THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 5, 1997 TAG: 9701030288
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY BRIAN FRENCH, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: 72 lines
IT WAS EXPECTED to be a difficult transition.
For traditional Group AA wrestling power Nansemond River, making the move from the Bay Rivers District to the Group AAA Southeastern District was supposed to be akin to taking a piranha out of a fishbowl and putting it in the ocean. Deadly against goldfish, but not able to hold its own against the great white, or Great Bridge.
But heading into this last weekend, the Warriors have a 3-1 record and are holding their own in the area, at one point being ranked 10th in the Virginian-Pilot high school rankings. And with the district schedule starting this past weekend, Nansemond River has an opportunity to exceed expectations further; the Warriors were projected sixth in the Southeastern before the season began.
For a team that began the season with only eight wrestlers with high school experience, it's a good start.
``Overall, we have a young team,'' Nansemond River coach Doug Dohey said. ``The kids read the paper, and see the rankings, but it doesn't mean too much right now because we haven't wrestled that much as a team yet.''
A big part of the Warriors' early success can be traced to the Hill brothers.
One brother - Damon Hill - was expected to be a big contributor. Over the last two seasons, Damon has posted a record of 48-7, won an Group AA region title and, after starting this season with a 12-2 record, is third in the Pilot Wrestling Rankings at 171 pounds.
``I think I'm doing pretty well,'' said Damon, a part of the Nansemond River program since his eighth grade. ``I didn't know what it's like to wrestle at this level, but I like competition. I'd rather wrestle someone tough then wrestle someone who would just roll over.''
The other brother - Derrick - is more of a surprise.
With a sub-.500 record last year, expectations for Derrick weren't as high. But after winning the 189-pound weight class event at the Milford (Del.) meet and finishing fourth at a meet in Halifax, Derrick has a record of 11-3.
``It really surprised me,'' said Derrick of his record. ``I wasn't expecting this.''
Derrick's winning hasn't been lost on older brother Damon.
``I'm getting proud of Derrick,'' said Damon. ``He really surprised me. When Derrick gives it all he's got, he can be as good as anyone in the region.''
With two brothers a year apart in age, in the same school class (junior), and in adjacent weight levels, one could expect a level of sibling rivalry.
``They do wrestle each other in practice,'' said Dohey. ``Damon usually wins. Derrick's been getting more aggressive than he was last year, but Damon still wins most of the practices.''
Said Derrick: ``I've been aiming at him big time.''
Damon doesn't think about it as much.
``It's nothing to get upset about or anything,'' Damon said. ``We all have to lose sometime. I just want to see him win and make our team better.''
But the real yardstick is within the Southeastern District, home to four of the area's top 10 teams. Fourth-ranked Great Bridge has long been the most storied wrestling program of the state and Western Branch, itself successful for years, is currently ranked second in the area. No. 8 Deep Creek and No. 7 Oscar Smith are programs on the rise, and Hickory will get better as it draws from neighborhoods which previously sent their kids to Great Bridge.
The Hills, for their part, are looking forward to the task.
``We wrestle against some of the best teams in the state,'' Derrick said. ``When we were in (Group) AA, we would wrestle guys who weren't as good, and it wouldn't prepare us for the state meet. But wrestling in the Southeastern now helps us for state, because we're wrestling the best.''
Added Damon: ``If you do well here, you'll have a really good chance in state.'' ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by RICHARD L. DUNSTON
Damon Hill, left, and Derrick Hill are star wrestlers for Nansemond
River.