University of Virginia Library

Matmen Open With Three Wins

By Tommy Bell
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Coach George Edwards'
young wrestling team got its
season off to a flying start last
weekend as they romped over
VCU, VMI, and Washington
and Lee in dual meets in
Lexington.

The squad breezed to the
three victories as they lost only
three individual matches and
tied two for the entire weekend,
while coming out with
wins in 25 matches, nine of
them by pins.

VCU fell first on Friday
night, as Virginia almost rolled
to a shutout losing only in the
190 pound class as Paul Boehm
dropped a 13-8 decision to
VCU's Fitz. Co-captains John
Pegues and Ted Moore led the
Cavaliers as they each pinned
their opponent.

Shelley Zablow, a first-year
man and former two time
Virginia state champion rolled
to a 17-1 decision over Madigan
at 142 pounds, and
177-pounder Kevin Michaels,
another first-year man, won a
12-0 victory. Dick Opp pinned
Ratkaus of VCU to cap the
win.

Virginia took on VMI
Saturday afternoon and found
their toughest competition of
the weekend, although the
Keydets fell far short of
making the meet close, losing
29-7. Zablow and Opp again
helped to lead the Cavaliers as
both scored pins in the second
period of their matches. For
Opp, a third-year heavyweight,
it was the second of three pins
for the weekend.

John Pitas won a 17-0
decision in the 126 pound
class, and Kim Hatcher won
15-2 at 118. VMI managed
only one win, in the 167
pound match, and two draws
at 118 and 177.

Mr. Edwards removed six of
his starters for the Saturday
night match with Washington
and Lee, but still had no
trouble in winning, as the
Cavaliers picked up their third
laugher of the weekend by the
score of 35-5. Zablow and Opp
with pins, and first-year man
Wayne Hoffman, who took a
9-1 decision in the 158 pound
division for his third win of the
weekend, led the assault, and
substitutes Jack Johndrow
(118), Warren Clark (126), Lou
Paula (134), Mark Donanos
(167), and Pete Faber (190)
picked up victories.

One of the brightest spots
of the whole weekend was the
performance of the team's
first-year wrestlers. Five first-year
starters posted 11-0-2
mark, with Hoffman and Zablow
leading the way with 3-0
records. Hatcher followed at
2-0, while Michaels was 2-0-1
and Damico was 1-0-1. First year
substitute Doxanos was 1-0.

The grapplers, who suddenly
find themselves with a
3-0 record, get their first test in
the ACC this weekend, as they
take on North Carolina their
home opener at University Hall
after Saturday's basketball
game with South Carolina.

"We looked pretty good for
the first match," commented
Edwards summing up the
weekend. "But that's no
indication of what we can do.
They'll have to get better,
specially in better shape,to bat
Maryland and so of the other
tough teams, though."