Virginia Duals Coverage (1st Part of 5) -- Old Dominion: Monarchs On the Rise

Those who read the Daily Press or my Facebook page are well aware that I spent 26 hours (plus some writing time at home) last weekend dedicated to the annual Virginia Duals, a wrestling extravaganza featuring some of the nation's best high school and college teams. It just happens to be held in our backyard at the Hampton Coliseum.

Over the next five days, I am pleased to present my stories, covering different aspects of the Duals. The Daily Press didn't have room for all of my commentary, so I am happy to share my full stories here.

HAMPTON – At last year’s Virginia Duals, Old Dominion reached a new plateau by reaching the Gold Pool (Final Four) of the National College Division, and defeating #10 Edinboro in the consolation match to earn third place – the Monarchs highest Duals finish since 2008.

More importantly, it helped make for the first top-three finish by Virginia schools, as Virginia Tech ended up edging the University of Virginia 16-15 to capture the National Division title. But Tech had earned its championship berth by topping the Monarchs 19-15 in a semifinal match that was determined in the last bout, the heavyweight match, and only by a 3-1 decision.

However, with the exception of 1983, when ODU lost to North Carolina in the final, the Monarchs have been shut out of the championship match of the National Division.

This year, the Monarchs, under coach Steve Martin, are enjoying a comparable level of success. ODU is ranked 24^th in the USA Today/NWCA Coaches poll, and sports a roster with three All-Americans - Chris Mecate at 141 lbs., Alexander Richardson at 149 and Jack Dechow at 184. In the latest Win Magazine rankings, Mecate (8-3) and Richardson (9-2) were sixth, and Dechow (7-1) was listed at 10th. Another pleasant addition for Martin has been the recent emergence of freshman Emilio Saavedra (13-2), who earned a #13 ranking after winning the 133-pound division at the Midlands Championships, held last week at Northwestern University.

Coupled with the continued success of the Monarchs this year was the omission of both Virginia and Edinboro State from this year’s Duals National College lineup. As the team prepared to square off against Campbell in its first Poquoson River pool match on Friday, the question to be answered was – could the Monarchs dare to dream of making the finals, or better yet, winning the whole shebang?

While the Monarchs manhandled Campbell 28-16 in their first match, on the adjoining mat, the Hokies were taking care of business in their Hampton River pool opener against The Citadel, running away with a 31-9 win. For ODU, Mecate won a 7-3 decision over Luke Stewart, while Richardson defeated Zane Knight by fall. However, Saavedra lost a major decision, 13-5, to Nathan Kraisser. Brandon Jeske (18-0 technical fall winner at 125), Devin Geoghegan (9-0 major win at 157) and Climmons Brooks (12-3 major win at 174) also scored mightily for Old Dominion.

The Hokies and Monarchs didn’t have to move at all for their second match, staying on Mats 2 and 7. Both teams got off to auspicious starts, with the Monarchs winning their first three bouts. At 125, Jeske scored a quick five points with a 16-5 technical fall win over Ares Carpio. Saavedra bounced back at 133 to score a 4-3 decision over Mikel Perales. And Mecate gutted out a 3-2 win over Robert Mathers at 141. With an 11-0 lead, things were looking good for Martin’s troops.

Or not. The Sun Devils charged back to win the final seven matches and upend the Monarchs 25-11. With the win, Arizona State earned the berth to this year’s Gold Pool and the Monarchs moved to the Silver bracket semi-finals where they tangled with Rider (NJ). In that match, the Monarchs wasted no time taking care of business. Jeske, Saavedra, and Mecate easily won their bouts to give ODU a 12-0 lead. However, Alexander Richardson won by fall at 149, and then Devin Geoghegan and Seldon Wright scored major victories to put the Monarchs up 26-0. From there, ODU cruised to a 26-14 victory.

Even though Old Dominion fell short of the championship round, there is no doubt that they have gotten better in recent years.

Let’s count the ways. First of all, Dechow will be nowhere near the center of a wrestling mat this weekend at Hampton Coliseum.

