Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 6, 1994 TAG: 9404060093
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. Dougherty
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Of course, there haven't been many problems on the mat for the 10-year-old wrestler from Christiansburg.
Hall has won 12 of 13 tournaments, posting a 44-1 record - and the only loss came while he had strep throat.
Hall is also on a quest to return to the Mid Atlantic Wrestling Association (MAWA) Eastern Nationals where he finished seventh last year.
To do that, Hall must finish in the top three in his division - 70-pound midget (ages 9-10) - at the Regional Championship at Lakewood, N.J. this weekend.
Hall easily won his division at the District Championship late last month with two pins and a 7-1 decision.
``I want to get back to the nationals and this time I want to get in the top three,'' said Hall.
Hall started wrestling just three years ago. KELVIN BERGSTEN, a family friend and former Virginia Tech wrestler, suggested that Hall should take up wrestling. After a couple of practices, Hall had learned two basic moves. So Bergsten decided to take him to a wrestling tournament to get his first taste of competition.
All Hall did was finish third in his division at the meet.
``He's a sweet little 10-year-old,'' said JIM HALL, Preston's father. ``But when he gets on the mat, he's all business.''
Since that first tournament, many other coaches from Grundy High's KEVIN DRESSER to Virginia Tech's JERRY CHEYNET, has taken notice of Hall's exploits.
Meanwhile, Hall has refined his wrestling skills. And he has a favorite way to take down his opponents.
``It's the double-leg take down,'' said Hall. ``I can drive straight in on that move. I don't have to do anything fancy. In the single-leg, you have to get [the opponent] set up. But in the double-leg, you can shoot straight for the leg.''
For Hall to reach the regionals, he has had to put in a lot of hard work. Practices last about an hour and a half five days a week. And almost every weekend there is a tournament somewhere.
Hall's family, including his grandmothers and uncles in the Roanoke Valley, have all pitched in to provide fan and financial support to the wrestling effort.
Of course, there is a fun side to all the wrestling. Hall got to meet legendary Iowa coach DAN GABLE and two-time national champion JERRY STINER at the NCAA tournament. Virginia Tech's All-American heavyweight JOSH FIELDMAN has become a frequent visitor to the Hall household.
And Hall and fellow Christiansburg youth wrestler KEITH LYTTON constantly pal around at the tournaments.
Lytton also qualified for the regionals, finishing third in the Midget 62-pound division at the district tournament.
SIGN UPS GALORE: Baseball registration in Blacksburg continues through April 29.
Sign-ups are already under way for three leagues. Pony League (ages 13-14), costs $12. Dixie Youth (ages 15-18) costs $20. And Girls Softball (ages 9-12 and 13-18) costs $7. Play begins in May for the baseball leagues and in June for softball.
April 18 begins the sign-ups for two other leagues. Sandlot baseball (ages 9-12) costs $12. And T-Ball (ages 7-8) costs $7. Both seasons run from May to August.
For more information, call the rec department at 961-1135.
nIt's time to get into the game or get into shape in Montgomery County.
Adult softball for men's and women's leagues continues through April 28. There will be A and B Leagues for men if there are enough teams. The cost is $220 per team.
Girls' softball registration for players ages 9-18 continues through May 2. The cost is $15. Games will be played at fields in Blacksburg, Christiansburg and at the county's fields.
Pony League baseball sign-ups for youths ages 13-15 (as of Aug. 1) starts April 11. The cost is $15. The league is co-sponsored by Blacksburg and Christiansburg recreation departments. Teams will be offered at Auburn, Christiansburg and Shawsville High Schools.
Three new sets of golf lessons have been scheduled - all at the Grip It & Rip It Driving Range in Christiansburg. One of set of classes will meet Mondays and Wednesdays beginning May 2. Another will be Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning May 3. Youth classes will be at 6 p.m. with adult lessons at 7 p.m. And the new Saturday classes will begin April 30 and be divided into three sessions: beginning youth (ages 12-17), beginning adult and intermediate adult. Call the recreation department (382-6975) for times.
The cost for the lessons are $15 for youth and $20 for adults.
And if getting in shape is a weighty matter for you, then Montgomery County has the exercise classes just for you beginning the week of April 25.
Youth classes will be offered on Monday-Wednesday-Friday at 4:30 p.m. Adult beginners classes will be on Monday-Wednesday-Friday at both noon and at 6 p.m. Adult intermediate classes will be on Tuesday-Thursday-Saturday at both noon and 6 p.m. And adult advanced classes (for those with one-year experience) will be on Monday-Wednesday-Friday at 7 p.m.
