Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 7, 1991 TAG: 9102080353
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB McLELLAND CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Wagner, despite whipping each of his four Group AA Blue Ridge opponents during the season, says his Vikings are only one of the teams that have a real shot at the district title Saturday at Lord Botetourt.
"I look for Botetourt, William Byrd and Alleghany to really be strong," Wagner said. "If we are lucky, we might slip in there at third place. Remember, we finished behind both Byrd and Botetourt in the Big Orange."
As for an undefeated season of 16 matches, Wagner credits "a good bunch of boys who really worked hard all year."
Northside once was the scourge of Roanoke-area wrestling. This trend started in the days of former coach Ken Shelton (now at The Citadel) and continued through coach Larry Hall, who was a former state champion for Shelton and now is president of the Roanoke-area officials association.
Hall won eight straight Group AAA Roanoke Valley District titles while at Northside. His last undefeated team was in 1973 when the Vikings went 13-0. He turned over his coaching duties in 1982 to enter administration and officiating.
Many observers agree with Wagner that the Blue Ridge will be tight for team honors. Coach Barry Trent's William Byrd team has dominated the district for several years, but Trent sees no easy title this year.
"There are a lot of good, strong individuals," Trent said. "I look for several teams to get a piece of the action. It should be the strongest district tournament in years."
One of the top matches of the event should come at 125, where Byrd's Mark Andrews is expected to meet Northside's Jeff Becker for the title. Each wrestler is a former champion. Andrews won at 119 last year, while Becker was the 112 champion. Andrews took a close 2-1 decision when the two met in the Big Orange last month, but was out of the lineup in a later dual match.
The only other former champion in the field is Botetourt junior Bryan Anderson, who won at 160 last year, but has moved down to 152 this time.
While the top Metro Group AA wrestlers will be busy at Botetourt Saturday, Franklin County and Cave Spring will be taking part in the Group AAA Northwest duals at Rocky Mount. There is no dual competition for Group A or Group AA.
Franklin went undefeated during the regular Roanoke Valley District season, while the Knights were second.
by CNB