University of Virginia Library

Terp Domination
Finally Challenged
In Mat Tourney

By Tom Bell
Cavalier Daily Staff Writer

Three disappointing overtime
losses and a dislocated elbow sent
the young Virginia wrestling team
down to defeat in the ACC
Tournament at Raleigh, N.C., last
weekend as Maryland continued its
sixteen year old winning streak in
the tournament with a close 88-85
win over the Cavaliers.

For the first time in ACC
history, however, the Terrapins did
not dominate the tournament, as
the Cavaliers cut the Maryland
margin of victory to three points.
Last year the Terps scored a record
126 points, 58 points ahead of the
second place Cavaliers. The tournament
was closer than ever before in
history.

"I feel that every one on our
team wrestled up to capacity," said
Coach George Edwards in comments
after the meet. "Losing the
three overtime bouts really hurt us.
Also, we didn't get the help we
needed from the other teams in the
tournament." Host North Carolina
State was cited by Edwards as one
team that did not perform up to
par, making the route to the finals
easier for the Terps.

"Maryland simply had more
physical strength and toughness
than we did. These are things that
come through maturity, and help in
a tournament where a wrestler must
be at full strength for two or three
matches," said Edwards. However,
he was quick to add that he was
"pleased with our performance.
Everyone wrestled 100%. We just
needed a little help from other
teams."

The tournament was dominated
by Maryland and Virginia, as each
put eight wrestlers in the finals. The
third place team was far behind
with no more than fifty points.
Edwards feels that Virginia, and
other ACC schools will definitely
be able to compete with Maryland
in coming years. "There were less
falls (pins) in this year's tournament
and closer competition than
before. We are now close to
Maryland, and Duke should have a
good team in a couple of years.
They had three real good wrestlers
in the finals."

The three Cavalier wrestlers who
took individual championships in
the ACC Tournament will be
entered in the NCAA national
tournament on March 26, 27, and
28 at Northwestern University in
Evanston, Ill. First-year men Kim
Hatcher, at 118 pounds, and Shelly
Zablow, at 134, will be making
their first trip to national competition,
and John Pegues, who won
the ACC title for the second year
in a row, will enter the event for the
second year in a row. "The national
tournament is really tough," says
Coach Edwards. "It will be good
experience for the two freshmen.
Pegues could do okay, but the
competition will really be stiff."

Numerous chances to win the
tournament slipped by the Cavaliers
in the last two rounds as Kevin
Michaels lost an overtime bout on a
penalty point in the semi-finals, and
John Pitas and Paul Boehm lost
overtime matches in the finals. Also,
158-pounder Lynn Housner had to
default when he dislocated an
elbow early in his match with
Maryland's Curt Callahan. Wayne
Hoffman and Ted Moore absorbed
losses in the finals, Hoffman's by a
pin. A victory instead of any one of
the final round losses, would have
given the Cavaliers the tournament
title.

With the tournament over, Mr.
Edwards will now turn much of his
attention to recruiting. A look to
the coming years produces a bright
picture, as all of this year's squad,
which featured six first-year men as
regular starters, will return to
action next season. If recruiting
efforts continue to produce wrestlers
like this year's crop of first-year
men, Coach Edwards goal of an
ACC tournament championship and
a nationally competitive team may
not be far off. According to Mr.
Edwards, "Another year or two,
and we'll be ready."