“He was injured last weekend at Midlands and we decided to take precautionary measures,” said Martin. “It was definitely a game day decision.” In fact, Dechow weighed in 18 ounces under the 184-pound mark. “As a team, you can either worry about ego, or do what’s best for the team. Our kids need matches. We’re thinking about the National (NCAA) tournament and there are only 67 days left in the season. Madison Square Garden (site of championships), that’s what counts.”

Secondly, the fact that All-American Dechow did not wrestle on Friday is not a valid excuse among the Monarch wrestlers for losing a match to a Pac-12 program such as Arizona State – not today and not ever.

“We’ve been making huge steps,” said Mecate, a fifth year senior wrestler. “The culture in our room has changed. When I was a freshman, the goals that our team made, and the bar that they set – it has completely changed,” added Mecate with an emphasis on the word completely. “Now, we expect guys to be on the podium at Nationals. We have done it and now we need to move on to the next step.” When asked what the next step was, he confirmed, “We don’t know anything but becoming national champs.”

The future is bright for Martin and the Monarchs. Along with Saavedra the freshman, Martin and Mecate noted that the incoming freshman class is probably their best ever.

And while it’s a shame that Mecate will not be able to wrestle with the future Monarchs, as his team prepares to wrestle against Kent State for first place in the silver round, he can at least say that he was there to help launch the rocket.

Holiday Basketball Recap - Tabb Defeats Gloucester to Capture BayPort Title

This was my fifth straight BayPort tournament and I have always liked covering the event. The same four teams (Tabb, Gloucester, Poquoson, York) have competed, the crowds are large and active, and the people at Tabb High have been hospitable over the years. Plus, it's the holiday season, so people tend to be in a better mood.. laugh.

Tabb won for the third year in a row and can gain some momentum, no that their record is 5-4. I am happier to see the improvement shown by the Poquoson team, coached by Erik Johnson. Johnson has had a tough go as the new Islander coach, with two 1-18 seasons to start his tenure. But at 3-6, they are showing improvement this year, and it will be interesting to watch them progress.

YORK – The host Tabb Tigers overcame a scrappy effort from Gloucester to capture its third straight BayPort Holiday tournament title, with a 62-49 victory at Tabb.

In a game defined by its lack of style points, the Tigers were supported by 20 points from senior guard Jalen Jordan, who was voted the tournament’s most valuable player. For the two games, Jordan scored 42 points and converted 18 of 22 free throws.

Tabb coach Doug Baggett noted the physicality of the game, but was happy to see his team emerge victorious.

“It was a very physical game, but I was happy that we weathered the storm,” said Baggett, whose team improved to 5-4 with the win.

Jordan, who drew the lion’s share of the fouls, relied on his catch-and-shoot technique to draw the opposition toward him.

“Most of the time, when I catch the ball, I’ll pump fake. They (defenders) usually leave their feet and come down on me.”

Still, Jordan realizes that the Tigers will need to slow the ball down in crucial situations in order to maintain their winning edge.

“We have to get a better feel of what to do, and learn how to slow down the offense.”

It was a concern about poor ball handling that led Baggett to rely on his second team in the closing minutes, for the second time in as many nights. Holding a 56-41 lead with 3:34 left in the game, Baggett called time-out, then put in the lineup of Evan Glass, Alex Brown, Myles Ross, Patrick Myatt and Arthur Smith, eventually adding Jordan Eleby and Keyshawn Cooper to the mix.

“I went to the same five as last night. They pulled back and got it done.”

The aggressive, and sometimes chippy, play dominated the first half. Tabb held on to an 11-10 lead after the first quarter, which saw the Tigers whistled for two technical fouls after entanglements over a loose ball. Gloucester jumped to an early advantage, but Jalin Pearson’s lay-in gave Tabb its first lead at 8-7.

The Tigers gained a semblance of control over the proceedings in the second quarter. After two and a half scoreless minutes, it was Jordan, who grabbed a pass underneath the basket, made the basket and drew the foul. His free throw opened up a 14-10 lead, which was extended when a Duke pass was intercepted and tossed to Keaton Brown, who easily converted the open layup. Later, Brown charged through the lane, caught a pass from the right corner, and hit a floater, which gave the Tigers a 26-18. In all, Tabb outscored Gloucester 19-8 in the second quarter, which gave them a 30-18 lead at the intermission.

