THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 2, 1995 TAG: 9512020711
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: High School Wrestling Preview
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Nansemond River continues to close the gap between itself and perennial Bay Rivers District champion Poquoson, and the Warriors would love to pick up a title before moving to the Great Bridge-dominated Southeastern District next season.
But with six returning state placewinners, Poquoson appears to have enough to hold off the Warriors again.
Lakeland could also contend.
Previewing the Western Tidewater teams in the Bay Rivers District:
NANSEMOND RIVER Coach: Doug Dohey
Last season: 11-6 overall, 5-1 district
Impact wrestlers: Thomas Merrill (Sr., 130); Michael Merrill (Sr., 119); Damon Hill (So., 171); Sam Tep (So., 103); Clay Strickland (Jr., 145).
Outlook: Fewer wrestlers came out for the team than in previous years, but the Warriors still feature experience at all weight classes and have at least five guys - the Merrills, Hill, Tep and Strickland - poised to make serious runs at postseason titles. Michael Merrill and Hill were region runners-up a year ago.
LAKELAND Coach: Steve Wood
Last season: 6-6 overall, 3-3 district
Impact wrestlers: James Temple (Sr., 215); Mike Sheline (So., 112); Jason Sargent (Jr., 119); Chris Tooley (So., 140).
Outlook: The Cavaliers are young - three seniors among their top 19 wrestlers - but are deep at several weight classes. The best of the hard-working bunch are Temple, a district and regional champ in 1994, and Sheline, a returning district champ. Newcomers to watch include Ohio transfer Kevin Jackson (125) and New Jersey transfer Sean Manley (152).
SOUTHAMPTON Coach: Tim Mason
Last season: 1-5 overall and district
Impact wrestlers: Glenn Sturdifen (Sr., 152); Neil Hancock (Sr., 140); William Jones (Sr., 215); Brian Moore (Sr., 125); Wesley Bales (Jr., 112-119).
Outlook: Senior-rich team almost can't help but improve on last year's one-win campaign. The improvement might not show up early, however, as many of the wrestlers played football and are just getting into the room. Hancock, district champion Strudifen and Jones all qualified for the state tournament last year.
FRANKLIN Coach: Greg Lomax
Last season: 0-12, 0-7
Impact wrestlers: Jody Boyce (Jr., 152); Travis Scott (Jr., 171); Jeff Peters (So. 275).
Outlook: No returnee has a winning record, although Scott did place fifth in the region. Still, the Broncos' 1994-95 record is somewhat misleading, as they forfeited as many as five weights each time out. Lomax still has a couple of holes to fill, but if a sizeable crop of freshmen matures quickly, the Broncos should at least be competitive by season's end. by CNB