By Ed Richards
Daily Press

Published: Wednesday, April 04, 2001

HAMPTON - The Poquoson Bulls went on a gold rush in the Peninsula Youth Wrestling League Tournament at the Hampton University Convocation Center on Saturday.

The Bulls came away with 14 gold medals to lead the 14-team field in the two-day event, which attracted almost 400 entries.

"Last year was a rebuilding year for us; this year our kids stepped it up and did a great job," said Poquoson coach Tim Axsom.

The Bulls added to their gold haul with nine silver medals, three bronze for third place and six more medals for fourth.

The Newport News Cobras followed the Bulls in golds with nine, then came the Hampton Jaguars, Pin2Win and New Kent with seven, and the Smithfield Youth Wrestling Club and Gloucester with six apiece.

Poquoson received impressive title performances from the Reinhart brothers -- Coty in the Novice class for ages 11-12 and Travis in the Midgets for 9- and 10-year-olds.

Three Bulls repeated as champions -- Jed Duncan (Schoolboy), Justin Bunch (Midgets) and Colton Crabtree (Novice).

Vincent Alonzo, a rookie, also drew praise from Axsom for winning the 7-8 Bantams class.

The Cobras enjoyed their best PYWL tournament since Todd Parrish took over the head coaching duties in 1998. Besides nine golds, they won six silver medals.

Kayton Marshall, competing in the Novice 76.1 class for the Cobras, continued a winning streak in the tournament by taking his fourth title in a row.

Reuben Brooks, an All-American wrestler, stood out in the 92-pound Novice class by winning for the third time in four years.

Parrish also singled out the winning performances of David Jackson in Schoolboy and Sean Henry and Travis Unwin in Novice.

Bruce Nelson, Titus Dudley and Charles Sykes spearheaded the Jaguars' showing.

Nelson dominated the 103-pound Novice class. He pinned his three opponents, taking down Hunter Foley of New Kent in 1:35 in the final.

"He's a tremendous wrestler. He does what it takes to get the job done," said Jaguars assistant coach Darryl Fenner.

Dudley, in his first year wrestling, has been a surprising addition to the Jaguars. He went 3-0 in the 108-pound Schoolboy division for ages 13-14, beating Antonio Chaffin of Pin2Win by decision for the title.

Sykes decisioned Stefan Blixt of New Kent in the Schoolboy 140 final.

Dee Thacker, an administrator with the Jaguars, was especially proud of Mizell Henderson, who took fourth place in the Schoolboy 146 class. Henderson has been making a comeback from a traumatic brain injury after being hit by a car in 1996.

"He's progressed a tremendous amount since the injury," said his mom, Jacqueline, who was on hand to cheer on her 13-year-old son.

Jared Corbett, Teon Sumpter, Andre Bland and Tony Pizzo topped the Pin2Win showing.

Corbett, a gold medalist at the recent National Middle School Championships, pinned Jeremy Gotterup of Youth America in the 145-pound Novice class in 1:47 for his fifth title in the PYWL tournament.

"It feels great to win again; I feel I've improved my skills a lot in the last year," the sixth-grader at Eaton Middle School in Hampton said.

Sumpter, competing as a Novice, and Bland, as a Schoolboy, won titles for the third consecutive year.

"Teon wrestled some bigger guys, but he's extremely aggressive and wrestles with a fury," said Pin2Win assistant coach Mark Derkas.

The Smithfield Youth Wrestling Club celebrated its best showing with six golds and seven silvers with only 18 entries.

Marshall Robinson (Midgets) and Bradley Reynolds (Peewees) were repeat winners, but Thomas Batchelor turned in the most impressive performance. Batchelor, in the 72-pound Midgets, pinned Sammy Sanchez of Poquoson in 2:45 for the title.

"When we give out the Top Gun Award at the end of the season, Thomas is the one that's getting it," said Smithfield coach Dave Bugin.

The Tabbmanians had a winning family act. Nick Hornbeck took first place in the Novice division and his older sister, Candice, third in Cadets.

Hunter Eutsler, in the 52.6 Bantams, and Ken McMillen in the 119 Cadets were among the other Tabb winners.

Russell Fly and Brody Scott -- both competing for the first year -- impressed Williamsburg Hornets coach Donnie Moore with titles in the Peewees class.

New Kent made its biggest mark in Bantams with four champions -- Travis Bradley, Eric Salmon, Nolan Schultz and Nathan Freeman.