But Jordan Wilson refused to let the Tigers pull away, scoring 11 of the Dukes 15 third quarter points, including a short jumper at the buzzer, which held Tabb to a 44-33 advantage after the third.

Relying on their motion offense, and clutch free throw shooting down the stretch, the Tigers hung on for the win.

Gloucester  10, 8, 15, 16 -- 49

Tabb          11, 19, 14, 18 -- 62  

GLOUCESTER (1-9) : Cooke 17, Cho 3, Patterson 2, Wilson 14, Womble 7, Early 1, Legonegro 1, Sills 4. Totals 16 11-24 49.

TABB (5-4):  T. Jackson 9, K. Brown 12, Jansen 4, Glass 2, A. Brown 2, Myatt 2, Pearson 11, Jordan 20. Totals 21 20-29 62.

3-point goals: Gloucester 6 (Cooke 3, Womble 2, Cho).

Consolation game

POQUOSON 61, YORK 50

In the opening game, Poquoson overcame an 11-point first half deficit, using a 16-5 run through the third quarter to help the Islanders overtake York 61-50.

Poquoson (3-6) trailed 31-22 at halftime. But the Islanders edged back into the game as Laroy Young (14 points, 12 rebounds) began to make his presence known on the boards. The 6’4” center took an inbound pass for a layup to cut the margin to 33-31 with 4:40 remaining in the third quarter. On the next possession, it was Young’s offensive rebound and put back that tied the game. J.D. Costulis (20 points) buried a three pointer from the left wing to give Poquoson its first lead. Costulis followed with a bank shot off an outlet pass, and Poquoson never looked back.

In the fourth quarter, consecutive three pointers by Tucker Schuhart and Costulis opened up a 48-40 lead for the Islanders.

The Falcons (0-9), who lost 52-41 to Poquoson earlier this season to end the Islanders 39-game Bay Rivers losing streak, were led by Rayvon Patrick’s 21 points.

Poquoson     10, 12, 16, 23 -- 61

York             15, 16, 5, 14 -- 50

POQUOSON (3-6): Costulis 20, Erb 1, Schuhart 10, Taylor 8, Zalameda 1, McDevitt 6, Young 14. Totals 21 15-26 61.

YORK (0-9): McFadden 2, Patrick 21, Kimrey 8, Simmons 8, Thomas 2, Nanartowich 2, Christian 7. Totals 16 15-25 50.

3-point goals: Poquoson 4 (Costulis 3, Schuhart). York 3 (Kimrey 2, Simmons).

All-tournament team: Rayvon Patrick (York), J. D. Costulis (Poquoson), Xander Cooke, Jordan Wilson (Tabb). Jalin Pearson, Jalen Jordan (Tabb) – MVP – Jordan (Tabb)

Holiday Basketball Recap - Tabb, Gloucester Win Prelim Games at BayPort Tourney

YORK – Gloucester earned its first victory of the year, defeating Poquoson 59-39 to set up a championship showdown with the host Tigers at the Bayport Credit Union Holiday Tournament, which began last night at Tabb High. The championship game will tip-off at 7:30, preceded by the consolation matchup between York and Poquoson at 6.

GLOUCESTER 59, POQUOSON 39

Poquoson (2-6) got off to a disastrous start, as Gloucester scored the game’s first 11 points. With 2:16 left in the first period, the Islanders finally lit the scoreboard as forward Brody McDevitt connected on a turnaround jumper from near the top of the key.

Down 18-4 in the middle of the second, Poquoson caught fire. A J.D. Costulis three pointer from the left wing was followed two possessions later by his floater through the lane as the Islanders went on an 11-3 run to shrink the Duke lead to 21-15. Gloucester led 25-19 at the half.

The Dukes started to pull away in the third quarter. A pair of lay-ups by Jordan Wilson, the second coming after a teammate’s steal, pushed the Gloucester lead to 34-21.

