THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503180435
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 24 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
Jay Whitmore wrestles with success.
The 18-year-old Suffolk resident began wrestling in the seventh grade at Nansemond-Suffolk Academy and recently capped his career with a state independent schools championship wrestling for Christchurch School.
``A friend went out for the wrestling team and I went with him to the practice. I tried it and liked wrestling right away,'' said Whitmore, who was home last week for spring break. He hasn't exactly kicked back and partied either. He has lifted weights at the YMCA daily.
Whitmore wrestled at 140 pounds that first year. He has added 49 more and several wins to his resume since.
A funny thing happened on the way to Whitmore's sophomore wrestling season at N-SA.
``We showed up for practice after football was over and they told us they didn't have enough guys to field a team,'' he said. ``Only about five guys showed up.''
Undeterred, the five got together, fielded a team and participated in the Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools at the end of the season.
Whitmore transferred to Christchurch School near Saluda for his junior year. He went 20-7 as a junior. And just weeks ago wrapped up his senior season with a 35-3 record and the state private school championship under his belt.
``It was tough at first being away from home, but you get used to it,'' he said.
Whitmore has adapted well to Christchurch. He has played offensive guard and linebacker on the football team. He serves as a proctor at the school, supervising younger students in his dormitory.
He would like to teach and plans to study history in college. Initially, Whitmore was interested in attending Old Dominion University or VMI. He has added a third possibility: Gettysburg College.
``The (wrestling) coach at school is from Pennsylvania,'' Whitmore said. by CNB