THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 16, 1994 TAG: 9412150185
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 21 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
CHRISTMAS WISHES for a middle school wrestling championship should have been the furthest thing from the minds of the Brandon Chargers when the season began last month.
Especially considering the lineup featured several starters with little to no mat experience.
But Brandon lived by its motto - ``respect all, fear none'' - and used a favorable schedule to build valuable experience.
And the Chargers did the nearly impossible - finishing the season unbeaten to take the middle school regular-season championship.
It is the first unbeaten season in school history - 18 years.
And that feat could provide an air of confidence going into tonight's and Saturday's citywide tournament at the new Larkspur Middle School gym.
``We started the season against some weaker teams and it was to our advantage,'' Brandon coach David Bridger said. ``We were able to slip by a few of them and gain experience. We needed it, because nine of the 15 starters had never wrestled before.
``But each match got tougher and tougher along the way and the kids showed what they were made of.''
Brandon outscored opponents, 402-154, for an average match victory margin of 57-22.
And when the Chargers faced preseason favorite Great Neck, the overwhelming performances turned into a psychological advantage, as Brandon stunned the Gulls, 51-23.
``I think our kids were a little intimidated,'' Great Neck coach Bill Cochran said. ``We were flat and they caught us off guard. And David's kids wrestled great.''
Great Neck entered the season with the intimidation factor after crushing the rest of the field in record-setting fashion at last year's citywide tournament.
The Gulls returned three city champs and boasted two seventh-graders with outstanding club team records.
Those five were the only winners against Brandon. Their performances were good enough to give the Gulls a 23-21 lead heading into the 138 match, but that's where Brandon turned on the heat with four pins and a forfeit.
``The kids took it kind of tough,'' Cochran said. ``They were in shock. But I kind of took it as a good thing and used it as a wake up call.''
Brandon got its own wake up call in the season finale Tuesday against Virginia Beach.
While the Chargers pulled out a 50-27 victory, the match was much closer. Brandon knew going in that it had 12 points from forfeits in the last two matches. Unfortunately, they wrestled overconfidently and the Seahawks fought with a nothing to lose attitude.
Virginia Beach held a 21-19 lead after 119, but, again, that's where Brandon took control - getting pins from Josh Small, Demond Davis and Pete Wilkinson for a 35-21 lead. Courtney Dailey survived a near fall at the end of his 145 match with Jason Merrill to take a 9-7 victory for a 38-21 Brandon lead.
Virginia Beach got its last points when Jeremy Ballard pinned Chris Smith in 21 seconds.
Brandon then tacked on the 12 forfeit points for the final outcome.
``It's kind of good that it happened now,'' Bridger said. ``Yes, this was our wake up call for the tournament.''
Great Neck, despite not taking the regular season title, is the hands-on favorite to capture the crown Saturday.
Last year, the Gulls placed 13 of their 15 starters, and blew the competition off the mat.
This year, Great Neck has four or five wrestlers who should make the finals.
``And two more have a shot,'' Cochran said. ``But I think this tournament will be won in the wrestle-backs.''
Bridger agreed, saying his team had to win some third-place matches if it had any chance of winning.
``Great Neck is by far the better tournament team,'' he said. ``But we can do well if we win some of those other matches.''
Cochran said each team in the city has a shot or two at an individual title, saying that each school has dominated a weight class or two during the season.
``We wanted to win the regular season title and we didn't,'' Cochran said. ``But the tournament is the big dance. Everybody starts from scratch right here.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo by PETER D. SUNDBERG
Brandon Middle School's Nick Olenik, top, tries for a takedown
against Virginia Beach Middle's Jamal Beagle. Brandon won the final
meet, 50-27.
by CNB