ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, January 10, 1997 TAG: 9701100078
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-7 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
THE COLONELS' wrestler has more on his mind than just this weekend's Big Orange tournament.
It hasn't been an easy life for William Fleming wrestler Maurice Lacy, who has done a balancing act between schoolwork, sports and helping to earn a living for his family.
It's starting to pay dividends for the Colonels' 125-pounder, who is having an outstanding season and will be a favorite to win his division when the Big Orange tournament opens a two-day run today at William Byrd High School. Lacy is 14-0 with championships in the Halifax County and Albemarle tournaments. Grundy was in the Halifax tournament, while teams from several states were in the Albemarle meet.
Last year, Lacy was second in the Big Orange to Northside's Brad Hungate and third in the Northwest Region. He also won a couple of matches in the Group AAA tournament. This year, Lacy says he's determined to win everything he didn't win last year, while also maintaining his other responsibilities.
``He has a tremendous work ethic,'' said Matt Golden, Fleming's wrestling coach. ``I gave the team New Year's Eve and New Year's Day off. It was their only two days off this year. On New Year's Eve, he was working out in the wrestling room.''
Presently, Lacy is an A-B student who is being scouted by Virginia Military Institute and other schools for a wrestling scholarship. He works at Subway making sandwiches to help earn money for his mother, Cordella Lacy, a former heart attack victim, and his older brother Tracy Rivers, who once ran track at Patrick Henry.
``I'm pretty good making sandwiches, and all this keeps me busy,'' Maurice Lacy said. ``I try to schedule everything - school first, then wrestling practice and then work. It all works out. After that, I might work out extra or do my homework.''
Still, Lacy makes time to watch television or go to the malls with his friends. He's good at organizing his time. He also played football this fall.
Lacy is intense about life. ``I've got a lot of work to do and I let my tensions out on the mats,'' he said. ``It's been a tough life and sometimes I wonder why. I know it's part of life, something I have to overcome that was put there for a reason to teach me something.''
Maybe the best thing that happened to him came four years ago when George Miller, then the Colonels' wrestling coach, recruited Lacy, who until that time had only played football.
``I had never wrestled and it was strange. But I wanted to come out. I was excited when Coach Miller suggested wrestling. I wanted to do as many things as possible.''
In his first year, Lacy didn't have a lot of success. ``I got beat a lot. I got pinned. I didn't like that,'' he said. By the next year, Lacy was a better wrestler and he got to wrestle more matches.
Lacy said he's seen a difference from last season because he's better wrestling on his feet and he's also improved on the mat. He attributes his improvement to four coaches - Miller, Golden, former assistant Doug DePuy and present assistant Keno Shepherd.
Shepherd was a Timesland great at William Fleming in the 105-pound class and for the last two years has made the finals in the University Division of the Freestyle National championships. He won two years ago. Because Shepherd is near Lacy's weight, the two practice against each other.
``The thing is Maurice will go the extra mile outside of wrestling,'' Golden said. ``He'll grab three or four teammates and take them with him to run, to keep them in top shape. Because of his work ethic, he has a bright future.''
While Lacy is a favorite as an individual in the Big Orange, Franklin County rates a nod over William Byrd, Northside and Lord Botetourt for the team title among the 16 squads entered.
The Eagles have won eight of the last 10 Big Orange titles they've entered. William Byrd is the defending champion.
The Franklin County wrestlers with the best chances at titles are Ivan Trotter (145), Stacy Menefee (103), heavyweight Bruce Cobbs and 112-pounder Donnie Hutchison, who won the Big Orange two years ago as a sophomore. Adam Flora (119) also is outstanding, but he must beat out Randall Sell, Byrd's top wrestler. Northside will be paced by Jason Vaughan (152), an All-Timesland performer last season at 140.
First round matches are today at 2 with quarterfinals to follow. Semifinals are scheduled at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday with championship and consolation finals running side-by-side Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Fifth-place matches will be held at 7 that night.
LENGTH: Medium: 85 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: (headshot) Lacyby CNB