ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 2, 1996 TAG: 9603040096
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOHN A. MONTGOMERY SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES
THE GOLDEN WAVE wraps up its 10th consecutive title before the semifinals begin.
The Grundy Golden Wave routinely wipes out its competition. But this year, it's more like a tsunami.
Grundy, seeking its 10th consecutive Group AA title, has wrapped up the championship halfway through the meet at the Salem Civic Center.
Through Friday night's quarterfinal rounds, no Grundy wrestler had lost a match. Each of the Golden Wave's 14 representatives (one in each weight class) had won two matches. Thus all advanced to today's seminfinal round, which begins at 10:30 a.m.
``This is a milestone,'' said Kevin Dressler, Grundy's coach. ``I knew we had a good team, and I thought we might get 11 or 12 into the semis, but 14! That means we're 28-0 in state competition [this year] and everyone will place.''
Wrestlers who won both matches Friday are assured of finishing no worse than sixth.
Grundy held a 113-64 lead over second-place Poquoson, and William Byrd, the Region III champion, was third with 42 points.
Three Terriers wrestlers advanced to the semis. Randall Sell (119 pounds), David Anderson (125) and Neal Smith (152) each kept alive the dream of winning a state title.
Sell recorded a first-period pin against Southampton's Dennard Davis in the first round, and narrowly avenged an early-season loss to Marion's David Hoffman in a quarterfinal Sell won 3-2. As that match concluded, Sell and Hoffman were both standing, and Hoffman was desperately striving for a two-point takedown.
``I was stalling my butt off,'' Sell said.
Anderson recorded two pins Friday, and felt that enhanced his chances today, because he has yet to wrestle more than a period-and-a-half. ``I'm going to be to rested up for Saturday,'' Anderson said. ``I'm saving energy.''
Smith, who finished third in Region III, pulled off a near-miracle finish to win his quarterfinal match with Park View's Daniel Johnson.
Smith trailed 8-2 with less than a minute remaining, but scored a reversal, a near-fall and two takedowns to win 11-10.
NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Short : 49 linesby CNB