THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 11, 1996 TAG: 9601090093
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 82 lines
THEY'RE GAME, but they just don't have enough guns.
So don't count on much team success from the Lake Taylor Titans on Friday in the Virginia Duals National Invitational wrestling tournament at the Hampton Coliseum. Although no team is likely to enter with a more positive outlook on what's going to happen, no team goes in less equipped to actually make things happen.
``Look, I know we're probably going to get whipped,'' ever-candid Lake Taylor coach Russell Flynn said of his Titans' first-round date with Grundy, the nation's No. 10 team according to USA Today and one of six nationally ranked teams in the 16-team, double-elimination event.
The Golden Wave evicted the Titans from the first round of the inaugural National Invitational a year ago. Grundy is now better than it was a year ago while the Titans, by their own admission, have weakened considerably over the past 12 months.
How ugly could it get? On Saturday, the Titans fell, 71-6, to Great Bridge, USA Today's No. 14 team and a 13-point loser to the Golden Wave in early December.
As recently as a month ago, Lake Taylor's prospects didn't appear nearly this bleak. Since then, however, academic casualties, defections and transfers have left the team without seven of its projected starters. The Titans have no 215- or 275-pounder. And while the junior-varsity wrestlers tabbed to plug the lineup's many holes have obvious potential, unless they can acquire about three years of experience and mat savvy by Friday, the Titans have almost no shot at beating a quality team.
So why aren't the Titans quivering in their singlets at the prospects of the impending massacre? Why didn't Flynn accept tournament director Frank Lipoli's offer to drop down into the less competitive ``Top Gun'' division.
And why is everyone in the Lake Taylor wrestling room so happy?
``Wrestling is supposed to be fun,'' said Titans 140-pounder Kenny Hessler, one of the team's self-proclaimed ``Four Horsemen'' in addition to being one of the team's emotional leaders. ``I know that's why I got into it, but people seem to forget that sometimes. You can't worry about losing. If you lose, you lose. Just take it as a butt-whipping and try to win the next time.''
The optimistic, almost carefree attitude of Hessler, who placed fourth in the state a year ago, pervades the Titans' workout room. Even an inexperienced varsity wrestler like Richard Quales, who'll be wrestling with a mask to protect a broken nose sustained in practice, is eager to challenge the formidable odds he'll face Friday.
``I can't wait,'' Quales, a sophomore, said. ``I'd love to win, but if I work my hardest and lose, there's nothing else I can do. I'm ready for whatever comes to me.''
Not every Titan figures to suffer defeat against Grundy. Hessler and Paul Jimenez (103 pounds) have yet to lose in their weight classes this season and are early favorites to claim state titles. Lionel Davis (130) may be the best wrestler at his weight this side of Great Bridge's Carl Perry. And a vastly improved Termaine Baker has few peers at 125.
The Duals could take on added significance for Davis, one of three Titan seniors and the one most likely to attend a four-year college next year. Davis, who didn't begin wrestling until the ninth grade, has gradually added superior technique to his God-given athletic talent and has developed into perhaps the area's most underrated top wrestler.
The Virginia Duals has traditionally been an event where college coaches get their first look at potential recruits, and Davis could improve his stock immeasurably with a strong performance. An added bonus: Davis has already scored 1240 on his college boards (and is considering taking them again) and has such a natural aptitude for numbers that he barely used a calculator during the math portion of his SAT.
``That's just one of the reasons we're looking forward to the Duals,'' Flynn said. ``Every one of our guys can get something out of this. We're not worried about (team) wins and losses. If everyone just wrestles their best, this will be a positive experience no matter what.'' ILLUSTRATION: HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING
Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Lake Taylor's Kenny Hessler, top, works toward a 9-6 victory
Saturday over Great Bridge's John Young in a battle between two of
the best 140-pounders in South Hampton Roads.
by CNB