THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 9, 1995 TAG: 9512090491
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE LENGTH: Short : 42 lines
If Chris Martin had his way, he'd roll the calendar ahead to late February - Group AAA state tournament time - and settle the matter of whose the best 145-pound wrestler in the state right now.
That he can't is probably a good thing for his competition. Because even though the season's barely a week old, Martin looks ready for the postseason right now.
The Granby senior and returning state runner-up needed just 42 seconds to pin Maury's Adam Shahan Friday in the quarterfinals of the eighth annual Western Branch Invitational.
The host Bruins shook off an injury to 112-pounder Joey Hanel to seize the lead after two rounds with 82 points. Hanel dislocated his elbow during the quarterfinals and is expected to be out for the season.
Defending champion Cox (fifth-ranked) is second with 68 points.
Martin, a runner-up in this tournament a year ago, went on to reach the state 135-pound final before dropping a 5-3 overtime decision to Hampton's Eric Thompson. This year, a stronger, more focused Martin is determined to avoid coming up one match short again.
``I'm anxious to get back (to state),'' said Martin, who improved to 3-0. ``I feel like all this stuff is warming me up for the big time.''
Martin was one of several top wrestlers who rolled into today's semifinals. The top two seeds in each weight class remain alive in the championship bracket.
Semifinal action resumes today at noon. A feature match will be at 125 where Gloucester's Joey Legg, the Eastern Region champ at 119 a year ago, meets Western Branch's Richard Slocumb, No. 5 in the state at 119 in 1994-95.
Third-place matches are set for 6 p.m., followed by the finals at 7:30 p.m. by CNB