Randolph-Henry High School’s wrestling program had its best regional showing in more than a decade Saturday at the 2018-19 Virginia High School League (VHSL) Class 2 Region A Championships hosted by Poquoson High School.

“We are sending four kids to the state tournament, the most we have sent in 15 years,” Statesmen Head Coach Zack Mowery said, noting his team placed fourth in the region out of 16 teams competing.

The group of four Statesmen advancing to states was led by junior Danny Parrish, who won the regional title in the 170-pound weight class. He won both his semifinal and final matches by pin.

“Beating the Poquoson kid in the semifinals was huge,” Mowery said. “Danny pinned him in the second period.”

The coach noted Parrish is the first regional champion the Randolph-Henry wrestling program has had in 10 years.

“Danny won his matches because he wrestled HIS match,” Mowery said. “He was aggressive and looked good from all areas.”

Statesmen senior Layton Payne was runner-up in the 182-pound weight class.

Senior John Wendelin placed third in the 132-pound class, and junior Chandler Newcomb finished fifth in the 145-pound class to qualify as a state alternate.

The coach said his team’s fourth-place finish at the regional tournament is the “best finish we have had since I’ve been the coach.”

Mowery has coached the Statesmen for four years.

The VHSL Class 2 State Championships take place Feb. 14-16 at the Salem Civic Center in Salem.