Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 21, 1992 TAG: 9202210026
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: PHYLLIS A. FAIR SPORTSWRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
EAGLES FOLLOW A WINNING FORMULA
In trying to reclaim the Northwestern Region wrestling championship, Franklin County is following the winning scenario with precision.In 1989, Franklin County was the host for the region tournament. The Eagles had 13 wrestlers in the tournament, and they won it.
This year the Eagles are hosts again. They have 13 competing and are among the favorites for winning the team title. The other favorite is Stonewall Jackson of Manassas, which has 10 competitors.
The tournament begins today at 1 p.m. and concludes Saturday. The top four wrestlers in each weight class advance to the state tournament on Feb. 28-29 at the Arthur Ashe Center in Richmond.
Franklin County coach Kris Kahila said there are several similarities between the 1989 team and this one.
"Three years ago we dominated the district [tournament] with 218 points, and this year we dominated with 242," Kahila said. "We had seven champions that year and nine this year. We hope the region is similar.
"We had four [region] champions and took nine to the state. If we wrestle well, we can do that well again."
Among the wrestlers favored to reach the finals are the four Eagles seeded No. 1 in their weight divisions: Isreal Gilbert at 135 pounds, Chuck Ellis (140), Thomas Simmons (145) and Hassani Meneffe (152). Each won his weight class at the Roanoke Valley District tournament last weekend.
Although Franklin County has wrestlers competing in all 13 weight classes, that doesn't necessary mean it will win the region.
Last year, Albemarle brought 13 to the tournament and finished seventh. In comparison, Osborn had seven wrestlers and finished fourth. Garfield sent six and finished fifth.
Woodbridge, the two-time defending champion, is expected to finish in the top 10 and probably the top five.
Like Franklin County, William Fleming also has 13 wrestlers competing in the tournament, but the Colonels aren't favored for the title. They, like Woodbridge, are expected to finish in the top 10.
William Fleming's Keno Shepherd has a good chance to win his weight class. The 103-pound junior has 24-0 record this season.
With everyone healthy for Franklin County, the Eagles could have as many as eight in the finals.
"Our goal is to place seven to eight in the finals and have 10 or more go to the [state] finals," Kahila said. "We think we're capable of doing that thing - winning it. We just have to wait and see. We're ready to go. We're excited about it.
"Someone has to beat us to knock us off. It won't be easy to knock off some of our guys out of the finals."
\ The Northwestern Region tournament isn't only big meet that starts today. The state Group A and Group AA tournaments are this weekend. The Group A tournament begins at 1 p.m. at the Salem Civic Center, and the Group AA tournament is at Hampton University.
\ GROUP AA: Northside, the Blue Ridge District champion, is sending seven wrestlers to the Group AA tournament, and second-place finisher Lord Botetourt will have five competing.
The Cavaliers' Bryan Anderson (152) will be trying for his first state title. He finished third in the state last year.
Teammate Dan Sell, competing at 125 in his first state tournament, will try to keep his 24-0 record perfect by winning the title.
Sell and Anderson won their weight classes at the Region III tournament last weekend in Rustburg, as did Northside's Clifton Dunford (103) and Robin Keeling (140).
Last year, Northside finished 35th and Lord Botetourt 28th at the state tournament.
\ GROUP A: Closer to home, James River, Glenvar, Parry McCluer and Chilhowie are teams to watch at the Group A tournament.
James River won the Region C tournament last weekend in Independence and has 10 wrestlers trying for their first state titles.
"Teamwise, we would like to finish in the top 10," said James River coach Otis Timberlake. "I don't know if we have enough depth. We only have two No. 1 seeds. It's going to be an uphill battle."
Last year the Knights finished 11th in the state.
The tournament favorites are Suffolk Central, Brentsville and Coeburn. All three teams either have returning state champions, place finishers or both.
Glenvar's Jason Porter (152) and Brandon Semones (171) will be going for their second consecutive state titles.
Porter and Semones won their weight classes at the Region C tournament last Saturday.