Sonny Dearth
01-07-2008, 01:13 PM
Tough Duals draw for Islanders
Poquoson rises to participate in the challenging American Division for the 28th annual Virginia Duals.
By JEFF CUNNINGHAM/CORRESPONDENT
NORFOLK — Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year’s … all holidays centered on the premise of spending time with family.
For Mark Strickland, the Virginia Duals are the same thing.
"The Virginia Duals are a holiday," the second-year Poquoson wrestling coach said. "It’s always been a showcase event, which catapulted our program to a higher level and exposed us to the rest of the country."
Strickland was one of five speakers at a press conference Monday at the Old Dominion University Village, a chance for some key figures to speak before the 28th annual Virginia Duals, which will be held Friday and Saturday at the Hampton Coliseum.
The defending Bay Rivers District champion Islanders will compete in the American High School Division this year, with their first match scheduled for Friday at 5 p.m. against Lexington (S.C.). Peninsula District contender Gloucester also will compete in the division, along with Tallwood, Kempsville, Kellam and Granby.
"Last year, the American Division was a tough local division," said Strickland, who saw his team finish second to Granby in the Black & Blue Division last season. "But this year we’re more of a national division, with teams from (Pennsylvania), New York, New Jersey, South Carolina. … We’re going to be the underdog, which is fine with us, because it’s an upgrade from where we were last year."
Defending Peninsula District champion Menchville will compete in the National Division, facing top-seeded St. Mark’s (Del.) in the first round. Beach District contender Cox, which won the American Division last year, and Group AAA state power Great Bridge also will compete in the National Division.
"This is our favorite time of the year," Great Bridge coach Norman Smith said. "It’s a chance for us to wrestle against top national competition and have our fans right there rooting for us. … Our fans don’t really get to travel and see us when we compete in the Ironman or the Beast (of the East). … To us, they don’t compare to the Virginia Duals."
Grafton, Tabb, Smithfield and No. 2 seed Hampton will wrestle in the Black & Blue Division, taking on other local squads such as Green Run, Grassfield, Indian River and division top seed Western Branch. No out-of-state teams are in the Black & Blue.
College pairings will be announced Tuesday or Wednesday, though ODU coach Steve Martin said five or six nationally ranked teams would compete, including the Monarchs, top-ranked Oklahoma State and Illinois. Virginia, which received votes in the last national coaches’ poll but was out of the top 25, also is entered.
The Apprentice School, under the tutelage of former Lafayette coach Bruce Shumaker, will compete in the American College Division, where the Builders finished second a year ago.
Builders assistant coach Micah Amrozowicz was the Most Outstanding Wrestler in the division in 2007, and said he was looking forward to returning in his new role.
"There isn’t really much of an adjustment for me (from wrestling to coaching)," he said. "Even last year when I was on the mat, I was one of the captains.
"I just have to tell the guys it’s a big crowd. Don’t let it bother you, and pay attention to some of the great wrestling around you."
HIGH SCHOOL FIRST-ROUND MATCHES (All on Friday)
National Division
Menchville vs. No. 1 St. Mark’s (Del.), 9 a.m.
Parkersburg South (W.Va.) vs. No. 8 Liberty (Pa.), 9 a.m.
No. 4 Great Bridge vs. Kingsway Regional (N.J.), 9 a.m.
No. 5 Eastern Regional (N.J.) vs. Langley, 9 a.m.
No. 3 Buchanan (Calif.) vs. Fauquier, 11 a.m.
Cox vs. No. 6 Phillipsburg (N.J.), 11 a.m.
No 7. Nazareth (Pa.) vs. Camden Catholic (N.J.), 11 a.m.
Chantilly vs. No. 2 Christianburg, 11 a.m.
American Division
Gloucester vs. No. 1 Canon-McMillan (Pa.), 5 p.m.
Tallwood vs. No. 8 Williamstown (N.J.), 5 p.m.
No. 4 Kempsville vs. C.D. Hylton, 5 p.m.
Poquoson vs. No. 5 Lexington (S.C.), 5 p.m.
No. 3 Kellam vs. Osbourn Park, 7 p.m.
Lacey (N.C.) vs. No. 6 Hermitage, 7 p.m.
Battlefield vs. No. 2 Grundy, 7 p.m.
Granby vs. No. 7 Columbia (N.Y.), 7 p.m.
Black & Blue Division
No. 1 Western Branch vs. Grafton, 5 p.m.
No. 8 Tabb vs. Riverbend, 5 p.m.
Smithfield vs. No. 4 Hickory, 5 p.m.
No. 5 Blacksburg vs. Martinsville, 5 p.m.
Salem vs. No. 3 Chancellor, 7 p.m.
Indian River vs. No. 6 William Byrd, 7 p.m.
No. 2 Hampton vs. Green Run, 7 p.m.
Grassfield vs. No. 7 Brookville, 7 p.m.
