Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, January 10, 1992 TAG: 9201090372
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
BUSTED SHOULDER? HEART BYPASS? NOTHIN' STOPS THE TOUGH AMONG US
Perhaps you were unaware that:Christiansburg High wrestling boss Dean Underwood is home and doing well after heart bypass surgery in December. He has even looked in on a practice.
Underwood expects to go back to work in about three months or so. Meanwhile, the team is being run by son Barry and Kelvin Bergsten.
By the way, the most promising of this year's Blue Demons appear to be 119-pounder Jacob Turner, 125-pounder Charlie Freer, 130-pounder Aaron Tuggle and 160-pounder Chip Nininger. The best news for Dean Underwood is that they're all back next year. Tuggle is a junior; Turner and Freer, sophomores; and Nininger, a freshman.
. . . Chip's brother, Tim, a freshman 126-pounder for Arizona State, will redshirt this year. Nininger wrestled in the Sunkist Open at Phoenix, Ariz., in November and made the medal round before failing to make weight. He was named one of the two outstanding freshmen at the meet.
. . . Jim Richardson, who played monster back and fullback for Radford High last fall, intends to try to walk on VMI's team this summer. Richardson will attend VMI on academic scholarship.
. . . Another Bobcat, All-Timesland defensive end Wayne Lineburg, is considering walking on at William and Mary.
. . . From the best-kept-secrets department, Timesland offensive player of the year Tommy Edwards of Radford went through the Group AA Division 3 playoffs with a dislocated shoulder. Edwards, a Virginia Tech recruit, hurt it during the Virginia High game in the playoff opener but never said anything about it. Not even his coach, Norman Lineburg, knew. Told you the kid was tough.
. . . Late Christmas gift suggestion for the ultimate Pulaski County High Cougar football fan on your list: a highlight tape of the past season that runs just over an hour. It's called "Miracle Two," costs $20, and was produced by the high school video club. Call the high school to order.
. . . When Patrick Henry targeted Cougars' leading basketball scorer Chris Burns with various junk defense schemes last week, holding him to a season-low five points, Pulaski County coach Pat Burns said he did not despair and instead viewed the tactics as an opportunity. "They accomplished what they wanted to by shutting him down, but it opened some things for our other players." PH won, 68-56.
The Cougars first home game was last Tuesday's tilt with Blacksburg. They'd opened the season with seven road games. "I bet nobody in the state has had seven road games to open the season," Pat Burns said.
. . . When Narrows was beaten 78-61 by Floyd County last week, the Green Wave scored more points in the first quarter (26) than it did in the whole second half (21).
Chad Fleeman moved into Narrows' starting lineup that game and responded by scoring 13 points. Fleeman, who replaced Rodney Perdue, was put in to give the Wave more scoring punch, Coach Todd Lusk said.
. . . Fort Chiswell attempted 29 three-pointers and made 11 of them in a 92-73 victory over Shawsville. "They caught it and jacked it," Shawnees coach Tracy Poff said.
In that same game, Shawnees ace Kenny Dow had 21 rebounds to go with a game-high 34 points.
. . . How's this for a complementary backcourt? Floyd County's Travis Crawford has attempted 25 three-pointers (12 made); Fred Via has taken 24 treys (11 made). Crawford has taken 46 foul shots (33 made); Via has shot 41 foul shots (30 made). Via was averaging 23.1 points; Crawford 19 points.
Ray Cox covers New River Valley sports for the Roanoke Times & World-News