Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 28, 1993 TAG: 9302280201
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: Medium
GREAT BRIDGE WRESTLERS WIN 3RD STRAIGHT
Move over, Granby Roll. Here comes the Great Bridge Takedown.Chesapeake's Great Bridge High School, ranked seventh nationally by USA Today, won its third consecutive Group AAA state wrestling championship at the Arthur Ashe Center on Saturday night. It was the Wildcats' sixth title in the past seven years.
With a dynasty in its prime, the school might be due the tribute of some sort of wrestling maneuver named in its honor. But maybe the Great Bridge tradition will suffice.
After all, Great Bridge has inherited state-championship blood. Its coach, Steve Martin, is the youngest son of Billy Martin Sr., the legendary Granby coach who won 21 state championships in 22 years. Wayne Martin, who preceded his brother Steve at Great Bridge, won five titles in his eight years as coach.
Saturday night, the Wildcats took three individual titles (at 103 pounds, 145 and heavyweight) and completed the two-day tournament with 121 points. Great Bridge handily suppressed challengers Centreville (98.5 points) and Kempsville (87.5), which finished second and third, respectively.
Franklin County finished fourth, with 77 points.
"As a team, this is the best we've ever done," Franklin County coach Kris Kahila said. The Eagles finished fifth last year and fourth in 1989, but this year's points total was their high.
"Fourth place is not bad," Kahila said. "Considering that there were about 75 AAA schools represented, and many more AAA high schools that didn't have anybody at the state, I'm pleased. I thought we might be able to do better, since after the first day we were only seven points [47 1/2-40 1/2] out of first.
"But we lost six matches either by one point or in overtime. Somebody's got to win, and somebody's got to lose."
Although no Eagle won an individual title, four placed in the top six in their weight classes. Junior Daniel Gearhart (135) led the team and the Roanoke Valley District with a second-place finish. Gearhart narrowly lost in his final to Cox's Jason Foresman, 6-4 in overtime. Gearhart had beaten Foresman by one point this season.
Franklin County's Hasani Menefee (152) scored a pin in the consolation finals to finish third in the state. Teammates Ricky Young (heavyweight) and Aubrey Wright (140) finished third and sixth, respectively.
William Fleming's Keno Shepherd (112) and Eddie Jones (171) placed fourth in their divisions.
As a team, Fleming tied for 19th. Cave Spring and Patrick Henry finished in a four-way tie for 48th.
"Any time you lose matches by one point it's kind of heart-breaking," said Fleming coach George Miller. Shepherd lost his opening match 8-7, then reeled off three wins in the consolations.
Jones posted four wins over the two days, but he lost twice, 4-2 and 6-5. Jones' only other loss was 4-3 in the regionals last week.
Jones trailed 6-4 late in the third period of Saturday night's third-place consolation and was desperately seeking a reversal.
"He's a well-conditioned athlete," Miller said, "but all he could manage was an escape [one point]. Eddie had some strong competition."
Representatives from all 52 schools that scored probably would concur. Only one final was settled with a first-period pin. \
See microfilm for complete results