Poquoson rises to participate in the challenging American Division for the 28th annual Virginia Duals.
By JEFF CUNNINGHAM/CORRESPONDENT
NORFOLK — Christmas, Thanksgiving and New Year’s … all holidays centered on the premise of spending time with family.
For Mark Strickland, the Virginia Duals are the same thing.
"The Virginia Duals are a holiday," the second-year Poquoson wrestling coach said. "It’s always been a showcase event, which catapulted our program to a higher level and exposed us to the rest of the country."
Strickland was one of five speakers at a press conference Monday at the Old Dominion University Village, a chance for some key figures to speak before the 28th annual Virginia Duals, which will be held Friday and Saturday at the Hampton Coliseum.
The defending Bay Rivers District champion Islanders will compete in the American High School Division this year, with their first match scheduled for Friday at 5 p.m. against Lexington (S.C.). Peninsula District contender Gloucester also will compete in the division, along with Tallwood, Kempsville, Kellam and Granby.
"Last year, the American Division was a tough local division," said Strickland, who saw his team finish second to Granby in the Black & Blue Division last season. "But this year we’re more of a national division, with teams from (Pennsylvania), New York, New Jersey, South Carolina. … We’re going to be the underdog, which is fine with us, because it’s an upgrade from where we were last year."
Defending Peninsula District champion Menchville will compete in the National Division, facing top-seeded St. Mark’s (Del.) in the first round. Beach District contender Cox, which won the American Division last year, and Group AAA state power Great Bridge also will compete in the National Division.
"This is our favorite time of the year," Great Bridge coach Norman Smith said. "It’s a chance for us to wrestle against top national competition and have our fans right there rooting for us. … Our fans don’t really get to travel and see us when we compete in the Ironman or the Beast (of the East). … To us, they don’t compare to the Virginia Duals."
Grafton, Tabb, Smithfield and No. 2 seed Hampton will wrestle in the Black & Blue Division, taking on other local squads such as Green Run, Grassfield, Indian River and division top seed Western Branch. No out-of-state teams are in the Black & Blue.
College pairings will be announced Tuesday or Wednesday, though ODU coach Steve Martin said five or six nationally ranked teams would compete, including the Monarchs, top-ranked Oklahoma State and Illinois. Virginia, which received votes in the last national coaches’ poll but was out of the top 25, also is entered.
The Apprentice School, under the tutelage of former Lafayette coach Bruce Shumaker, will compete in the American College Division, where the Builders finished second a year ago.
Builders assistant coach Micah Amrozowicz was the Most Outstanding Wrestler in the division in 2007, and said he was looking forward to returning in his new role.
"There isn’t really much of an adjustment for me (from wrestling to coaching)," he said. "Even last year when I was on the mat, I was one of the captains.
"I just have to tell the guys it’s a big crowd. Don’t let it bother you, and pay attention to some of the great wrestling around you."
HIGH SCHOOL FIRST-ROUND MATCHES (All on Friday)
National Division
Menchville vs. No. 1 St. Mark’s (Del.), 9 a.m.
Parkersburg South (W.Va.) vs. No. 8 Liberty (Pa.), 9 a.m.
No. 4 Great Bridge vs. Kingsway Regional (N.J.), 9 a.m.
No. 5 Eastern Regional (N.J.) vs. Langley, 9 a.m.
No. 3 Buchanan (Calif.) vs. Fauquier, 11 a.m.
Cox vs. No. 6 Phillipsburg (N.J.), 11 a.m.
No 7. Nazareth (Pa.) vs. Camden Catholic (N.J.), 11 a.m.
Chantilly vs. No. 2 Christianburg, 11 a.m.
American Division
Gloucester vs. No. 1 Canon-McMillan (Pa.), 5 p.m.
Tallwood vs. No. 8 Williamstown (N.J.), 5 p.m.
No. 4 Kempsville vs. C.D. Hylton, 5 p.m.
Poquoson vs. No. 5 Lexington (S.C.), 5 p.m.
No. 3 Kellam vs. Osbourn Park, 7 p.m.
Lacey (N.C.) vs. No. 6 Hermitage, 7 p.m.
Battlefield vs. No. 2 Grundy, 7 p.m.
Granby vs. No. 7 Columbia (N.Y.), 7 p.m.
Black & Blue Division
No. 1 Western Branch vs. Grafton, 5 p.m.
No. 8 Tabb vs. Riverbend, 5 p.m.
Smithfield vs. No. 4 Hickory, 5 p.m.
No. 5 Blacksburg vs. Martinsville, 5 p.m.
Salem vs. No. 3 Chancellor, 7 p.m.
Indian River vs. No. 6 William Byrd, 7 p.m.
No. 2 Hampton vs. Green Run, 7 p.m.
Grassfield vs. No. 7 Brookville, 7 p.m.