Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 28, 1991                   TAG: 9103010465
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: BOB McLELLAND CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CAVE SPRING WRESTLER REIGNS WITH 26-1 RECORD

Yet he claims his most enjoyable moments have come in practicing with his Cave Spring teammates and Coach Steve Spangler.

"This has really been a fun season," said Tempkin, taking a break from practice for the state tournament Friday and Saturday in the Ashe Center in Richmond.

"Sure I have liked winning, but the things I will remember the most [are] the good times I had with my teammates both on and off the mats."

Tempkin and Franklin County senior Jeff Tatum (119) are the only RVD athletes going to the state as regional champions. Franklin County and Cave Spring each will send five entries to Richmond. William Fleming and Patrick Henry failed to qualify a wrestler.

Tempkin, who transferred from New York when he was a sophomore, is completing his third season on the Cave Spring varsity. He went 16-8-1 overall as a sophomore at 130, and last year wrestled 130 with a 23-5 overall mark. He won the RVD title and gained a spot in the state.

He is 26-1 overall - losing only a close decision to a wrestler from West Virginia in the finals of the Grundy Invitational in December.

"[Tempkin] has been a real leader for the team," said Spangler. "He is dedicated to being the best he can and has a positive influence on the entire squad."

Tempkin calls himself more of a finesse wrestler, saying what he lacks in strength, he makes up "on my technique, know-how and conditioning."

A Beta Club member, Tempkin has a 3.3 grade average and would like to continue wrestling in college, but he hasn't picked a college.

The other Knights going to state competition are: seniors Adam Williams (130), who lost his first match of the season in a close decision in the finals of the regionals last week in Manassas; seniors Ray Kaczmarek (third at 145) and Eddie Johnson (fourth at 140); and sophomore Mike Zirkle (fourth at 119).

Other Franklin wrestlers going to the state are: third-place finishers senior Scott Southall (112) and sophomore Thomas Simmons (140); and fourth-place finishers junior Charles Ellis (125) and sophomore heavyweight Ricky Young.

Four Glenvar Highlanders won individual titles during the Group A state tournament:

Jamie Soltis (112), who finished his unbeaten senior year with 26 victories. He was 20-0 last year at 103 pounds and also won the state. He also was in state competition in his sophomore and freshman years.

Senior Marvin Loyd (135), who was unbeaten in 13 matches at 135 but lost twice at 130.

Sophomore Brandon Semones (160), who finished with a 24-1 record. His only loss was early in December in a decision to Staunton River senior Jason Yopp.

Sophomore Jason Porter (140) with a final record of 26-0-1. The tie came against Group AAA Albemarle.

The Group A finals were costly to James River senior David Perry, who lost a close decision to the champion from Mathews. This was Perry's first defeat in 19 matches this season. This was the poorest state showing in memory for the Group AA wrestlers. They combined for only three place showings. The best was by Salem junior Luqman Wade, who was second at 112.