THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502190229
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C11 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
Cox, the Beach District's regular-season champion, reaffirmed its supremacy with a wire-to-wire victory in the district wrestling tournament, which concluded Saturday at Green Run.
The Falcons scored 195 points to beat Tallwood (177.5) and 1994 tournament champion Kempsville (173.5). Cox also qualified a tournament-high 10 wrestlers for next week's Eastern Region tournament, including two district champions.
The balance of the league was reflected in that the Falcons were one of six teams to have two champions.
Heavyweight Brian Wilson ran his personal winning streak to 47 in taking the heavyweight division by pin over Kempsville's Kevin Eaton. And Kevin Sullivan decisioned Princess Anne's Derek Meyer to take the 145-pound crown.
``Kevin's our emotional leader,'' Cox's Wes Lewis said. ``He picks us up when we're down. To me, he's the reason we won this.''
Lewis, the Falcons' 125-pounder, dropped a stirring overtime decision to Salem's Ramon Copeland in one of the most entertaining matches of the season.
Fireworks figured to fly when Lewis, one of the most intense competitors on the scene, squared off against the relatively laid-back Copeland, and both men lived up to their reputations Saturday. Lewis fell behind early, then rallied against a rapidly fading Copeland. At one point, Lewis, trying to fire himself up, began clapping his hands inches from Copeland's face.
``I was getting tired, but that gave me energy,'' Copeland said.
``I just wanted to win,'' Lewis said. ``I'll do whatever it takes.''
Two stalling points in the final minute pulled Lewis even at seven at the end of regulation, by which point the near-capacity crowd at Green Run was in a frenzy. Copeland finally prevailed with a takedown with five seconds remaining in overtime.
An angry Lewis stormed off the mat after the post-match handshake but consoled himself with the knowledge that, as the district's second seed in the regional tournament, the earliest he could face Great Bridge's unbeaten Carl Perry would be in the final.
``I knew about that, but I couldn't worry about it,'' Copeland said. ``I just concentrated on the district. I'll worry about regionals when I get there.''
Salem's unbeaten Chip Reyes joined Copeland in the winner's circle by whipping Kellam's Jason Boswell, 17-5, in the 119-pound final. It was the defending state champion's second league crown, and his 29th straight victory, since a loss to Kempsville's Kevin Richardson in this tournament a year ago.
Richardson, a finalist at 103 last year, took that division Saturday. Teammate Kris Poston prevailed at 171.
Ocean Lakes' R.J. Davis won the 130-pound division, then watched teammate Michael Ernest capture the 135-pound crown. They became the first male district champions in the first-year school's history.
Tallwood's Mike Mercado, last year's 103-pound champion, outdueled Cox's Andy Simons to win the 112-pound division. The Lions' other title came at 189, where Jonathan Vann held off Salem's Daemon Schultz, 5-3.
Green Run's Kyle Proffitt, a state runner-up last season, took the 140-pound division over Bayside's Gil Roebuck. Teammate B.J. Franklin won the 152-pound crown by overcoming Tallwood's Joe Kerr.
Princess Anne's Bobby Julian won at 160 with a one-point victory over Salem's Anthony Fradillada.
The top four wrestlers in each weight class qualified for regionals. The number of qualifiers from each team, in order of finish: Cox (10), Tallwood (7), Kempsville (9), Salem (6), Princess Anne (6), Ocean Lakes (4), First Colonial (3), Green Run (3), Bayside (2), Kellam (2). by CNB