Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, December 29, 1994 TAG: 9412290081
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: RAY COX STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
He fidgets, he squirms, he turns his aqua bandanna-topped head distractedly from side to side.
He punches the buttons on his palm-sized computer game as if he's trying to disable it with every ferocious jab.
Radford High wrestling coach Tony DeHart looks at Stephen Murphy, his ace junior, and shakes his head.
``He drives himself crazy sometimes,'' DeHart said.
To be honest, the coach isn't giving an accurate appraisal. Murphy drives himself crazy all the time.
``He's a worrywart,'' DeHart said.
What's Murphy got to worry about?
``Everything,'' DeHart said. ``His weight. His opponent. Everything.''
Come now. This is a young man for whom optimism should be riding shotgun. He's healthy. No textbook intimidates him. His parents Susan and Richard are devoted to him. He's the beloved last-born of a three-child family. He can play the trumpet. His older brother Kevin is so obsessed with Stephen's wrestling exploits that he demands tapes of every match be sent to his house. The one he lives in in California.
What has Murphy to worry about?
``I don't think of myself as a very good wrestler,'' he said.
The results suggest otherwise.
A year ago, Murphy went 25-4 as a 112-pounder. Included in that splendid tour of twisted arms, mashed faces, and corkscrewed legs was a New River District championship and third place at the Region IV meet.
And that was when Radford was still in Group AA. Not to say that a tour through Group A competition is going to be a picnic in the park. But at least Murphy won't be running into grapplers from Grundy and pounders from Poquoson. Better have that singlet on good and snug for rumbles with those kind of wrestlers.
Our guy in black and gold has done just fine, even if the results at the state meet last year didn't go entirely according to plan.
Murphy didn't place after losing narrowly while trying to ascend through the consolation bracket. His downfall may not have been physical.
``I freaked out up there,'' he said. ``I'd never been to the state before. My goal had been just to get there.''
Murphy isn't the first one to be overwhelmed by his first trip to the state tournament.
``I came in there and saw those eight mats - it was too much to take at one time,'' he said. ''I realized then that this was the 16 best wrestlers in the state.''
The part he overlooked was that he was one of them. Indications are that he'll be going more than merely showing up when the strong 16 take their positions come spring.
``He's a good wrestler,'' DeHart said. ''He's conscientious. He's good on takedowns, uses his legs well. Always wants you to show him something new.''
Murphy took up wrestling as a lark, mostly because of Kevin. Big brother was wrestling as a senior at Radford High when Stephen tumbled onto the mat in his first sandlot bout. Now Kevin, an artist, critiques the tapes Stephen sends him then sends the tape back so they can be erased and rerecorded with more action.
Murphy takes a cerebral approach to the sport, which isn't surprising in view of the fact that both parents are college professors.
''Somebody will call the house and ask to speak to Dr. Murphy,'' Stephen Murphy said. ``And I say, `Ah, which one?'''
Murphy isn't one of those guys who puts on a one of those football-style game faces. ``You know, where the vein pops out on your head,'' he said.
Instead, he spends his prematch moments in quiet reflection, going through mental imaging of what is to come.
``I don't do it on purpose,'' he said. ``It just happens. I guess It's my way of dealing with the stress and anxiety. I imagine my body doing everything it has to do to win the match even though my body isn't moving at all. It's like I'm imagining my arms and legs doing exactly what they have to do.''
Murphy knows what has to be done. He's not one to take an opponent lightly.
``I know that anybody is capable of beating me, no matter what my record is, because it's happened before,'' he said.
Being capable and doing it are entirely different matters, though.
Said Murphy: ''I want to prove to people who are watching that even though the guy can beat me, he's not going to.''
by CNB