Grundy coach Travis Fiser looked over his shoulder Friday night at the crowd of Golden Wave supporters inside Salem Civic Center for the first two rounds of the VHSL Group AA wrestling tournament.

The number of Grundy fans was greater than in recent years. The noise level was louder. Chests were puffed out a little bit larger.

"It's like an old-fashioned state tournament," Fiser said.

But not that old.

The state's other Group AA wrestling powerhouse clad in blue and gold -- six-time defending Christiansburg -- still rules the roost.

However, Christiansburg's perch is shakier than it's been lately. The Blue Demons left the arena Friday night with a 73 ¹₂-69 ¹₂ lead over Grundy after the second-round consolation matches. The moisture on the back of second-year coach Daryl Weber's neck wasn't from a leaky roof earlier in the day, it was from sweating out a close race.

Christiansburg, which won last year's Group A title by 173 points, still has some work to do today.

"We've got 10 guys that have never been here before," Weber said. "They're learning the hard way. We had eight state champions last year and we've only got one back.

"It's still not over."

Christiansburg will have six wrestlers in today's 9:30 semifinals. Sam Rakes, the lone returning state champion, leads the pack at 152 pounds along with Devin Carter (103), Andrew Robertson (119), Derek Woody (160), Braden Carter (171) and Jon Weber (215).

Grundy and third-place Poquoson have four wrestlers in today's semifinals, leaving Christiansburg in control of its destiny.

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Christiansburg wrestlers practice to repeat as state high school champs.

"My philosophy is, I try not to worry about those other guys," Weber said. "If we get the job done, we'll be all right. I hate to be needing a whole bunch of other people not to get the job done, because that's leaving it in their hands."

Christiansburg can thank former Blue Ridge District rival William Byrd for some of its cushion.

Byrd's Brian Wood knocked off Poquoson's Colton Crabtree 11-0 in a 125-pound quarterfinal, while Byrd's Aaron Thompson edged Grundy's Kaleb Smith 6-5 in a second-round match at 145.

Thompson (37-2) was not about to lose after watching Wood and Terriers 103-pounder Andrew Nicely reach the semifinals with victories.

Thompson barely outlasted the bull-like Smith in the final minute.

"He was strong," Thompson said. "I think he was cutting a lot [of weight]. He's probably the strongest guy I've wrestled so far. I knew I was up by a point. All I had to do was hold on."

Northside also put three wrestlers into the semifinals, led by 119-pounder Cameron Hurd, who upped his record to 38-1 with a pair of victories.

Clay Cundiff (135) and Brady Craft (152) also swept two matches to reach the semis.

Hurd, who holds Northside's school record for career victories, will have a major test today against Christiansburg's Robertson.

"He beat me last year in the region semis like 7-2 or something, but I wasn't wrestling very good," Hurd said. "I've been looking forward to a rematch to try to get my payback."

Two wrestlers who don't know anything about losing in 2007-08 -- Magna Vista's Tony Gravely and Bassett's Andrew Miller -- also advanced.

Miller improved to 46-0 in the 285-pound class with a 7-3 decision over Northside's Hunter Manspile. Miller, who could face unbeaten defending champion Ryan Jackson of Brookville in tonight's final, is looking to redeem himself from a quarterfinal loss last year as a sophomore.

"I got too overconfident last year," Miller said. "It's not going to happen this time. I've been working hard all year."

Miller, who said he has been offered a football scholarship by Virginia, might figure the city of Salem owes him a break after his Bassett team lost to Salem in the Region IV championship game last fall.

"No comment on that one," Miller said.

Gravely improved to 35-0 with a pair of wins, including an 11-5 quarterfinal decision over Smithfield's Matthew Graham, in which he nearly made a costly mistake in the final seconds and wound up on his back.

"He kind of caught me, but I'm not feeling too good," Gravely said.

The Magna Vista junior won the state title last year at 103 pounds. He's looking for a possible showdown against Grundy's Jeremy Hurley in the final.

"I guess I'm a favorite," Gravely said. "A couple people have said that guy from Grundy was going to beat me, but I pinned him last week at regionals."

Six other Timesland wrestlers are still alive for elusive state championships.

Joey Phillips (189) improved to 44-3 for Blacksburg, while William Jones (119) also won twice for the Bruins. Jefferson Forest's Chris Bowyer (189) upped his record to 38-1, while teammate Brandon Beemer (215) improved to 46-4.

Martinsville's Antoine Hairston (160) won two matches to run his record to 40-1, while Carroll County heavyweight Drew McCraw stayed in the hunt with two wins.