THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 24, 1996 TAG: 9602240477
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
On a night when 28 wrestlers stepped into the Eastern Region wrestling finals, Great Bridge's Carl Perry, as usual, took it one step further.
Perry, the nation's top-ranked 130-pounder according to one publication, used his specialty, the technical fall, to roll past Kellam's Jason Boswell and become the winningest high school wrestler in state history Friday during the Eastern Region wrestling tournament at Churchland.
Perry now has 157 career wins, one more than Centreville's Jeremy Ferry compiled from 1992-95.
Boswell said he entered Friday's bout unconcerned about becoming a historical footnote and viewed the matchup with Perry as a great opportunity. But Perry immediately slammed Boswell's window of opportunity shut, as he trapped the Beach District champion in a cradle and rolled him onto his back within the first 30 seconds. Boswell fought off the pin, but had no answers for Perry's quickness and relentless aggression the rest of the way.
At the final whistle, Perry immediately gazed skyward, then smiled in the direction of a standing, cheering throng of Great Bridge supporters and jabbed the air overhead with his index fingers.
``Just thanking the Lord,'' Perry said. ``I couldn't have done it without Him.''
Perry, 43-0 this season and winner of 85 straight matches, led the Wildcats to a commanding lead in their quest for a sixth straight regional title. Great Bridge has 201 points; Tallwood is next with 104 1/2. Jimmy Hawthorne (125), Stacy Woodhouse (145), Michael Harper (152) Jason Byrum (160) and Christian Basnight (171) will join Perry in today's championship round.
Next up for Perry: First Colonial's Jeff Bernd, who along with his twin brother Jason (130) and Pierre Pryor will represent the Patriots in today's finals.
``Intimidated (by Perry)? Not really,'' Jeff Bernd said. ``He's a nice guy.''
Another returning state champion, Tallwood's Mike Mercado, scored a technical fall of his own over Great Bridge's Brian Childress. He'll take on Oscar Smith's Gary Lewis, who remained undefeated this year with a 9-1 decision over Bethel freshman Jeremy Monroe.
``I've been waiting for this match all year,'' Lewis said. ``He's a state champion and all, but I think I have a chance to go get him.''
Green Run's Leevi MacDonald (275), Granby's Chris Martin (145) and Hampton's Eric Thompson (140) also put on spectacular performances Friday. MacDonald remained undefeated by pinning Great Bridge's Shaun Curl in 5:49.
Martin, second in the state a year ago and unbeaten this year, won his third straight match by first-period pin. And Thompson, the 1995 135-pound state champion, put on a dazzling freestyle wrestling clinic while whipping returning stateplacewinner Kenny Hessler of Lake Taylor, 20-8.
Tantalizing championship-round bouts, which begin at 7:30 p.m., will abound Saturday. At 125, Great Bridge's Jimmy Hawthorne, who finished third in the state at 103 two years ago but has been plagued by injuries ever since, will take on Gloucester's Joey Legg, last year's 119-pound region champ. The 140-pound final will pit Hampton's Thompson against Indian River's Keith Reynolds in a battle of unbeatens. And at 160, Churchland's Orlando Morton and Great Bridge's Jason Byrum will do battle in the third act of what has been a riveting, sometimes controversial series. ILLUSTRATION: L. TODD SPENCER
Great Bridge 130-pounder Carl Perry became the winningest state
wrestler with a technical fall over Kellam's Jason Boswell in the
Eastern Region tournament Friday.
by CNB