THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 12, 1996 TAG: 9601100186
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 19 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 91 lines
GREAT BRIDGE may have five other nationally ranked teams to contend with at the Virginia Duals' National Invitational Tournament beginning today, but the Wildcats are still approaching the event with their patented blend of anticipation and confidence.
``We're going up there to win it,'' Great Bridge coach Steve Martin said. ``Whether that happens or not remains to be seen, but that's what we're shooting for.''
The Wildcats will be one of four Southeastern District teams competing in the Duals, to be held Friday and Saturday at the Hampton Coliseum. Western Branch, the area's second-ranked team, will also participate in the 16-team, double-elimination national tournament and will open against Tri Valley (Pa.).
Deep Creek and Oscar Smith will take part in the ``Top Gun'' tournament, an eight-team, double-elimination event for schools a notch below those in the national field. It's still a solid field, though. Four of the teams are ranked in the area Top 10, and Gloucester and Denbigh represented the Peninsula District in last year's regional duals tournament.
The ``Top Gun'' tournament is new to the Duals this year, as is the ``Black & Blue'' Division, an eight-team event for smaller schools and rebuilding programs.
Although Wildcat wrestlers are continually being asked to peak for big events, motivation will hardly be a problem this weekend. Great Bridge began the week 101-4 in dual matches under Martin. Three of the losses have come at the Virginia Duals, including a one-point, first-round setback to eventual champion Parkersburg South in last year's inaugural National Invitational Tournament.
The Wildcats, the NIT's third seed behind Nazareth (Pa.) and Grundy, will open against Overton (Tenn). Overton features 12 returning state qualifiers and four state placewinners. But they don't have teams like Great Bridge in Tennessee. Overton could be in over its head.
The real danger could lurk in the second round, if the Wildcats meet Highland (N.J.) as expected. Highland is ranked No. 18 nationally by USA Today. More significantly, the team is strong in the upper weights, a place where good teams have exploited the Wildcats.
In last year's loss to Parkersburg South, the Wildcats took a five-point lead into the final bout, only to get pinned at heavyweight. In a 13-point loss to Grundy last month, the Wildcats were winless after 160.
Great Bridge would dearly love a rematch with Grundy, and the teams are seeded to face each other in the semifinals.
``But we can't afford to look past Highland,'' Martin warned.
Strong showings at the Duals could be particularly significant for 160-pounder Jason Byrum and 145-pounder Travis Woodhouse, two seniors who Martin said are very interested in wrestling in college. With its 16-team college tournament, the Duals have traditionally served as a showcase for high school wrestlers hoping to perform on the next level. Bryum and Woodhouse could improve their stock considerably by wrestling well this weekend, Martin said.
The Bruins, making their first NIT appearance, will draw on the experience gained in last month's Rio Mesa Invitational in California, where they went 8-2 during a grueling, 10-matches-in-two-day schedule.
Western Branch's first-round opponent is Tri Valley (Pa.). There's no such thing as an easy draw in such a strong tournament, but the unseeded Bruins should consider themselves fortunate they weren't fed to one of the nationally ranked Lions right out of the box. Of the four South Hampton Roads teams in the field besides Great Bridge (Tallwood, Cox, Lake Taylor are the others), the Bruins appear to have the best shot at joining the Wildcats in the second round.
Grundy would likely be next up for the Bruins should they advance past Tri Valley.
In the Top Gun tournament, Deep Creek will face Ocean Lakes while Oscar Smith challenges First Colonial.
The Hornets opened their season with six straight losses, the almost inevitable result of a murderous schedule. But Deep Creek has overcome some injuries and is in better shape physically that its been all season.
Oscar Smith coach Sid Savoy sees the tournament as having a tremendous upside for his wrestlers, win or lose.
``What guys find out is, after wrestling at something as big as this, when they come back and wrestle in a district tournament, it doesn't seem as intimidating,'' Savoy said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by L. TODD SPENCER
Great Bridge's Shawn Cross controls Lake Taylor's Reggie Bonney in a
184-pound bout last Saturday. Cross pinned Bonney at 3:30 as the No.
1 Wildcats went on to whip No. 8 Lake Taylor in a dual meet, 71-6.
by CNB