Poquoson got as close as 10 after a Costulis lay-up off a steal closed the margin to 44-34 with 4:50 remaining. But John Patterson’s lay-in drew a foul, and the senior guard converted the classic three-point play to extend the lead back to 13. Allah Armstead’s four free throws in the game’s final minute sealed the victory for Gloucester (1-6).

Costulis led the Islanders with 14 points, while Wilson (10) was the only Duke in double figures.

Gloucester  14, 11, 14, 20 -- 59

Poquoson      4, 15, 8, 12 -- 39

GLOUCESTER (1-6): May 6, Cooke 9, Spencer 5, Cho 2, Patterson 6, Wilson 10, Nunn 6, Fortner 5, Womble 3, Early 1, Armstead 6  Totals 17 23-39 57.

POQUOSON (2-6): Costulis 14, Schuhart 10, Taylor 5, McDevitt 7, Young 3. Totals 14 9-19 39.

3-point goals: Gloucester 2 (Cooke, Fortner). Poquoson 2 (Costulis, Schuhart)

TABB 66, YORK 51

Jalen Jordan was the hot hand for Tabb in the first half. His lay-in off of Jalin Pearson’s backward pass on the fast break gave the Tigers an early 8-2 lead. The Falcons closed to 12-9, but freshman guard Joby Jansen buried a pair of three-pointers, which helped Tabb to secure an 18-11 first quarter advantage.

The Falcons battled back, and Rayvon Patrick’s short pull-up jumper cut the margin to 20-17 with 5:20 left in the first half. But Jordan (18 first-half points) kept the visitors at bay, scoring in a variety of ways, including a windmill layup, which started with his rebound under the basket. Falcon point guard Josh McFadden kept the hosts honest with 11 points of his own, but the Tigers entered halftime with a 32-25 advantage.

Jordan soared over a sea of bodies in the middle to put back Pearson’s missed shot, and his follow shot gave the Tigers a 43-30 edge midway through the third quarter. With the lead extended to 47-32 and 2:44 remaining in the third, Tabb coach Doug Baggett pulled his starters and inserted a lineup with Evan Glass, Alex Brown, Myles Ross, Patrick Myatt and Arthur Smith. The quintet only scored one point in the remainder of the period, but only allowed one to York, earning them more time on the court.

In the fourth, Smith scored six of his seven points, while Myatt drained a pair of three-pointers as the Tigers maintained their 15-point lead for the rest of the game.

“They run the offense better than the starters,” said Baggett of his second team. “I have no problem  putting them in. They pass the ball well, and don’t turn the ball over. I wish I had been able to put them in more in the first half.”

York  11, 14, 8, 18 -- 51

Tabb  18, 14, 16, 18 -- 66    

YORK (0-8): McFadden 14, Patrick 11, Kimrey 7, Simmons 2, Thomas 2, Nanartowich 5, Lofton 2, Christian 8.  Totals 18 13-19 51.

TABB (4-4):  T. Jackson 4, K. Brown 4, Jansen 11, Ross 2, Myatt 6, Pearson 6, Jordan 22, Hunter 2, Cooper 2, A. Smith 7. Totals 23 15-18 66.

3-point goals: York 2 (McFadden, Nanartowich)), Tabb 5 (Jansen 3, Myatt 2).

For the fourth straight year, the Tabb tournament, sponsored by Bayport Credit Union, is dedicated to the memory of Dale Lucado. Lucado, a friend of Tiger coach Doug Baggett's, was a captain on the 1967 Newport News High School Typhoon football team. In 1971, he broke his neck while making a tackle during an alumni football game against Hampton High, and Lucado became a quadriplegic from the accident. However, his community involvement and infectious positive spirit became an inspiration to many young athletes on the Peninsula. Lucado died in February 2012, and in his name, all tournament proceeds are donated to the scholarship fund of the Boys and Girls Club.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

NN's Diallo and Galeski Win World Karate Medals for Axsom Team

From Wednesday's Daily Press - 12/23/2015

Both Amadou Diallo and Austin Galeski found karate by accident.

For Diallo, it was four years ago when a flyer in his classroom led the middle schooler to seek out John Axsom’s dojo on Warwick Blvd.

“I had missed football season and was looking for something to do after school,” said the now 17-year old Warwick High junior.

