THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 29, 1996 TAG: 9602290508
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Athlete of the Week
SOURCE: BY KEITH POMPEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 59 lines
Tallwood's Winston Escalante has been known to self destruct on the mat. The 103-pound wrestler lost several matches as a result of penalty points and once was even ejected.
``I just get too emotional sometimes,'' Escalante said. ``I try not to be, but I just wrestle hard.''
The problem normally starts as he warms up.
``He worries about this and he worries about that,'' Lions coach Don Robertson said. ``You can't do that and be able to perform for six minutes of a match.''
Going into the Eastern Region tournament, many wondered how he would act.
He had to face Western Branch's Matt Viola in the semifinals and was expected to get thumped. Viola - ranked No. 1 at 103 - was 34-1.
``I figured I had nothing to lose and everything to gain,'' Escalante said. ``I knew he was the No. 1 seed and everything. But I figured if I just wrestled, I would get something out of it.''
Escalante stayed cool and wrestled his best match, defeating Viola 7-5 in overtime.
His next test came against Cox's Brad Pond, against whom he was 0-3 this season. But in two of those losses, Escalante gave away penalty points.
``I told him going into the finals you can't be generous,'' Robertson said. ``If you give this guy one point, chances are you're not going to be able to beat him.''
Escalante wrestled mistake-free to win 6-4. For his effort, He was named the Virginian-Pilot's male Athlete of the Week.
``It felt good after I won the championship,'' Escalante said. ``My teammates have always joked me for losing to Pond. He beat me in the finals of the Beach District. I have always been the underdog. I always wanted to get my respect. Now I have it.''
As an Eastern Region champion, Escalante is expected to reach the state final.
``There are six guys who are on the same level,'' Robertson said. ``But it's he who peaks at the right time or has the best weekend. And the best thing about this weekend is that it puts all the tough kids in all the other brackets at states.''
Escalante said by winning the region he can take care of unfinished business in the state tournament.
``I want Matt Gallagher of Herndon,'' Escalante said. ``He pinned me the first time we wrestled. Then I lost to him by two points. I'm hoping to get a rematch. I think I got a shot at him.'' ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Winston Escalante
by CNB