THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 24, 1996 TAG: 9602240476
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY KEITH POMPEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
Going into the VISWA state championships, the Norfolk Academy wrestling team just wanted to finish in the top five.
But after scoring 91.5 points through the quarterfinal round at Cape Henry Friday night, the Bulldogs have their eyes on winning the title.
Second-place Norfolk Academy trails Woodberry Forest by 28 points. The other South Hampton Roads teams are well out of the hunt. Cape Henry is 15th (39 points), Norfolk Collegiate 19th (28.5) and Catholic 24th (13).
The tournament continues today at 10 a.m. with semifinals. Championship bouts are at 7 p.m.
``We're looking good as a team,'' Norfolk Academy 112-pounder Ryan Ingram said. ``We're shooting to beat Woodberry. They have dominated this tournament for years. It's time for somebody else to step up. And I think this year is our chance. All we have to do is come out strong in the semifinals. If we can do that we have it made.''
The Bulldogs have five wrestlers competing in the semifinals. Leading the pack is Clay Weisberg. The 119-pound senior is a two-time state champion.
``I'm not content with just those two,'' Weisberg said. ``I'm going for No. 3. I've got to get it. I've trained so hard and I am going out there and try to do my best. Hopefully all of my hard work will pay off.''
Weisberg isn't the only defending champion on his team. Ingram hopes to repeat at 112-pound class.
But the most interesting local match of the day could be at 145.
If Norfolk Academy's Josh Raper and Cape Henry's Mark Kelley meet in the finals it would be a rematch of the TCIS championship.
That night, Kelly defeated Raper for the first time in seven attempts.
``Everybody is still saying that win was a fluke,'' Kelley said. ``I hope both of us make the finals. I want to prove to everybody that I'm not a fluke.
``But it wouldn't make any difference who I beat. I've got my eyes on winning the championship no matter who it is.''
Other South Hampton Roads wrestlers advancing to the semifinals are: Norfolk Academy's Luke Lindhjem (125) and Jamil Muasher (135) and Cape Henry's Josh Thompson (130). by CNB