For Galeski, the decision to join Axsom’s school was fueled by a different motive.

“He (Axsom) was my favorite teacher at Hines (Middle),” said the 18-year old, who just completed his first semester at Hampden-Sydney College after graduation from Menchville High last June. Laughing, Galeski adds, “In fact, he was the only “A” I got in seventh grade. The way he teaches connects with me. I had no interest in martial arts, but figured it would be a good way to stay connected. I started just to hang out with Axsom two or three nights a week.”

Regardless of their humble introductions to martial arts, the pair have become disciples of the discipline, and recently earned international acclaim as Diallo won a gold medal, and Galeski, a silver, at the United World Karate Championships, held in mid-October at the Bonifika Arena in Koper, Slovenia.

In all, the AAU/USA team, which consisted of 26 members, brought home 20 medals – 10 gold, four silver and six bronze. Diallo also won a bronze as part of a three-man team in team kumite.

It was Diallo’s gold medal performance that had sensei Axsom, a 5^th degree black belt with twenty years of teaching experience, in awe.

“The person who wins (a bout) usually wins by half a point, or one point. Amadou blanked the national champion of Romania 6-0. It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen and I’ve been at this for a long time.”

However, the road to gold was not without its moments of doubt. Diallo competed in the 80-kilo Cadet (15-17 year old) division, and received a bye in the first round.

But, leading into the second round, before his opening match, Diallo got an eyeful of his first opponent.

“I remember telling my teammates – this guy is fast! I was scared to death,” said the first-degree black belt, who is eligible for his second-degree test next month. But, Axsom told me, “do what you did to get here.”

Even the teacher admitted, “Going in, that guy was better.”

But Diallo won his opening match, and with the second round out of the way, Diallo got an early jump on his semifinal round opponent, leading 4-1. But the lead was short lived, as his foe came back to tie the match and force a sudden death overtime.

How nerve wracking was the overtime? Says Axsom, “I was more nervous.” Fortunately, Diallo quickly scored the match ending point to earn a championship berth.

Galeski, who earlier in 2015 was the male karate recipient of the Joel Ferrell award at the AAU Junior Olympic Games for his athletic ability and sportsmanship, also faced adversity during his week in Slovenia.

Competing in kumite (sparring), Galeski was disqualified for an illegal move. While unintentional, the move did break the collarbone of his opponent.

“It took a big toll on me, because some people thought I had done it on purpose. But the coaches sat me down and told me to prepare for kata, because that would be all I was doing – so do my best,” said the second-degree black belt.

In fact, while Galeski had trained for weapons competition, there was no such event at Worlds. But kata (pronounced kaa taa), is a set of predetermined moves against invisible opponents. And while it resembles shadow boxing, kata requires precision, power, speed, timing, and as Axsom likes to point out, “even breathing is scored.”

In short, Galeski needed to develop a short memory and put his focus on the next event.

It was Galeski’s focus that led him to the medal stand, a skill that he learned from Axsom, but further honed while training on two separate weeklong occasions with a Grandmaster in Naha, Okinawa, Japan.

To accomplish such remarkable feats in a short time of training amazes the instructor.

“Most members of the national team started at eight to 10 years old,” noted Axsom. “Amadou and Austin started at about 13, so they had the least experience. When they made the (World) team – that was my gold medal. I thought that if we came back with one (medal), I would have been ecstatic. The fact that they came out with that many blew my mind. They just killed it.”

Added Diallo, “We were the rookies.”

Axsom was not the only person to take notice. Shortly after arriving back in the States, the Virginia AAU presented Amadou and Galeski with championship rings to denote their achievement. Thinking back of the experience, Diallo recalls, “Everybody was nice to me. And after winning the gold, other competitors came up and wanted pictures with me.”

Even Galeski found a positive aspect from his disqualification, getting the opportunity to communicate with the opponent whom he had injured, something Axsom called a “spirit of unity.”

While the Axsom Martial Arts team competes in four to six tournaments per year (mostly AAU and Junior Olympic matches), both Amadou and Galeski have qualified for the Junior World Championships, which will be held in Dublin, Ireland next June. While Amadou will surely compete, Galeski is less certain as his school schedule in Farmville has curtailed his ability to train.

