THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 7, 1995 TAG: 9504060162
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 145 lines
BOB INGRAM SR. leaned forward, hands on knees, neck veins bulging, shouting at his son, Bobby. The 13-year-old was locked in a furious struggle with another boy a few feet away.
Dad shouted, ``Take him down. That's it. That's it. Lift his head and put your weight on him. There you go.''
Bobby stood up at the end of the match, sweating and flush-faced. He walked toward his father, who gave him a bear hug and a big grin. As they walked away, Dad turned toward a friend, smiled and said, ``He's a tough little (expletive), isn't he?''
Bob Sr. coaches the Great Neck Wrestling Club. His son, Bobby, wrestles at 86 pounds. The Great Neck Middle School seventh-grader has been wrestling for the club for six years - since he was just a little guy - and has gone unbeaten this season, pinning all his opponents.
The two were among several hundred young wrestlers, coaches and cheering parents attending the recent Southeastern Wrestling Club tournament at Tallwood High School.
Wrestling clubs are the Little League of the mat world, said Dave Bridger, assistant wrestling coach at Tallwood and host of the tournament. The independent clubs offer pint-sized athletes a chance to get a taste of wrestling years before it is offered in school physical education programs.
At the tournament, the gymnasium was a blur of activity, with five mats scattered across the floor - five matches going on simultaneously.
Twenty area clubs and 330 young wrestlers from about 6 to high school age squared off against each other in the USA Wrestling-sanctioned event.
``There are 78 clubs and about 3,800 wrestlers across the state,'' said Bridger, as he busied himself with preparations for the first matches. ``Those numbers are from 1994. They may be even higher now.''
As the gymnasium began to fill, the crowd of 500 spectators wandered around the floor or took seats in the balcony along one wall. Parents, brothers, sisters and friends hustled through the throng to find their favorite wrestler and wish him and in at least one case - her - well.
Kim Snyder, an Indian Lakes fifth-grader, won her first match of the day. The 10-year-old wrestled in the 56-pound division for the Southeastern Wrestling Club.
As Bobby Ingram was being cheered on, Walker Faison, 7, was strapping on his red headgear, preparing for his first match of the day across the gym. A red wrestling singlet with white trim hugged his tiny body.
The 45-pounder, only a first-grader at Baylake Pines School, is already a three-year veteran. In two previous tournaments this season, Walker finished first and third.
Asked if he gets nervous before a match, he shrugged and said, ``No, not really.''
And he had no reason to be. The 3-foot-10-inch tyke easily took his first foe. He won by a pin 25 seconds into the bout. Afterward, his big sister, Abby, 15, sat next to him, rubbing his shoulders and back and congratulating him on his swift victory.
``All we do from November until April is go to matches,'' she said.
A serious look crossed the little boy's freckled face. Like an old pro, he talked strategy for his second match.
``The next guy I wrestle does headlocks all the time,'' he said. ``I'm going to stay around his ankles. He doesn't know what to do then.''
That next ``guy'' was Isaiah Sheppard, 5.
He has been wrestling for the Hampton Jaguars for only three months, said his father Earl. What he lacked in experience, he made up for in toughness. He proved to be a worthy foe for Walker.
The two boys struggled in the center of the mat, Walker executing his strategy, Isaiah countering with gritty determination. Experience eventually prevailed with Walker winning the decision, 12-8.
According to Bob Ingram, the clubs give the youngsters a head start in the age-old sport. Ingram, who himself wrestled at Cox High School in the '70s for coach Billy Gutermuth, said: ``When we came along, there wasn't any program like this.
``We started wrestling at about 10 and that was considered young. Now they start a lot younger, as you can see.
``Coach Gutermuth felt it would inspire younger wrestlers, develop them and help them to practice year-round. And that's necessary now to stay up.''
Ingram's club has produced such luminaries as Jody Staylor, a three-time state champion at Great Bridge High School, and current high school stars R.J. Davis of Ocean Lakes High School and Aaron Beatson of Great Bridge.
Alexander Kassir, 8, is one of the new kids on the mat. The second-grader attends Norfolk Academy where he plays soccer, but he's new to wrestling.
His mother, Debbie, stood nearby and watched her son go through spin drills, rolls, sit-outs and other techniques.
``He's real excited. Comes straight home, does his homework and gets ready to go to practice,'' Debbie Kassir said.
The Great Neck Club wrestlers are allowed to practice in ``The Room,'' the same practice gym the Cox High School team uses during the season. The walls are lined with pictures and inscriptions of names from the school's wrestling glory.
Not only do young wrestlers show a positive attitude, they receive ample support from parents, too. Moms and dads watch their boys practice; they follow them to meets.
At the Tallwood tournament, Jerry and Arlette Curran watched their young son, Hunter, suffer a loss in an early 47-pound match. Arlette cheered him on the whole time, while Jerry cradled their 2-year-old son, Parker, and patted him softly on the back.
The Currans greeted the disappointed Hunter with hugs and encouraging words.
Nearby, Steve Allosso looked on hopefully, quietly, as his son Dakota, 7, prepared for his first match as a 56-pounder.
``I'm from Boston and I didn't realize how big wrestling was down here,'' Allosso said with a shrug and smile. ``I'm real proud of him. I'd like for him to win, sure, but either way . . . '' MEMO: For information about the Southeastern or other the wrestling clubs in
Virginia Beach, call Dave Bridger at 474-8555.
ILLUSTRATION: [Cover]
A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
[Color Photo]
Staff photos by MORT FRYMAN
At an evening practice, parents wait as their children learn the
moves in the ``The Room,'' the same practice gym the Cox High School
team uses during the season.
Learning the grips and how to escape them are Bryan Anderson, left,
and Colin Dozier.
Applying a little tender love and care is Nancy Albinder, mother to
Kevin, 8, who was taking a break from practice after suffering a
mouse on his cheek.
Staff photos,
including color cover,
by MORT FRYMAN
ABOVE: Van Gray learns how to break and roll out of a hold during
practice with the Great Neck Wrestling Club at Cox High School.
RIGHT: Twenty area clubs and 330 young wrestlers from about 6 to
high school age squared off in the recent Southeastern Wrestling
Club tournament at Tallwood High School. Boys and girls awaited
their mat assignments.
Referee Wayne Smith gives the victory signal to Walker Faison, 7,
who triumphed in the 45-pound division of the Southeastern Wrestling
Club tournament. The three-year veteran of the tournament is also
pictured on the cover being hugged by his father, Noel.
by CNB