Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 18, 1993 TAG: 9307190247
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: D9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By Scott Blanchard, Andrea Kuhn, Doug Doughty, Chris Bachelder
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Paul Zevgolis, who has made the final in four of five PBA regional events this year, was at Lee-Hi Lanes to provide encouragement for his son in the Commonwealth Games of Virginia.
"He tries to do everything he can to relieve the pressure," said the younger Zevgolis, called Matt by his father, "but I have it in my head I have to live up to [his reputation]."
A late surge gave Zevgolis a total of 1,225 pins after six games at Lee-Hi Lanes and a chance at a medal in the 15-and-over junior division at the Commonwealth Games.
"I just sit back and watch," said Paul Zevgolis, who leaves most of the coaching to his wife. "If I start acting up, I'll get on him. But a lot of the time parents get in the way."
As a professional, Paul Zevgolis is ineligible to bowl in the state games. He can't remember how many 300 games he has rolled, but his three-game 857 series is recognized as a state record, he said.
"We have tournaments on a lot of the same weeks," Paul Matthew said, "so he doesn't get to watch me that much. I probably bowl better when he's not around; I try too hard [when he is]."
It hasn't hurt Paul Matthew to be exposed to the PBA or to his father.
"I've seen him [bowl 300] four or five times," said Paul Matthew, whose highs are 279 for a game and 752 for a series. "He had an 840 series one night and was disappointed that he missed the pocket twice."
\ Oregonians crash party
The Games' wrestling venue had a different type of grappling on its hands Saturday.
Three wrestlers from Oregon won gold medals; two faced each other in the final of the Novice 99-pound division.
Sound odd? Oregonians in the Virginia games?
It is odd, but not illegal, as claimed by the fathers of two defeated wrestlers who argued with coordinator Kevin Dresser that participants had to be Virginia residents for at least 30 days before the competition, as stated on the Games' registration form.
What the form didn't say, a Games official did when one of the parents called Games headquarters: According to the National Congress of State Games Inc., an athlete whose state does not have state games, or whose state games does not sponsor his or her sport, can enter another state's event.
"They followed me around the tournament for an hour," Dresser said of the irate parents. "I told them I really couldn't do anything. The results stand."
For the record, Coleman Nelson won the 87-pound novice division, Jace Fabrycki beat fellow Oregonian Luke Crockett in 99-pound novice and Paul Brookens won the 111-pound novice division. Nelson is the son of Bill Nelson, whom Games officials said was in Virginia on business and brought the wrestlers with him.
\ Cornett talkes the lake
Spotsylvania's Joe Cornett didn't have much competition at the water skiing venue of the Commonwealth Games on Saturday at Smith Mountain Lake. None, actually.
Cornett, 58, was the only skier in the overall competition for the men's 6 classification for athletes 55 to 64 years old. So, for the fourth year in a row, Cornett took home the gold.
The overall consists of slalom, jumping and trick skiing categories. Two other skiers competed in men's 6, but one didn't slalom and the other didn't jump.
"It doesn't really bother me that there isn't much competition," said Cornett, who has been skiing since he was 10 and has won the Virginia state tournament in his classification for the past 12 years. "I just do it strictly for exercise and for fun."
Cornett said he had four other tournaments he could have competed in this weekend but chose the Games.
"Being a person that's lived in Virginia all my life, I thought that I should [compete]," he said. "I feel like it's kind of my duty."
\ A smooth ceremony
Friday night's opening ceremonies went much more smoothly than last year's, when Games organizers had trouble keeping athletes in Victory Stadium.
This time, Virginia Amateur Sports had more volunteers closer to the entry gate, herding athletes into the stadium. Stan Kingma announced each sport as its athletes paraded on the track, and Kingma solicited warm applause from an attentive crowd that filled nearly half the stadium.
The only chaos came when the last entering group, employees of presenting sponsor Nationsbank, whirled Frisbees into the stands. Eager fans and athletes chased the disks as if they were foul balls at a baseball game.
\ Archery goes high-tech
If Robin Hood were to steal upon Green Hill Park this weekend, it is questionable whether the celebrated outlaw would recognize his favorite weapon.
Archery now is an activity dominated by high-tech equipment. Today's lightweight, sturdy bows are "smart bows" - featuring scopes, levels and release aids, which act like triggers.
But there are some archers you might term "throwbacks." Phil Cantrell of Salem and Cay McManus of Leesville are competing "barebow" - that is, without a scope or release aid.
\ Lacrosse a big draw
Roanoke College lacrosse coach Bill Pilat said he knew of eight coaches who either were at Saturday's early games in Salem or had called him to ask for directions to the afternoon games.
"I get guys from this [tournament] every year," said Pilat, who called the third year of lacrosse competition "easily the best so far."
"It's the most participation and the coaches are outstanding," he said.
Several hundred fans watched as the West team scored twice in the final minute Saturday morning to beat the North 11-9. At one point, the West team had an all-Vinton attack with Brian Cooley, Shawn Gwynn and Jay Reynolds.
The highlight might have been the final goal, by Henry Oakey, who leaped from the back of the goal and slam-dunked in a move popularized by one-time Syracuse All-American Gary Gait.
Oakey, who had two goals and five assists, lives in Charlottesville but goes to school at Deerfield (Mass.) Academy. One of the top midfield prospects in the country, he is the son of former Roanoker Ted Oakey.
\ The last word
Shooters at Roanoke Rifle & Revolver Club, where the camaraderie is thick, were asked how much it mattered to win.
Bucky Moore to coordinator Harvey Bulaski: "We just like to get around and shoot. What's the prize, Harvey?"
Bulaski: "Warm, fuzzy feelings."
by CNB