THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 7, 1995 TAG: 9504050177
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BILL LEFFLER, CURRENTS SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
JOE BOONE has special memories of the days when Churchland High School had one of the finest wrestling programs in the area.
And Boone is hoping to make it happen again.
The 46-year-old Boone has accepted the job as head wrestling coach at Churchland.
Boone was a three-time high school state champion at Granby under the legendary Billy Martin Sr.
``Many, many times coach Martin told me his toughest matches always came against Churchland,'' recalled Boone.
Through the years, Churchland slipped back as the Chesapeake schools had junior high school feeder systems and coaches who were involved in the sport year-round.
Boone now intends to rebuild the program by starting a program for youngsters, long before they reach the high school level.
``We are going to start the Portsmouth Wrestling Club on April 17,'' said Boone. ``It will be open to youngsters from the first grade through high school.''
Boone said the club will have a $20 registration fee, which will include a USA wrestling card and insurance. There will be two sessions each week (Monday and Wednesday from 4:30 p.m. until 6 p.m) throughout the summer.
``The only other expenses involved for participants will be fees for tournaments we enter or traveling,'' Boone said.
Those interested can call Boone at Churchland High School (686-2500).
He plans to bring in outstanding wrestlers (Old Dominion's Jody Staylor) and coaches (Billy Martin and the Newport News Apprentice School's Keith Moreland) to conduct clinics and share their expertise.
``This is the only way we will be able to compete with the Great Bridges and the Western Branches,'' pointed out Boone. ``Right now, we may have an individual or two at the Portsmouth schools who can compete at the top level. But there is no way any of the teams can compete.
``Portsmouth has many good athletes, and one of my goals will be to get them out for wrestling. Increasing the number of wrestlers is a must.
``There's no secret to the success Billy Martin and his sons have had. Or Terry Perdew has had at Western Branch. They outwork everybody else.
``Whenever I go to a high school wrestling event, I always see Great Bridge and Western Branch there. Coaches at most of the schools have other responsibilities. It's year-round wrestling for Steve Martin and Terry Perdew.''
Boone, who is teaching special education at Churchland, declined head coaching jobs paying more money upstate because he feels there is interest among the administration and athletic department leaders at Churchland to build a winning wrestling program.
He brings an impressive resume with him. He wrestled at Oklahoma. He was the head coach at the University of Tennessee for five years. When he moved back into coaching at the high school level after a stint in private business, he helped develop a strong Peninsula Wrestling Club. He coached Poquoson to a second-place finish in the Group AA state tournament.
He also was an assistant coach of the Junior National team last year.
``I'm just as interested in helping to build the wrestling at Wilson and Norcom as at Churchland,'' he said. ``I hope we can all work together to make the Portsmouth Wrestling Club a citywide endeavor.''
Boone replaced Darin Bracy at Churchland. Bracy is stepping down because of other obligations. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by GARY C. KNAPP
``Portsmouth has many good athletes, and one of my goals will be to
get them out for wrestling,'' Joe Boone says.
by CNB