Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 28, 1993 TAG: 9301280361
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: N-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
NORTHSIDE STARS KEEP THEIR PARENTS ON THE GO
It's an exciting season for winter sports at Northside High School, and perhaps no family is more conscious of the spectator frenzy than the Hungates.The varsity basketball and wrestling teams are in the midst of banner seasons. Winning, for both programs, has become almost second nature.
Watching them win firsthand, however, is a little more difficult. In fact, as the January schedules inten sify, it can be downright impossible. But Henry and Betty Hungate aren't complaining. They're cheering on the run.
Their son, Nathan, a junior, is a starting guard and the floor leader for the 13-1 basketball team, one of the best in Timesland.
"Nathan plays the whole game," coach Billy Pope said. "He's an excellent passer, he can see the entire floor, and he's been incredible on the defensive end with 3 1/2 steals a game.
"If we asked Nathan to score 15 or 20 points a game, he could do it. But in our offensive structure, he's happy distributing the ball."
In analyzing his game, Nathan, after some prodding, said, "I think I'm best at driving to the basket and with my 3-point shot. I've been concentrating on basketball since the seventh grade."
Another Hungate son, Brad, has compiled an impressive 15-5 record for the wrestling team as a 103-pound freshman. The Vikings are undefeated in dual and quad meets, and are considered the strongest team in Region III. "I'm real proud of Brad," said wrestling coach Fred Wagner. "He's strong and he's got a lot of heart; we just wondered if he'd ever get heavy enough to wrestle 103."
Size was a factor in Brad choosing wrestling.
"I figured I was too short for basketball," said Brad, who stands 5 feet 3 inches. "And whatever [opportunity] I see, I try to go for it." It's a philosophy that has served him well on the wrestling mat.
Wagner also teaches Nathan as a student in advanced physical education. "The Hungates are real quiet leaders," Wagner said. "They are very sincere, caring kids."
As one might expect, their parents are sincere and caring, too. They are always there to offer support from the stands.
"Going to all our sons' games and matches runs us to death," Henry Hungate said. "But we love it."
The Hungates' nine-day agenda from Jan. 15-23 was almost as tightly coordinated as the Clintons'. Consider:
Brad competed day and night in the two-day, 16-team Big Orange tournament at William Byrd on Jan. 15-16. He wrestled a slew of matches, winning all but the Saturday night finals. As a team, Northside finished third, trailing only Group AAA schools Franklin County and William Fleming.
While the Big Orange was in progress on Friday night, Northside's basketball team downed visiting William Byrd, 66-60. Nathan poured in 14 points, including a decisive 3-pointer.
On Jan. 19, Nathan scored a career-high 21 points, including eight in the final two minutes of the first half, as the Vikings beat Lord Botetourt 63-47 in Daleville.
On Jan. 21, the wrestlers were scheduled to travel to Alleghany High School. Poor weather postponed the match. Unfortunately for the Hungates, the makeup visit was scheduled for Friday, the same night that the basketball team was hosting Blue Ridge District rival Salem. A family dilemma presented itself.
The Hungates wrestled with their decision but chose basketball.
"We talked about it," Henry said. "Since Nathan is older, we felt we had more years to watch Brad. Plus, the basketball game with Salem was very big from the team's standpoint. But we found ourselves glancing at our watches thinking about Brad all night."
About the time Brad was pinning his opponent in Covington, Nathan was trying to cope with Salem's sizzling offense and swarming defense. The Spartans jumped to a 24-11 first-quarter lead.
Nathan figured Salem out about the time Brad was taking his shower. Nathan scored 10 fourth-quarter points, including six critical free throws, as the Vikings prevailed, 66-62. He also had nine assists.
Saturday, Henry and Betty, along with their grown offspring Scott and Beth, shuttled to Lynchburg. At 3 p.m., Northside had a wrestling match with Heritage, Amherst and Staunton River.
Northside put on a phenomenal exhibition in all 13 weight classes. The Vikings shut out the other three schools, winning 39 matches.
With two first-period pins and a forfeit, Brad made short order of his opposition. Good thing. The basketball team had a 7:30 tip-off in Christiansburg, 95 miles to the west.
The Vikings buried Christiansburg 59-44. Nathan scored 12 points.
Both teams' schedules subsided somewhat this week, and the Hungates reflected on their sons' accomplishments. "It's good that they've pursued different sports," Henry said, "because it eliminates competition between them."
While Nathan and Brad resemble each other facially, their physiques are unrelated. Nathan, 16, stands 6-1 and weighs 165 pounds. "Nathan's always been a big boy, even as a baby," said Henry, a former Northside wrestler (class of '63), who competed at 127 pounds in the first year of the legendary Ken Shelton's program. His basketball background, however, has been limited to coaching. He's led a recreational league team for about 15 years.
Nathan and Brad both appear to be controlled, methodical athletes who focus on the task at hand.
"They both can lose it at home," Betty laughed. "Brad is the most determined. When he sets his mind to something, he does not relent. Trying to reverse him is an awesome task."
No doubt many of his opponents would concur.
"When Nathan gets upset," Betty said, "he'll holler, but then he'll go off to himself and deal with the situation."
"Both sons are lucky to have coaches like Fred and Billy," Henry said. "They've taught our kids more than sports."