Liberty University Club Sports Athletics
Trio of lightweight recruits will add to competitive atmosphere in Flames’ wrestling room
6/7/2023 7:05:00 PM | Men's Wrestling
Liberty University's men's wrestling team will strengthen its lightweight ranks for the 2023-24 season with at least three recruits contending for mat time at 125 pounds — incoming freshmen Aiden Scheeringa and Parker Stone as well as sophomore Walker Chambers, a transfer from NCAA Division III Roanoke College.
They will complement rising sophomores Chase Arnestad at 125 pounds and Blake Schmitt at 133.
"We have some good depth coming in in the lighter weights," Flames Head Coach Jesse Castro said.
Stone was a two-time state champion at 106 pounds as a junior and 120 pounds as a sophomore for Rural Retreat High School in Southwest Virginia, where recent graduate Ethan Martin won four state crowns before wrestling collegiately for the Flames at 174 pounds.
"Ethan has been a big influence on me," said Stone, who plans to study mechanical engineering or aeronautics at Liberty. "I am a little excited and a little nervous. It is going to be a new world for me. The collegiate competition is going to be good for me, and I feel I'll grow more and become a better wrestler."
Stone, who is 5 feet, 11 inches tall, said his wrestling style involves 50 percent technique and 50 percent strength. His athleticism translated over from the soccer and football fields at Rural Retreat, where he played wide receiver and cornerback on the gridiron.
Off the mat, he works on strengthening his spiritual walk while spending time in God's creation.
"I have a lot of faith in the Lord, and I love hunting and fishing, or just being outdoors," Stone said.
Chambers also has an affinity for the outdoors, hanging out with friends during his free time over the summer at nearby Smith Mountain Lake.
A three-time Class 4A state qualifier for Salem High School, he finished runner-up his senior season after winning a Region IV championship and graduated with an 89-29 career record.
He is excited to join the family atmosphere in the wrestling room, as well as sharpening and being sharpened by his teammates both physically and spiritually while sparring on the mat.
"Wrestling at Roanoke College definitely made me a better wrestler and showed me what collegiate wrestling is all about," Chambers said. "I hope that Liberty will be different (culturally) and I want to be very connected to the team both on and off the mat. The spiritual side as a whole is what I am very much looking forward to experiencing at Liberty."
Academically, he carried a 3.9 grade-point average in high school and will be coming in with a 4.0 after his first year Virginia Western Community College and one semester at Roanoke College.
"Wrestling has helped me tremendously with staying disciplined in school because you can't wrestle if you don't have good grades," said Chambers, who plans to pursue a B.S. in Business Entrepreneurship.
He looks to make an immediate impact on the Flames' lineup and challenge for a starting spot by dictating the action on the mat.
"I like to approach matches with a clear head and an aggressive start," Chambers said.
Scheeringa, who lived in Alaska until he was 8 before spending the past 10 years in Randolph, N.J., and moving to Conway, S.C., near Myrtle Beach, this week, learned to wrestle from his dad, Reuben, who served as his coach until he was in high school.
"He definitely helped me, 100 percent, both physically and mentally," Scheeringa said. "New Jersey is a really good wrestling state, and I ended up getting a lot better there."
Scheeringa is coming off his best season, finishing 34-8 while defending his district championship and placing sixth in the state meet at 108 pounds. He is looking forward to taking his abilities to the next level working with Castro over the next four years.
"I came to Liberty on a visit over (College for a Weekend) CFAW and met Coach Castro and stayed with members of the team in the fall and spring semesters," Scheeringa said. "I met a lot of the team, stayed in the dorms with a heavyweight (freshman Tyirek Jackson) and a 125-pounder (Arnestad) from last year. It was a great team atmosphere, for sure. I can't wait."
Scheeringa, who cut down from 125 pounds to 108 to wrestle in his senior season, currently weighs 135, but expects to be ready to compete for a starting spot at 125 in November. He plans to study in the School of Business and possibly pursue a minor in exercise science to prepare him to open his own personal training business to help young athletes reach their physical potential.
"He is excited to get in the wrestling room," Castro said. "He is another one who wrestled against a very competitive schedule, and I think he's going to be a good one to watch."
By Ted Allen/Staff Writer
