THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 20, 1995 TAG: 9512200602
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PORTSMOUTH LENGTH: Medium: 54 lines
Anyone with questions about Taekwondo can probably get their answers from Churchland's James Worrell. Jui-Jitsu? Worrell's the man. Shito-Ryu? Yo, James, we were just wondering . . .
But wrestling? Odds are you've now got him stumped. Worrell may be a 10-year student of the martial arts and owner of a first-degree black belt, but in wrestling, he's as green as Dennis Rodman's hair.
So what's he doing winning the Portsmouth Invitational Wrestling Tournament?
``He's just got a great heart,'' Churchland coach Joe Boone said. ``He competes so hard, and he doesn't care if you're a state champion or what.''
Despite wrestling for just two years, Worrell announced his arrival as a legitimate force Saturday when he knocked off then-third-ranked Duwyne Williams of Booker T. Washington 14-7 in the 160-pound PIT final.
The victory earned Worrell the PIT's most outstanding wrestler award, and was also enough to gain recognition as The Virginian-Pilot Athlete of the Week.
Worrell, who wandered into the Truckers' wrestling room a year ago because it looked interesting, did wrestle sporadically last year and was a surprise third-place finisher in the Southeastern District tournament. But while other top wrestlers were honing technique over the summer, Worrell was working in construction.
Given his limited wrestling background, it's not surprising that Worrell's key to success has nothing to with perfecting his Granby roll or his single-leg takedown.
``It's pressure points,'' Worrell said. ``I know how to use them. I put people in certain holds, and when I push a certain place it creates more pain.''
Worrell also benefits from uncommon strength for a 160-pounder. He says he can bench press nearly 300 pounds.
``I'm stronger than just about everyone I wrestle,'' he said.
Add to this the fact that he trains every day with state runner-up Orlando Morton - ``he knows a lot of things I don't know about wrestling,'' Worrell said - and it's not hard to see how he's been able to overcome his status as a relative novice.
And, according to Boone, the best is yet to come.
``He does some things out there that make me almost have a heart attack,'' the coach said. ``But as raw as he is, he's making improvements every week. There are less mistakes each time out. When he gets it all together, watch out.'' by CNB