THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 10, 1995 TAG: 9502080177
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY DAN COOLEY, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
After suffering two close losses to Deep Creek and Western Branch, the Great Bridge Middle School wrestling team has now lost one of its top wrestlers to injury.
Jason Honaker, who wrestles at 86 pounds, broke his right wrist in practice just 12 days before the Chesapeake Middle School League tournament, which began Tuesday.
``It certainly is a tough blow because he's one of our top guys and team leaders,'' said Wildcats coach Doug Smith. ``Jason will be sorely missed.''
Honaker, who was expected to make a strong bid for a title, will be replaced in the lineup by Brandon Hutchins.
Honaker suffered the broken wrist while practicing takedowns with his best friend, Chris Daughtrey, the team's starting 98-pounder. Daughtrey was supposed to take Honaker down, and did so, but somehow landed on his friend's right wrist.
Smith immediately cancelled practice and called paramedics, while a distraught Daughtrey ran out of the gym.
Daughtrey reportedly sat on a bench in a nearby room, his head buried in his hands and shaking his head back and forth in disbelief. It was several minutes before he could approach Honaker.
In the meantime, Honaker's wrist was placed in a splint and he was taken to the hospital for X-rays.
Honaker said he already knew his wrist was broken.
``It looked just like my left wrist did when I broke it before,'' he said. Honaker broke his left wrist four years ago after falling out of a tree fort. ``I didn't want to look at it and get sick. I was just lying there, thinking this was the end of the season.''
Although Honaker is expected to be in a cast for seven weeks, all is not lost, and Great Bridge High School coach Steve Martin dropped by to remind him of that.
``He said he didn't want me to disappear from wrestling,'' said Honaker. ``He said I would make a good (high school) wrestler, because I've caught on quick to the moves they've taught me. He wants me to still go to practices, to help the other guys learn the moves.''
Honaker was strongly encouraged to begin a rehabilitation program as soon as the cast comes off. Until then, Honaker has Daughtrey to help him through the seven-week wait.
``We're still really good friends,'' he said. ``Chris knows it was an accident, and we kind of kid around about it.
``I keep telling him, `You better not break anybody else's wrist.' '' by CNB