Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 9, 1993 TAG: 9312080138
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By BRIAN DeVIDO STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The Shawnees posted a 14-4 record in the regular season and won the Mountain Empire District tournament, upsetting district favorite Grayson County. Not bad for the team's first full year of wrestling.
But Boyd saw that a change was needed. As some of his wrestlers reached the semifinal round of regionals, he saw that the teams Shawville wrestled earlier in the season hadn't fully gotten them ready for the task at hand.
So Boyd, now in his first year as head coach, decided to upgrade the schedule.
Goodbye, easy victories.
Hello, Grundy.
How's it going, Northside?
Nice to meet you, Pulaski County.
Glad to be here, Richlands.
How tough is the new competition?
Grundy has won the Group AA wrestling title more times than Michael Bolton has resung classic oldies. Northside was second in the Group AA meet last year. Richlands is a traditional Group AA power. Pulaski County is a Group AAA school.
Is this guy sadistic, or what?
"When we stepped up against a little stronger competition, we saw that we needed to wrestle against that on a regular basis," Boyd said. "We've got a killer schedule, I'm not going to kid you. But you only get better by wrestling the best."
That said, the Shawnees should be even stronger this year. Eight starters return, including five district champions - Alan Trout (112), Daniel Hatcher (130), Charles Duncan (140), Scott Holleman (160) and Ben Basham (171). Trout finished fourth in the Group A meet, and Hatcher and Basham were third in the region.
"About all you can ask for a team on a schedule like this is just give me 100 percent," Boyd said. "Everything else will fall in line."
Elsewhere in the Mountain Empire District:
\ Floyd County finished in a tie for third place in the district last year, but won its biggest match in its three years of existence when it stunned Grayson County in a dual match. The Buffaloes hope to carry that success over to this year.
Four starters return for Barry Hollandsworth and Danny Cronk's team: Kenneth Snare (103), Toby Dixon (125), Alvin Quesenberry (152) and Josh Howery (160). Quesenberry was second in the region, and Howery placed third.
"The rest of the team is real young," Hollandsworth said. "Five of the 13 starters have never even seen a wrestling match before."
\ Narrows finished third in the district and region last year. They return but four starters, and will forfeit five weight classes, but the returning four are more than capable battlers.
Mason Boggess (119) finished third in the district at 119, Tyler Prouty (130) won the district and was second in the region at 125, Jarrett Rhodes (135) won the district and region at 135, and Shannon Harmon (160) was second in the district and region at 152.
"We won't do much in dual meets," coach Jim Harman said, "but hopefully when we get to the regional and state meets, we'll do something there."
In the New River District:
\ Blacksburg returns eight starters from last year's team that finished second in the New River District. Leading the Indians charge are seniors L.J. Hensel and Hayden Griffin, who will battle for the starting 112 pound spot. The other will wrestle in the 119-pound weight class. Hensel wrestled in the Group AA meet two years ago, and posted an 8-1 mark last year. He was injured before the district tournament.
Griffin posted an 8-0 mark last year, but also was injured before the district meet. He was second in the district two years ago. Sophomore Kip Kenyon (189) is still playing football, but won the 171-pound weight class last year.
A couple of transfers could also help Blacksburg. Steve Southwick (135) is a transfer from Kempsville High, a Group AAA wrestling power in Virginia Beach, and John Ohm (130) comes from California. Both are expected to contribute.
"We've got a strong senior team," said Blacksburg coach Lee Worley, whose team will forfeit the 103-pound weight class. "This is certainly their year to shine if its going to happen."
\ Christiansburg returns six starters, including Kirk Linkous (119), who went to the Group AA meet at 103, and Charlie Freer (135), who won the district at 130.
The rest of the squad is young - the 171, 189 and heavyweight classes will be filled with wrestlers who have no previous wrestling experience.
"We're green as grass," said coach Dean Underwood, in his 21st year of coaching.
\ Radford is going to be young as well, starting many freshmen and sophomores.
Stephen Murphy (112) finished third in the district at 112, and Cornell Wesley (171) should do well after breaking his wrist last year. Jacob Boundrant (152) wrestled in the Group AA meet, but broke his thumb and will be out until the district tournament.
First year coach Tony DeHart said he would like to make Radford's last year in the New River District a memorable one.
"The kids have great attitudes," he said. "It'd be nice to come out champions."
In the Roanoke Valley District:
\ Pulaski County returns seven starters from a team that finished last in the district in 1993.
One big problem, though: five of them are still playing football.
Bobby Jackson (135), David Fore (152), and Steve Osbourne (171) are expected to stand out.
"I think we can give Franklin County [the district favorite] a run for it," said coach Freddy Blevins. "We have enough kids coming back that we can be competitive."
by CNB