Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 2, 1992 TAG: 9202020208
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C12 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: PHYLLIS A. FAIR SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: CHARLOTTESVILLE LENGTH: Medium
ROANOKE VALLEY DISTRICT WRESTLING TEAMS OUSTED
Franklin County's wrestling team had lost to Woodbridge of the Commonwealth District two consecutive times, and this year was no different.At Saturday's second annual Northwestern Region Dual Team tournament at Albemarle High School, the Eagles lost 30-29 to Woodbridge in the opening round, which deprived them of a chance to advance to the state dual championships on Feb. 7.
Woodbridge took an 18-3 lead through six weight classes, but the Eagles rallied for a 29-18 lead on three pins and two decisions.
The only way Woodbridge could win the match was to get pins in its 189-pound and heavyweight classes, and it did that to beat Franklin County for the third time.
"They got our number today, last year and the year before that," said Franklin County coach Kris Kahila, who added that the Eagles had chances to win Saturday.
"There were plenty of places we could have come up with a point or points. We always preach to them to give it their best, and that's what they did and we were one point short."
Woodbridge coach Richard Hilleary said: "I don't know if we have their number. I know Kris doesn't like for us to beat them."
Six teams participated in the tournament: the regular-season district champions and runners-up from the Commonwealth (Stonewall Jackson-Manassas, Woodbridge), Roanoke Valley (Franklin County, William Fleming) and Western (Albemarle, E.C. Glass) districts.
After Fleming won its opening-round match against E.C. Glass 41-27, not only did it lose 61-12 to Stonewall Jackson, but it also lost an opportunity to participate in the state tournament.
Injuries for William Fleming and Franklin County hampered their performances. The Colonels were missing four starters and the Eagles five.
Franklin County's Thomas Simmons, the top Timesland 145-pounder with a 25-2 record, was out with a collar-bone injury; 112-pounder Matt Holland had strep throat; and 171-pounder Brian Witcher was sick.
Consequently, Kahila replaced some wrestlers and moved others up a weight class. Israel Gilbert, usually at 135 pounds, and Chuck Ellis, usually at 140, wrestled 5 pounds heavier.
"The reason we made the move there was because we felt Gilbert and Ellis could win, which they did and got pins," Kahila said.
E.C. Glass surprised William Fleming in its opening match, but the Colonels rallied for the victory.
Earlier in the season, William Fleming dominated E.C. Glass in a dual meet, but this time it wasn't as easy.
After taking a 11-0 lead, the Colonels fell behind 21-11. They then scored pins in five of the next six matches to win.
"I expected us to do much better than it showed," Colonels coach George Miller said.
The Colonels' second match was a reversal from the one against Glass.
William Fleming was overmatched against Stonewall, which had nine pins in 13 weight classes.
"They had too many horses for us," Miller said. "We wrestled nowhere near we're capable."
Although the Roanoke Valley teams were eliminated, Miller said don't count them out in regional and state competition later this month.
"Both Franklin County and [William Fleming] will be seen again and next time the results will be somewhat different," he said. "Had Franklin County been full strength, they would have won this tournament. When healthy, they are one of the best teams in the state." \
see microfilm for box score