THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 22, 1996 TAG: 9602200079
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 23 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY PAUL WHITE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 69 lines
Norfolk Academy wrestler Clay Weisberg and Cape Henry coach Pete McCoy have distinctly different emotional outlooks regarding the Virginia Independent Schools Wrestling Association state tournament, to be held Friday and Saturday at Cape Henry.
For Weisberg, the tournament featuring the state's best private-school wrestlers is merely another forum for his considerable skills. The senior 119-pounder is a two-time state champion, a four-time Virginia Prep League winner and has just five high-school losses against well over 100 victories.
``I've lost count,'' he said.
Pressure? That's something for Weisberg's opponents.
``I've prepared, I've worked hard, and I'm sure I'll be ready to go,'' he said.
Meanwhile, McCoy is approaching this tournament like a child on Christmas Eve - anxious for the big day to arrive but not quite sure what to expect. The Dolphins have never hosted this tournament, which will bring more than 400 wrestlers to Virginia Beach. And while McCoy has done a solid job of rebuilding his program, the name Dolphins still doesn't resonate in wrestling circles. When McCoy volunteered Cape Henry as a potential tournament site, more than one member asked, ``Where's that?''
``Call us `The Little School That Could,' '' McCoy said. ``We want to show that Cape Henry is totally behind wrestling. We can handle this, but we've got a lot of work to do.
``I can relax when it's over.''
The state tournament will be returning to Hampton Roads for the first time since 1992, when Norfolk Academy played host. This year, the Bulldogs, the TCIS champions and No. 3 team in the Virginia Prep League, should challenge for a Top-5 placing. In addition to Weisberg, 112-pounder Ryan Ingram is also a returning champion.
The event will feature teams from 27 of the association's 30 schools and will use an open format, meaning any wrestler from a member school is eligible.
This year's field is expected to be unusually strong. In past seasons, top private school wrestlers have opted to compete in the National Prep Championships at Lehigh University, which normally is held the same weekend as the VISWA event. This year's national prep tournament will be held next weekend, allowing the elite wrestlers, Weisberg among them, to compete in both.
``All of our college-caliber wrestlers should be in Virginia Beach,'' VISWA president Steve Castle said.
According to Weisberg, the presence of the private-school heavyweights is particularly important toward luring fans in an area that devotes the majority of its wrestling attention to the public schools.
``The better the competition, the more respect the private schools will get,'' he said. ``We've got tough kids just like the public schools.''
Mark Kelley (145) and Josh Thompson (130) should lead the way for the host school. Kelley, who upended four-time TCIS champion Josh Raper in the TCIS tournament two weeks ago, and Thompson both finished eighth Saturday in the St. Alban's tournament in Washington. St. Alban's is regarded as the second-toughest private-school tournament in the country, behind only the prep nationals, Castle said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Norfolk Academy's Clay Weisburg
Has 100-plus high school victories.
by CNB