THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 2, 1995 TAG: 9512020708
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: High School Wrestling Preview
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 65 lines
Two-time defending Eastern District champion Lake Taylor, strong at seven weight classes, will try to hold off a serious challenge from Granby in its bid for a three-peat.
Maury could develop into a threat by season's end, and Booker T. Washington continues to improve.
LAKE TAYLOR Coach: Russell Flynn
Last season: 17-5 overall, 4-0 district
Impact wrestlers: Kenny Hessler (Jr., 140); Paul Jimenez (Jr., 103); Tremaine Baker (Sr., 125); Lionel Davis (Sr., 130)
Outlook: Titans will be a formidable tournament team, with three returning state placewinners (Hessler, Jimenez and Davis) and four others who placed first or second in the district. But several junior varsity stars must come up big on the varsity if Lake Taylor is to maintain its status as one of the area's best dual-meet teams.
GRANBY Coach: John Cerminara
Last season: 10-3 overall, 2-2 district
Impact wrestlers: Chris Martin (Sr., 145); William Thornton (Sr., 171); Reuben Waites (Sr., 119); Brian Jones (Sr., 125); Antoine Prince (Sr., 152)
Outlook: Eight seniors and 10 returning district placewinners figure to start for the Comets, who believe they have the goods to not only unseat Lake Taylor as district champ, but also to make a strong regional tournament run. Individually, state runner-up Martin is as good as it gets at 145, and the talented Thornton could improve on last season's third-place regional showing.
MAURY Coach: Ray Baldwin
Last season: 14-5 overall, 3-1 district
Impact wrestlers: Xavier Bell (Jr., 135); Steve Bruner (Sr., 215); Leroy Barbour (Sr, 171); Dwayne Lancaster (Jr., 103-112); Cory Jordan (Jr., 103-112).
Outlook: Bruner - a state qualifier at heavyweight a year ago - Bell and Barbour will be dangerous from the get-go, but for the most part a youthful Commodore squad will try to use a tough early schedule to generate momentum for a strong late-season push.
BOOKER T. WASHINGTON Coach: Robert Toran
Last season: 7-13 overall, 1-3 district
Impact wrestlers: Duwyne Williams (So., 160); Alvin Butts (Sr., 145-152); Earl Powe (Sr., 130); Fred Etheridge (So., 119-125); Shawn Minter (Sr., 135).
Outlook: The Bookers field their most experienced team in years and will be led by Williams (fourth in the region in '94), who developed into a bonafide star. Team's roster also includes Sherika Sadler, the school's first female wrestler. A winning season, something unthinkable at Booker T. three years ago, isn't out of the question.
NORVIEW Coach: David Heath
Last season: 5-11 overall, 1-4 district
Impact wrestlers: Lynwood Hilton (Sr., 119); Corey Grimm (Jr., 135); David Janke (Jr., 130); Robert Bray (Jr., 189); Dwayne Potts (Sr., 189).
Outlook: Improved numbers all but insures improvement - last year's team finished with eight wrestlers; first-year coach Heath has nearly 30 in his room today. Hilton, Janke and Grimm should challenge for district title honors, but inexperience throughout the rest of the lineup mitigates against the Pilots threatening for a league title. by CNB