University of Virginia Library

Cavalier Wrestling Coach Edwards
Looking For First League Title

By TOM BELL

With eight of 10 starters
returning and an expected strong
crop of first-year men on hand, this
year's Cavalier wrestling team will
have one of its best chances ever to
end Maryland's long-time
domination of the ACC.

Head Coach George Edwards,
entering his fourth year, has led the
squad to three consecutive second
place finishes in the conference
tournament, which the Terrapins
have won for eighteen straight
years.

Gone are co-captains Ted Moore
and John Pegues, who was the
outstanding wrestler in last year's
tournament.

Captain John Pitas leads the list
of returners. Twice a runnerup in
the ACC tourney, he was 9-1 in
dual meets last year at 126 pounds.

Footballer Kevin Michaels is the
only returning conference champ,
having won the 190-pound title last
year after a 19-1 record in the
regular season.

Other returning starters are
118-pounder Jack Johndrow (9-1),
134-pounder Lou Pavia (9-1,
second in the ACC), 158-pounder
Denis Bittenbendor (8-6),
150-pounder Shelley Zablow (2-0
and ACC champ in 1970),

167-pounder Jay Douglas (2-3), and
Heavyweight Bill Farrell (2-1).

The first-year men are expected
to be strongest in the middle weight
classes, a spot which was the
weakest for last year's team.
Among those newcomers who are
expected to help the Cavaliers are
Dave Wendall (118), Steve Schmidt
(126), Denny Kershner (134-142),
Mide Henry (150), Tom Derrickson
(150), Bill Volliva (177), Jeff
Stanley (190), and Heavyweight
Tom Miller, a 250-pounder, all are
Pennsylvanians except Volliva
(New Jersey), and Virginians
Stanley and Schmidt.

Others who could help will be
Ed Fink, Dave Petrotti, Mike
Dussia, Larry Sullivan, John
Thompson, and Fred Shapiro.

The first squad meeting will be
held on September 28 at 7 p.m. in
Memorial Gym, with practice slated
to begin in October.