
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, March 4, 1995                   TAG: 9503070025
SECTION: SPORTS                    PAGE: B-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RADFORD TAKES A LATE FALL

The biggest drawback for Radford's wrestlers who advanced to the quarterfinals of the Group A state tournament Friday was that they were required to wrestle those matches.

Other than that, Radford had a nice opening day at the Salem Civic Center. The Bobcats appeared ready to take down some perennial Group A heavyweights by putting five wrestlers into the quarterfinals, but Radford managed to get only one wrestler into today's semifinals.

Radford, in its first year of Group A competition, had the fourth-highest team score after Friday's opening round.

``I wish we had took a picture of it right there,'' said Tony DeHart, Radford's coach.

But the Bobcats slipped to 13th heading into the late consolation rounds. Northampton's 78 points lead the tournament, which concludes with semifinal and championship matches today.

Two-time defending state champion Brentsville District is in second place with 56 points. A third straight state title will be tough to come by, considering that Northampton placed five wrestlers in the semifinal round. Still, Northampton coach Brian Harmon wasn't entirely pleased with some of his individual performances.

``We had six guys win regional championships and two of them got knocked out today,'' Harmon said. ``I hate to say much, because it can always backfire on you. I think if we wrestle like we're capable of wrestling, nobody will be close to us.''

Radford's only quarterfinal winner was Ryan Hall, who pinned Madison County's Josh Lamb at 103 pounds. Radford's other first-round winners lost decisions. The toughest to take were Stephen Murphy's 7-5 overtime loss to Nandua's Jarvis Colonna at 112, and Jason Abercrombie's 7-6 heartbreaker to Northwood's Tim Marshall at 145.

``We lost some close ones, that's for sure,'' DeHart said. ``We were right there. I felt good about the way we were wrestling.''

Radford's 271/2 points are the most of any Timesland team. James River is in 15th place with 24 points, Grayson County is tied for 16th with 231/2, and Rural Retreat is tied for 18th with 23 points.

Timesland wrestlers who advanced to the semifinal round are Rural Retreat's James Bear at 103 pounds and Seth Taylor at 130, James River's Shawn Brown at 125, Grayson's Nicky Arduin at 125, Floyd County's Wesley Sanders at 140, Shawsville 171-pounder Scott Holleman and heavyweights D.J. Reed of Glenvar and Robert Stanier of Covington.

Wrestling begins at 11 a.m. today with the semifinal matches. The championships are scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

by CNB