“Fortunately, there is an aerobics room at Hampden-Sydney where a few of us can get in and workout two or three times a week. But I’m not able to train as much as I want. Maybe I’ll be able to find time when summer break starts in May.”

Axsom Martial Arts is located in the Warwick Village shopping center at 11006 Warwick Blvd. in Newport News. Their contact number is 223-9944.

Highland Springs Moves On To 5A State Final; Beats Indian River 35-10

Congratulations to Highland Springs, who captured the 5A State crown today in Charlottesville. Here's how they earned the right to play -- as captured by my wife Elizabeth for Recruit757.com last weekend.

Water is a common factor for the region surrounding both high schools.  On Saturday, the fall line was a road to the state championship game.

Indian River is in Chesapeake, near the Great Dismal Swamp and surrounded by the Elizabeth River, a tributary of the James River.  Highland Springs, a suburb of Richmond, was founded by a Bostonian during the Civil War.  The natural springs from the regional climate convinced Edmund Read and his family to settle in our Commonwealth, giving the area a new name and inspiration.

Saturday’s game was equivalent to a geography-inspired lesson from the beginning to its end.    After the loss, Indian River traveled home south and east.  Highland Springs will make the final trip to Charlottesville representing 5A South against Stone Bridge.

An idea for the game summary came to mind during the drive from Hampton Roads into Highland Springs.  This full-time geographic educator immediately welcomed a content-specific word for the 5A East matchup between the Indian River Braves and Highland Springs Springers.  Instead of boring the sports enthusiast with the academic specifics, the key of a fall line is a river, a body of water that converges.  Fall lines consist of hard rocks, slopes and waterfalls making it difficult for vessels to safely navigate.

Highland Springs’ (12-1) only defeat was to Hermitage, their first game during regular season.  Coach Loren Johnson had an explosive arsenal of both offensive and defensive players.  Indian River’s playbook included coverage for Springers running back D.J. Anderson and wide receiver Greg Dortch.   The Springers offense averaged 42 points during the regular season and also in the post-season.

Indian River (11-2) arrived at Highland Springs’ Victor W. Kreiter Stadium as the visitor, surrounded by a sea of Springer black and gold fans who tailgated hours before the game.    The Springers’ fan base was so certain it was their game, until the Braves’ number four appeared on the field.  Indian River supporters soon followed and filled the stadium.   Tavante Beckett, linebacker, at 6’1” and 235 lbs. entered , then, Jaquan Yulee, linebacker.  Number 2, at 6’2 and 245 lbs.

As the teams tossed spirals, fans noticed the sheer size and speed of Indian River’s defensive line.   Nervous chuckles and furious Google searches about Coach Ferebee’s Braves on phones commenced.   Other names were mentioned in a whisper, along with their height.  It was focused on quarterback Tyre Givers-Wilson (6’3) and running back Tyain Smith (6’0).   It was concluded that if a team eliminated Mike Smith’s Hampton Crabbers from championship contention, the team possessed a powerful run-pass game and a strong defense.

Tyain Smith successfully scored a Braves touchdown in the second quarter.

Afterwards, Indian River was outplayed and outmatched by the Springers defense.   The home team continued to dominate for yardage and points until game’s end.    Greg Dortch caught 10 passes for over 200 yards and three touchdowns for Highland Springs. Juwan Carter completed 17 of 25 passes for 200 yards and three touchdowns.   Indian River managed only 200 total yards in Saturday’s matchup, while the Springers had 375 yards of offense.

The final score for the 5A South Final was Highland Springs 35 and Indian River 10.   The Braves of Chesapeake should hold their heads with pride and accept praise from the 757 Football fan base for an exciting, action-packed 2015 season with an outstanding 11-3 record.   The Springers, even more gracious in victory, acknowledged the heart, passion, and talent of Coach Glenwood Ferebee and his remarkable players seconds after the game ended.  Highland Springs will now prepare for the 5A Championship game in Charlottesville Saturday, December 12.

FINAL:  Highland Springs: 35, Indian River 10.