Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 21, 1993 TAG: 9302210259
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B1 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
KNIGHTS' ADAMS TAKES TITLE
A twisted knee and bad luck were all in the past as Jimmy Adams wrestled perhaps his most courageous match in his last.The James River High 152-pounder held off a strong and quick opponent, Markus Turner of Sussex Central, to win 13-10.
Adams missed last year's tournament with a twisted knee and had to settle for third place in the Region C tournament because the knee balked on him again.
But against Turner, he did what he had to, wrestling strategically. Turner battled illness throughout the match.
It wasn't even close in the 103-poind final. Tony Bocanegra of James River was too experienced and too good for that. He wore out Jammal Jones of Sussex Central 18-3 for a technical fall.
"I lost in the final last year; I wasn't going to let it happen again," Bocanegra said.
A senior, Bocanegra had to cut about 10 pounds to stay atthe smallest weight. That and his experience served him well.
"i didn't really know too much about [Jones]," he said. "I was just planning to wrestle on my feet. That's what I do best."
John Cunningham of Stuarts Draft, the third place finisher in Region B, pulled off a minor upset at 112 when he outwrestled Grayson County's Nicky Arduin 7-4. Arduin, the Region C champion, was seeking the Blue Devils first wrestling title in the school's four years in the sport.
Jason Hamilton of Parry McCluer was leading Spencer Cooke of Grayson County 5-0 in the 119-pound final when Hamilton developed a gusher of a nosebleed, forcing a halt to the proceedings.
For over five minutes, the bout was delayed as various attempts were made to stop the bleeding. Then, a doctor appeard and one of Hamilton's friends, J.J. Cunningham, produced a mask for a broken nose. The bleeding was shut off and Cunningham equipped with the head gear. He finished off Cooke for a 16-1 technical fall.
Hamilton had lost as a freshman by one point in the championship and had to settle for third last year. Ashe stood waiting for the bleeding to cease, his thoughts were dark.
"I thought they were going to stop the match," he said. "I asked them not to. They told me, `Your health is more important than a match.' I told them, `No it's not.' "
Brentsville District had an overwhelming lead in the team competition, followed by Sussex Central and Stuarts Draft.
Brentsville's Will Vanbuskirk came up with one of the more inspirational victories of the final. Despite an ailing right hip, that halted him for a time during the match, he rallied for a 18-16 victory over Chris Fretwell of Stuarts Draft.
Vanbuskirk trailed most of the match before finally taking the lead in the closing seconds. Bad hip and all, he celebrated his victory with a backwards flip.
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