THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 21, 1994 TAG: 9412210408
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
Two weeks into the season there remains a lot of sorting out to do in most weight classes.
But in four divisions, two wrestlers appear to have separated themselves from the pack, and some of the most anticipated matchups of the season will be when these guys knock heads.
Among the headline matchups:
Brian Wilson (Cox) vs. Brad Vera (Lake Taylor): The senior heavyweights seem head and shoulders above the rest of the region. Both have quickness and agility to go with the strength typical of wrestlers in this class, so they're not just the best, they're also the most fun to watch. Neither wrestler has lost, and since Cox and Lake Taylor don't meet this season, it wouldn't be surprising to see them remain undefeated heading into the region final.
Chip Reyes (Salem) vs. Jimmy Hawthorne (Great Bridge): Hawthorne, a 119-pounder, looked dominant during last weekend's Newport News Invitational, winning his first three matches by technical fall and pinning Atlee's Dan Weis in 51 seconds in the final.
Reyes has also been in top form early, looking every bit like a defending state champion. Like Hawthorne, he also seems comfortable at 119, up from 103 last year. The matchup of these two shaped up to be the highlight of the Dec. 3 battle between Great Bridge and Salem. But Hawthorne didn't wrestle in that match. Now we'll have to wait until the region tournament.
Aaron Beatson (Great Bridge) vs. Eric Thompson (Hampton): This 135-pound duel could develop into a classic. Thompson did a masterful job of keeping Beatson off the mat and dominating him on his feet in a 11-6 victory in the Newport News Invitational final. Among area 135-pounders, 1994 state runner-up Beatson may still be the man to beat. But he'll need to pay careful attention to the man who just beat him.
Sean Sanderlin (Western Branch) vs. Keith Reynolds (Indian River): The 145-pounders are two of the most improved wrestlers in the area. Reynolds showed he's for real by taking out former No. 1 Michael Harper of Great Bridge last week. All Sanderlin has done to date is win all 14 of his matches and two tournament titles. The teams meet Jan. 11 at Indian River.
TOURNAMENT WRAP: Granby spent two days at the Halifax Invitational last weekend and wound up wrestling more matches than some wrestlers have had in two weeks.
The tournament featured 27 teams, and was still going on at midnight Saturday. Rueben Waites, the Comets' 112-pounder, wrestled eight times.
The Comets placed fourth, behind champion Grundy, Franklin County and Halifax County.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Virginia Beach's Dr. Douglas D. Conkwright, a fixture at Cox and a man who's been involved with wrestling for more than 30 years, applauds the Virginia High School League for attempting to regulate the way wrestlers lose weight. But the proposed body-fat measures don't go far enough, he said.
Body-fat tests prior to the season are good for a guide, but should not be used as an absolute measure of determining a wrestler's weight class, Conkwright said.
The doctor advocates restoring the five-pound weight allowance that was abolished a few years ago - they are allowed two extra pounds this year.
HORNET FEST: Cary High School in Raleigh has been added to the field of the 16th annual Deep Creek Hornet Holiday Wrestling Tournament, traditionally one of the strongest in the area.
Cary placed second in North Carolina's 4A state tournament. Other teams in the Hornet field: Deep Creek, First Colonial, Gloucester, Great Bridge, Kempsville, Paulsboro (N.J.), Poquoson, Princess Anne, Rock Hill (S.C.), Tallwood and Western Branch.
The tournament will be held Dec. 28 and 29. Other upcoming tournaments include Norfolk Collegiate's Oak Duals Thursday featuring Wilson and Booker T. Washington and beginning at 10 a.m.; and Friday's South Norfolk Holiday Tournament at Oscar Smith, with Bayside, Churchland, Granby, Monacan, Lafayette, Lake Taylor, Maury and Princess Anne. Action in this one-day event begins at 9 a.m.; the finals are set for 7:30 p.m. by CNB