Less than a year ago, Patrick & Henry Community College's wrestling program was just a club team. Then, Coach Chad Lange arrived and recruited Temonte Gray (Newport News, VA). They didn't know at the time, that these were the beginning steps that would launch the team to the next level. 

This year, was a year of firsts. The team faced its first season of NJCAA competition, and Gray began his first year of college. Yet, Patrick & Henry Wrestling is topping a tremendous first season with a National Championship breach. 

The Patriots will be sending Gray to the 2022 NJCAA Wrestling National Championships held at the Mid-America Center in Council Bluffs, Iowa, March 5-6. He qualified for the nationals after a strong showing at the district tournament this past weekend at Lackawanna College in Pennsylvania.  

Gray finished 3-1 at the district tournament. He opened the first round with a 0:29 second pin against Ryu Katayama of Bergen Community College. In the second round, Gray was defeated by Nathan Pelesky of Garrett College --the eventual champion of the competition. The P&H freshman then defeated Zain Ahmad of Middlesex County College and Jason Cruz of Camden County College with a 0:31 second pin. In the end, Gray earned third place overall. 

Gray was also named to the NJCAA Region 10 All-Region Team, placing the highest in his respective weight class throughout the region.

He is now focused on training before he travels to Iowa early next month. If you would like to support Temonte on his Road to Iowa, visit www.patrickhenryfoundation.com/ and donate now.