most importantly, time were paramount in the completion of these renovations.
“The biggest MVPs by far are the parents, specifically Zacharia Cox, father of Zane Cox ‘22, the only four time All-American in Benedictine history,” said Coach David Yost. “Cox, along with his employer—Athens Building Corporation—put in countless hours and expertise to make everything come together.” Yost added that parents from the 2019 and 2020 graduating classes donated lockers.
Coach Yost expressed gratitude to several contributors. Cox donated 500+ hours of his time and expertise. Assistant Coaches Carlos Leyva and Ralph Toomey generously gave their time to be a part of this successful program. The Ortuno family, Bollander family, Yost family, Foldes family, Parsons family, Kevin Donahue and Frank Boehling have all donated their money to watch these young student athletes strive for their goals. Without their help, there would not be a new wrestling room on the campus.
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