ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, February 15, 1996 TAG: 9602150015
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
GRUNDY, brace yourself.
Great Bridge, cover your flanks.
Other prominent wrestling powers within Virginia's borders, consider yourselves forewarned: The Roanoke Valley is gearing up for a reversal.
Youth wrestling programs are springing up around the valley this winter. For the first time, the communities of Cave Spring, Glenvar and Franklin County are fielding squads of elementary school-age wrestlers.
Salem, which pioneered the movement a year ago, has doubled its number of participants to about 30.
More than 80 boys - and one girl - are taking to the mats in 1995-96 as part of these four programs. Most of the participants are fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders, although some children are as young as 6 and as light as 40 pounds.
Most of the coaches are the participants' parents, but in many cases they also are former wrestlers.
The teams periodically scrimmage among themselves and with other programs within the region. In competition, the emphasis is on giving children the opportunity to understand the wrestling experience - even beyond the basics of implementing moves learned in practice.
``This helps kids get ready for high school'' wrestling, said Franklin County youth coach Charlie Crowley, who retired to Smith Mountain Lake from New Jersey in 1989. ``They learn how to handle the crowd and what a team's all about.''
During a typical team match, the opposing coaches confer and pair wrestlers by age, weight, experience and other factors. If one team has a larger squad, some wrestlers may face members of their own squad. Children with abundant energy and/or savvy might wrestle twice.
Individual scores are kept during three one-minute periods of each bout, half the length of a high school match.
In Salem, youth wrestling is sanctioned by the parks and recreation department. In Franklin County, it's sponsored by the YMCA. Glenvar and Cave Spring are receiving some funds from booster clubs in their respective areas and ultimately are seeking Roanoke County endorsement.
The consensus, among those overseeing the effort, is that the only way for area high school teams to compete with the entrenched programs throughout Virginia is to build across-the-board interest in wrestling at an early age.
Some high schools - most notably Northside and Franklin County - have experienced team success recently on the state level, but overall, this region trails Tidewater, Northern Virginia and the coalfield wrestling factory, Grundy.
``Without competition, you don't get any better,'' said Steve Witt, a coach in Salem's program and a Group AA champion at 185 pounds for Andrew Lewis in 1975. ``That's why wrestling is so regional.''
It may be regional, but the consensus among the young Roanoke Valley wrestlers is that it's also fun.
``My favorite part is when you get to pin the guy,'' said Cave Spring's Jimmy King, 9.
Teammate Gregory DeMarco cited the sport as a constructive outlet for frustration. ``I like it a lot,'' said DeMarco, 9. ``You can use up your energy if you're angry.''
DeMarco's sister, Andrea, is two years older than Gregory, but weighs 21 pounds less than her 90-pound brother. Already a swimmer and soccer player, Andrea persuaded her parents to let her try wrestling. The strength, quickness and agility developed on the soccer fields have served her well.
``My dad always said I could do everything boys do,'' Andrea said.
Three matches into the season, Andrea's record - against three boys - is 1-1-1. ``At first, the boys were making fun of me,'' she said. ``But I think they were surprised. Now, they respect me.''
Respect is just one of many benefits that are inherent in competitive wrestling. Self-discipline, learning how to handle adversity and developing supreme physical conditioning are three other positive aspects.
``It's really interesting what kids can pick up at this age level,'' said Bill Gerrol, coach of the Glenvar program and father of three youth wrestlers. Gerrol, also from New Jersey, is an assistant principal at Salem High School.
Gerrol credits Dana Giarla, a Salem police officer, for encouraging him to start a similar venture in Glenvar. Giarla also is the father of several successful wrestlers and founder of Salem's youth wrestling program.
Like all of the coaches, Gerrol said a number of assistants and members of local high school programs help to sustain the youth wrestling effort. The high schools have been vital in providing practice space and, in some instances, equipment.
The technical aspects of wrestling can be challenging for youngsters to grasp.
``It requires a lot of repetition and a lot of individual instruction,'' Witt said. Consequently, most area programs have a low coach-to-wrestler ratio.
``Maybe this [program development] will set Cave Spring up for being a state-champion wrestling school,'' said Jim King, coach of Cave Spring's youngsters.
King describes himself as ``an average wrestler'' who graduated from Cave Spring High School in 1977. A friend and teammate of King, Ray Broughman, who was an outstanding wrestler for the Knights, has returned to coach his alma mater this season.
``Ray called me up in October,'' King said. ``He wanted to see if I was interested in heading up the youth [program]. He wants a high-caliber program; he's really dedicated to this.''
Broughman sees a sees a strong feeder program as the key to his high school team's success.
Otis Dowdy, Cave Spring's athletic director, coached wrestling at the school for 20 years and unequivocally considers Broughman the best wrestler to come through his program. ``Without question,'' Dowdy said.
Broughman finished third in Group AAA in 1977 at 105 pounds, and went on to wrestle for William and Mary and qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in 1984.
Broughman didn't take up wrestling until he was a sophomore in high school, but his two sons, Ryan, 10, and Matt, 6, already are part of King's program.
Broughman holds Cave Spring High School wrestling practices immediately after school. On many evenings, he'll return to the wrestling room to work with King and the youngsters, including Broughman's own sons.
``Ray leads a lot of our practices,'' King said. ``He's really good with the kids, and he knows what holds are potentially dangerous'' and how to prevent them.
Coaches, parents and wrestlers concur the youth wrestling concept is working.
``The ultimate goal is to bring good, experienced wrestlers into junior high and high school,'' said David DeMarco, an assistant coach with the Cave Spring youth program. ``This is the way you build a reputation.''
LENGTH: Long : 135 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: DON PETERSEN/Staff. 1. Elementary school wrestler Jamesby CNBLillard (bottom), 6, defends against Kevin Reeder, 6, during
tournament play at Liberty High School. More than 80 boys and one
girl are participating in youth wrestling programs throughout the
Roanoke Valley. 2. Jason Highberger, 10, of Salem, strikes an
intimidating pose before taking to the mat. 3. Cave Spring's Brian
Reeder, 11, pins Will Gordon, 11, of Salem during a youth wrestling
match. 4. Recreation league coach Jim King (above, left) and parent
David DeMarco cheer on wrestlers during tournament play in Salem. 5.
Wrestling can take a lot out of a 6-year-old: Sam Rakes (right)
finds the lap of his father, Wes, a comfortable place to rest during
a tournament at Liberty High School in Bedford. 6. Salem team
members congratulate a fellow wrestler on his victory. color. Type first letter of feature OR type help for list of commands FIND S-DB DB OPT SS WRD QUIT QUIT Save options? YES NO GROUP YOU'VE SELECTED: QUIT NO login: c