THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, January 10, 1996 TAG: 9601090082
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 123 lines
Friday's Virginia Duals National Invitational wrestling tournament couldn't have come at a better time for rolling Tallwood.
The timing isn't quite right for reeling Cox.
But both teams will be in the mix, albeit with slightly different objectives, when the 16-team tournament gets underway at the Hampton Coliseum.
The Lions are ranked third in the area with a bullet. They've gone unbeaten since an obligatory pummeling by Great Bridge on opening day, and commanded a lot of attention by having seven top-3 finishers at Deep Creek's Hornet Holiday Invitational despite beginning with just one wrestler seeded among the top four.
With so much early success as a backdrop, the prospect of a first-round matchup with nationally ranked St. Mark's (Del.) is viewed not as intimidating, but rather as an opportunity to thrust a rapidly improving, four-year wrestling program onto the national scene.
``Wrestling in this type of tournament gets me hyped up,'' Tallwood 112-pounder Mike Mercado said. ``They're ranked, we're not. We've got nothing to lose. It's time to shine.''
As big as this tournament is for Tallwood, it may be even bigger for Mercado, the defending 112-pound state champion and owner of a 39-match winning streak. Mercado has dominated his class for the past two years and become fairly well known among college coaches within the state. Mercado sees this weekend as an opportunity to broaden his appeal.
``Hopefully I'll get a chance to show all the college coaches what I can do,'' he said. ``I'd like to stay close to home, but it might come down to who's offering the most. You never know.''
Mercado will get plenty of help along these lines from coach Don Robertson, who plans to do whatever possible to showcase his star. He plans to bump Mercado up to 119, a move designed to give Tallwood better matchups throughout the lower weights and provide Mercado a crack at a Cadet All-American.
``That's fine with me,'' Mercado said. ``I love wrestling good guys.''
The atmosphere is considerably less subdued at Cox, which also drew a nationally ranked opponent in the first round (New Jersey's Highland).
Although the Falcons are coming off a year in which they advanced to the Group AAA state duals tournament, they've yet to flash similar form in 1995-96. The Falcons' lone champion at the Western Branch Invitational in early December, 140-pounder Jason Timberlake, has left Cox and returned to Ohio. Two weeks ago, Cox had only one wrestler place as high as fourth in the Deep Creek Invitational. Only one returning Falcon (119-pounder Andy Simons) qualified for last year's state tournament.
``We're out to earn Highland's respect,'' Cox coach Jud Stokes said. ``We got a (roster) on their team, and it seems like every kid is a district champion or regional champion. There's not one guy on our team that can claim winning anything. They're probably thinking we're pathetic.''
Stokes identified Simons, Brad Pond (103), Mohammed Yousoffi (171) and Shelton Viola (125) as Falcons with the required ``never-say-die'' attitude necessary to compete with wrestlers the caliber of Highland's.
MORE DUALS: Five other Virginia Beach schools will also be represented at the Virginia Duals, which is debuting a three-tournament format.
Princess Anne, Ocean Lakes, Kempsville and First Colonial will all compete in the ``Top Gun'' Division, an eight-team second-tier event (see schedule for opponents and start times) which provides the winner a strong case for inclusion in next year's national tournament.
Kellam will participate in the ``Black & Blue'' Division, the eight-team bracket for small schools and rebuilding programs. The Knights will open against York. MEMO: Tickets: $8 per session (all day Friday, 9 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, 5
p.m. through finals Saturday). All sessions pass: $20. Available at
Coliseum box office.
ILLUSTRATION: Tallwood's Mike Mercado takes control of Demien Green of
Paulsboro High during the 112-pound championship at Deep Creek's
Hornet Holiday Invitational. Mercado won, 21-5, to push his
individual winning streak to 39 matches. He will move up to 119
pounds for the Virginia Duals.
Staff photo by
CHRIS REDDICK
VIRGINIA DUALS
(At Hampton Coliseum)
FRIDAY'S SCHEDULE
National Invitational Nazareth (Pa.) vs. Hayfield, 11 a.m.
Poquoson vs. Woodford (Ky.), 11 a.m.
St. Mark's (Del.) vs. Tallwood, 11 a.m.
Lake Taylor vs. Bakersfield (Calif.), 11 a.m.
Great Bridge vs. Overton (Tenn.), 1 p.m.
Cox vs. Highland (N.J.), 1 p.m.
Tri Valley (Pa.) vs. Western Branch, 1 p.m.
Herndon vs. Grundy, 1 p.m.
First consolation round, 5 p.m.
First consolation round, 7 p.m.
Top Gun Division Gloucester vs. Princess Anne, 9 p.m.
Deep Creek vs. Ocean Lakes, 9 p.m.
Denbigh vs. Kempsville, 9 p.m.
Oscar Smith vs. First Colonial, 9 p.m.
Black & Blue Division Norfolk Academy vs. Menchville, 7 p.m.
Kellam vs. York, 7 p.m.
Tabb vs. Peninsula Catholic, 7 p.m.
Bethel vs. Maury, 7 p.m.
First consolation round, 9 p.m.
SATURDAY'S SCHEDULE
National Invitational Second consolation round, 12:30 p.m.
Semifinals, 2;15 p.m.
Consolation semifinals, 5 p.m.
Third- and fifth-place matches, 7 p.m.
Final, 9 p.m.
Top Gun Division First consolation round, 10:45 a.m.
Semifinals, 12:30 p.m.
Consolation semifinals, 5 p.m.
Third-place match, 7 p.m.
Final, 9 p.m.
Black & Blue Division Semifinals, 10:45 a.m.
Consolation semifinals, 2:15 p.m.
Third-place match, 7 p.m.
Final, 9 p.m.
by CNB