
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, January 24, 1995                   TAG: 9501240115
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FROM STAFF REPORTS
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

VMI'S BRANCH SET TO WRESTLE IN STARS MEET

VMI's Charley Branch has been invited to compete Jan.30 at the National Wrestling Coaches' Association All-Star Classic in Chapel Hill, N.C.

Branch, a senior, will take on Dan Carcelli of Cleveland State at 142 pounds in the event, which matches two of the top four wrestlers in the country at each weight class. Branch, an All-American last season, is the only VMI wrestler ever invited to the event.

In other sports in the region:

Three Old Dominion Athletic Conference spring teams have earned high preseason rankings in NCAA Division III by College Sports Magazine.

The Roanoke men's lacrosse team was ranked fifth, while Washington and Lee - the two-time defending ODAC champion - earned the No.7 spot. Salisbury State was No.1, followed by Gettysburg, Nazareth and Denison.

In women's tennis, Washington and Lee was ranked fifth. The Generals were 22-2 last season and finished sixth at the national championships. Cal-San Diego is the top-ranked team, followed by Williams, Trinity (Texas) and Gustavus Adolphus.

by CNB