THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 2, 1996 TAG: 9602020574
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 50 lines
Great Bridge will be gunning for its sixth straight Eastern Region duals wrestling title today when the tournament gets underway at Lake Taylor High.
Quarterfinal action begins at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. The semifinals are set for 2 p.m. Saturday, followed by the final at 7 p.m. Both finalists will advance to the Group AAA state duals Feb. 9-10.
The tournament, introduced into the wrestling season in 1990, will be scrapped after this year.
A look at tonight's quarterfinals:
Western Branch (23-4) vs. Denbigh (13-3)
Time: 6 p.m.
Outlook: A tough matchup for the Patriots, who'll send their best wrestlers up against Bruins who are as good or better in several classes. Denbigh used pins in four of the final six weight classes to rally past Gloucester, 36-29, in Tuesday's Peninsula District showdown. They shouldn't count on that kind of dominance tonight.
Cox (10-4) vs. Granby (13-3)
Time: 6 p.m.
Outlook: The Comets, making their first appearance in the regional duals, must stay off their backs in certain weight classes to hang in against the technically sound Falcons. Granby surrendered five pins in a 10-point loss to First Colonial Saturday.
Great Bridge (21-2) vs. Gloucester (17-3)
Time: 8 p.m.
Outlook: No team really matches up with the powerful Wildcats. Gloucester's Darryl Graham (103) and Trey McGlohn (112) lost close matches to Matt DiDio and and Brian Childress, respectively at Deep Creek's tournament in December. Reversals of those decisions would get Gloucester off to a good start, and Jason Beach could score big at 189. Otherwise, the Dukes will struggle.
Tallwood (13-3) vs. Lake Taylor (9-6) Time: 8 p.m.
Outlook: Chris Kriz, who became eligible Monday, gives the Titans a heavyweight for the first time all season. But they still don't have a 215-pounder and must also send out several inexperienced wrestlers. The Lions figure to exploit Lake Taylor's soft spots for big points. ILLUSTRATION: E. Region Finals
[For a copy of the graphic, see microfilm for this date.]
by CNB