All classes are three weeks long and will be held at The Weight Club at University Mall in Blacksburg. The cost is $15 for youth and $20 for adults and includes a free T-shirt.
For more information on these or other activities, call TIM COONEY, athletics supervisor for Montgomery County Department of Parks and Recreation, at 382-6975.
ROUNDBALL ROUNDUP: The Hornets and the Suns took over the top spots in the Pulaski youth basketball leagues.
In the Junior League, the Hornets (4-0) downed the Thunder 46-43 in a battle of unbeatens. CHRIS DAVIS led the Hornets with 18 points while FREDDIE WALLER added 14. JASON WIENKE led the Thunder with 16.
EDDIE CARTER of the Wolverines had the high-scoring game of the week, tallying 27 points, including hitting 10-of-11 free throws, to lead the Wolverines past Cougar Gold 66-62.
In the Senior League, the Suns edged into first place with a pair of wins. Ten different players scored, led by ROBBIE CHINAULT with 18 points, as the Suns topped the Blazers 62-57. JAMAR MCNAIR scored a season-high 39 points in the loss for the Blazers.
ROB BRANCH had 12 points as the Suns edged the Bulls 34-32.
The Cardinals captured the Major League Girls title in Christiansburg with an 8-0-1 record. Point guard RHONDA HAWLEY led the team with an average of nine points and two assists per game. The Cardinals were guided by first-year coach RAY VARNEY.
RUGGERS WIN: It was a good weekend for some local rugby teams as all won. The Blacksburg Men's team traveled to Johnson City, Tenn., and came away with a 24-3 win. The Virginia Tech men's club downed George Mason 26-11. And the Tech women's squad bested James Madison 26-10.
BICYCLING AROUND: It's about the beginning of the month. Which means it's once again time for a new schedule of rides from the New River Valley Bicycle Club.
On Saturday, it's the ``Joint Club Catawba Ride.'' That's a leisurely 16-mile journey through Catawba Valley hosted by the Blue Ridge Bicycle Club of Roanoke. Meet at the Catawba Post Office at 10:30 a.m. Call JORE NASH at 989-7514 for detials. Or for a longer ride, you can ride out to Catawba and back after the event (a total of 56 miles). Call PAUL SMITH at 951-7825 for details on that trek.
On April 16, it's the ``Ride to Jackie's.'' - a 60-mile trek through Bradshaw and Catawba Valleys to the house of JACKIE WIMMER. It starts at 1 p.m. at the Virginia Tech Chapel in Blacksburg. Call ERIK GRONNING at 951-7618 for details.
On April 23, it's the ``Merry Mountain Lake Meander.'' About a 30-mile ride that starts at the top of the mountain, descends to and then follows the New River and ends with a climb back up the mountain via steep Virginia 613. A picnic at Wind Rock follows. Meet at the junction of Virginia 613 and 700 - that's at Mountain Lake - at 10:30 a.m. Call STEVE FELDMAN at 382-9125 for details.
On April 24, it's ``Downhill to the Parkway'' - a 50-mile mostly downhill ride to Mabry Mill. It too will be followed by a picnic. Meet at the Tech Chapel at 10 a.m. Call DOW SCOTT at 552-4607 to arrange for food delivery and a ride back.
On April 25, it's the monthly ``Moonlight Madness Ride.'' You don't have to be mad but you must have a light on your bike to join this nocturnal trip to the Waffle House. Meet at the Ellett Valley Food Time at 10:59 p.m. Call TIM MYERS at 951-5285 for details.
On April 30, it's the ``Spruce Run Ride.'' It features both an easy 20-miler and a more challenging 35-miler. The races leave from the Coffey's House on Virginia 730 in Giles County. Call them at 921-2960 for departure time and directions.
Every Wednesday, it's the ``Social Ride,'' a leisurely jaunt around Blacksburg. Meet at the Tech Chapel at 6 p.m. for this ``Mingling'' on wheels.
And on April 26 at 7 p.m., the club will have its monthly meeting in the community room of the Blacksburg Branch Library. For more information about the NRVBC, call Myers, the club president, at 951-5285.
RUNNING FOR A REASON: The Blacksburg Student Chapter to Water for People is sponsoring a 10-K and two-mile road race on April 23. The races will begin at the Virginia Tech Duck Pond at 10 a.m. with check in starting at 8:30.
Pre-registration is $10 through April 15 and includes a free T-shirt. After that, the cost is $12. Registration forms are available at Blacksburg sporting goods stores.
by CNB