THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, December 27, 1995 TAG: 9512230177
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY GARY EDWARDS, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
BRANDON MIDDLE School rolled - and pinned - its way to a second straight city middle school wrestling championship recently at Larkspur Middle School.
The Chargers finished the dual-meet season tied for the regular-season championship with Great Neck at 8-0 - middle schools league wrestling teams did not face every school during the regular season.
This was Brandon's second-straight unbeaten regular season.
The Chargers outscored opponents 546-94 in eight dual meets this year. Seventy-seven of the 98 victories in those meets were by pin. So it was no surprise when they put eight wrestlers in the finals at the city meet.
``All of our wrestlers in the finals finished their seed or higher,'' said second-year Brandon coach Dave Bridger.
Thomas Gillikin finished his perfect season by winning the 112-pound title. Gillikin was one of two city champions from Brandon. John Brady won the heavyweight division by defeating Shawn Lester of Plaza, 7-5, in the concluding match of the day. Six Chargers finished runners-up.
A seventh-grader, Gillikin returns to coach Dave Bridger's team again next year. So do Winifred Escalante, 71-pound runner-up, and Justin Gabbard, second in the city at 91 pounds.
Most of the talent on the team comes in the lower weights, said Bridger.
``These are seventh- and eighth-grade boys, so they haven't finished growing yet,'' he said, ``and many of the bigger boys concentrate on football instead of wrestling.''
John Brady proved to be the exception to the rule. At about 185 pounds, Brady was the smallest heavyweight wrestler in the city.
Although they dominated during the season, the Chargers were challenged by Great Neck Middle School at the citywide meet. The Gulls produced two city champions and finished second to Brandon, 201-195.
Great Neck's finish was equally unsurprising, capturing the Northern Division title, while Brandon took the Southern.
``We knew they were going to be tough, that they had a lot of experience,'' said Bridger.
Bobby Ingram of Great Neck won the 98-pound title by pinning Brandon's Adriel Roberson, and Kevin Smith won at 119 pounds by pinning Revan Grimes of Brandon.
Kempsville Middle School finished ninth in the city with 94 points, but produced three city champions: Geoff Head at 77 pounds; Brent Jackson at 84; Matt Brandl at 105.
Great Neck coach Mike Cochran knows how it feels to come so close and be so far away.
``Last year, Brandon just won outright,'' he said. ``This year, a match or two the other way and we'd have been there.
``Not to take anything away from them, it's just hard when you get that close and lose.''
Despite the agonizing loss, Cochran said he may have coached the finest wrestler he has ever worked with. That's saying something because he has had several wrestlers go on to state championships.
``Bobby Ingram is one of the best and has a shot to be a four-time state champ,'' Cochran said.
Ingram won the city title at 77 pounds in 1994. He added 20 pounds of muscle this year and won the 98-pound championship.
Cochran said that Ingram will likely wrestle at 103 as a freshman at Cox High School. ILLUSTRATION: ABOVE: Great Neck's Josh Eldredge overpowers Windred Escalante
of Brandon in the 71-pound class. Josh was undefeated for the
season.
AT LEFT: Matt Eldredge, Josh's twin brother, is controlled by Geoff
Head of Kempsville, who was the winner in the 77-pound class. Matt
Eldredge placed second.
Photos by
GARY C. KNAPP
CITYWIDE MEET
Graphic
[For a copy of the graphic, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB