THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503170206
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY DAN COOLEY, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines
LAKELAND'S JONATHAN THOMPSON was the only Suffolk wrestler to win a Class AA state title this year. And the 160-pounder did it the old-fashioned way - he earned it.
Thompson had to go the distance in three of his four matches, winning close decisions in each. In addition, he had to go to sudden death overtime to win the championship. His only breather came in the first round when he pinned Laurel Park's Aaron Boone in 1:45.
Thompson relied on his two biggest strengths, takedowns and escapes, to work his way to the title.
In a 3-1 quarterfinal win over Western Albemarle's Rodney Kirby, Thompson broke a scoreless tie with an escape and takedown late in the second period. The takedown came with just 15 seconds left in the period.
In the semifinals, Thompson recorded three takedowns and a pair of escapes in an 8-4 win over Barry Williams of Lord Bonatat.
Then came the championship match, a match Thompson came very close to losing.
Osborne's unbeaten Chris Taylor, who was 28-0 going into the final, jumped out to a quick 4-1 lead with an early takedown and second-period escape.
With both wrestlers on their feet for a restart, another Taylor takedown would have virtually secured the win. But Thompson quickly got a double-leg takedown with just 20 seconds remaining in the second period to cut the deficit to 4-3. He later tied the match up with an escape to force overtime.
``Normally I can escape pretty good, but the move he had on me was hard to get out of,'' Thompson said. ``He threw his legs on me and stopped my standup. I finally stood up and got my escape.''
But Thompson wasn't out of the woods yet. With overtime coming up, the first person to score points of any kind, including penalty points, wins.
That meant no mistakes and no stalling.
He used most of the overtime period, but Thompson got the takedown with 20 seconds left in the period for a 6-4 state title victory.
Thompson wrapped up his senior season with a 30-1 record, the only loss coming early in the season at Class AAA E.C. Glass.
``When I got the takedown and I knew I had won, it was a combination of awe and relief,'' Thompson said. ``It was a great feeling.''
It was also a great moment for Lakeland assistant coach John Thompson, Jonathan's father. John was a 160-pound wrestler at Cradock High School in Portsmouth in 1973, but had his state championship hopes cut by a career-ending knee injury at the regional championships his senior year.
``He didn't really win the state title for me, but in a sense he did,'' John said. ``It was mighty sweet for me to see it.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Lakeland senior Jonathan Thompson waits motionless for the referee
to signal one of the pins he used along the way to the state
championship. Thompson relied on his two biggest strengths,
takedowns and escapes, to work his way to the title.
by CNB