THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, March 10, 1995 TAG: 9503080227
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY SUSAN W. SMITH, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 88 lines
OSCAR F. SMITH High School rolled out the welcome mat as well as the wrestling mats last weekend for the Virginia High School League's AAA state wrestling tournament.
It was the first time the two-day tournament, which drew wrestlers and fans from throughout Virginia, had ever been held in Chesapeake.
Tournament director Wayne Martin, athletic director of Great Bridge High School, and the administrators and staff of Oscar Smith had been preparing for the big event for months.
``There may have been some behind-the-scenes glitches,'' said wrestling fan Richard Hauck. ``But from the stands, it was a flawless performance.''
Bill Myers, athletic director for the Oscar Smith Tigers and the site coordinator of the tournament, said everything went smoothly behind the scenes, too.
``We were proud to be the host,'' said Myers, ``and besides, there are few schools in the state that have the facilities to sponsor an event of this magnitude.''
Myers said the visiting teams were awed by the locker rooms and warm-up areas, and the fans were impressed with the way the matches were conducted.
From the time the doors opened for Friday's kick-off matches until the final showdown Saturday night, the ultra-modern facility was packed with wrestlers, coaches, parents and fans. Two hundred and eight wrestlers from 80 high schools, the best of the best, came to duel for a chance at a state title.
On Saturday night, an enthusiastic crowd of 3,850 packed into the blue-and-gold gymnasium. It was the first time the new facility had been filled to capacity.
As fans bought T-shirts and programs, and the finalists warmed up, the sound system pumped out a pounding beat of ``I've Got the Power.''
Ed Keil, a social studies teacher known as ``the voice of the Tiger Dome,'' delighted fans with his action-packed commentary on the matches.
The crowds shouted advice, cheered their favorites and occasionally hooted at a referee's call. From the sidelines, would-be coaches shouted advice: ``Shoot, shoot! Get an ankle pick.''
There were groans of sympathy in the stands when Stonewall Jackson High School's Todd Mason suffered a broken nose in Friday night's match with Salem High School's Chip Reyes. Mason became a crowd favorite when he went on to claim the 119-pound title Saturday night.
The local favorite son, Sean Sanderlin of Western Branch High School, was pitted against Centerville High School's two-time state champion, Jeremy Ferry, in the 145-pound final. Ferry, a senior, holds the state record for most continuous wins.
That night Ferry claimed his 125th straight victory and his third state title. The packed house gave him a standing ovation.
``There's not a bad seat in the house,'' said Steve Booth, a Princess Anne High School Booster Club member. ``You feel like you are really close to the mat, and you can see every move. With the lighting and individual mat score boxes, it's easy to keep track of the action.''
Neither Anna and Colon Baker nor Connie and Mike Withers have a son in wrestling. But both couples faithfully follow the area teams and travel across the state to matches. Colon Baker, at 140 pounds, was the captain of Great Bridges' first wrestling team in 1959.
The Bakers, along with Linda Rice, were the coordinators for the hospitality room for coaches and referees.
``It was not only a committee and school effort,'' said Anna Baker. ``But a strong community effort of volunteers and support to make the state tournament so successful. I've already had people asking me about doing it again next year.''
``If they want us,'' agreed Myers, ``we'll be ready to do it again.'' MEMO: [For related stories, see page 13 of The Clipper for this date.]
ILLUSTRATION: [Cover]
[Color Photo]
GRAPPLING FOR ATTENTION
Staff photo by STEVE EARLEY
A capacity crowd of 3,850 was on hand Saturday night for the
championship matches at Oscar Smith High School.
Staff photos by STEVE EARLEY
Eric Thompson celebrates after scoring points in his match in the
state tournament held at Oscar Smith High School.
by CNB