All-Metro wrestlers Chris Knox of Calvert Hall and Mike Faust of Gilman were champions at last weekend's sixth-annual Mid-Atlantic Wrestling Classic, called "The Beast of the East," at St. Mark's High School in Newark, Del.
Knox, 112 pounds and 17-0, allowed his first takedown of the year against Liberty (Pa.) wrestler Omar Rivera. Trailing 2-1, Knox pinned Rivera in 4: 17 for the title. Ranked No. 1 in the state, and No. 4 nationally by USA Wrestler, Knox's earlier 13-2 rout of Line Mountain (Pa.) wrestler Pier Mattei -- ranked fifth in Pennsylvania -- avenged last year's 1-0 loss.
In his title bout, Faust (215) scored an overtime decision against Blair Academy's Chris Chaft, a National Prep runner-up who was ranked No. 1 nationally at 215.
For Curley, freshman Thomas Boettcher (130), a two-time junior league state champ, finished fourth. He was the highest finisher for the Friars, who placed several wrestlers among the top eight in their weight classes to finish ahead of five-time National Prep champ DeMatha as Maryland's highest placing team at 12th.
"It is an unbelievably tough tournament," said Friars coach Alan Gebhart, whose squad is ranked No. 1 in The Sun and by the Maryland State Wrestling Association. "It won't happen this year, but we want to be nationally ranked. We want to be able to come to a tournament like the Beast of the East and win it."
Dunbar girls unbeaten
Dunbar's No. 1 boys basketball team isn't the only unbeaten team in the Poets' house these days.
The Poets girls broke into the Top 20 this week after improving to 3-0 behind 56 points from Keisha Wills last week. The 5-foot-10 junior center had 31 points and 14 rebounds in a 102-28 romp over Douglass Tuesday and 24 points and 20 rebounds in a 75-42 win over Mervo Friday.
The scariest thing about the Poets, who beat Annapolis in their season opener, is that eight of their 13 players are freshmen.
Warriors on the rebound
Gwynn Lake transfers Jimea Barner and Dena McGriff have Walbrook looking to make a run at the city championship.
The Warriors (2-2) are 2-0 in the city league after defeating Southwestern, 117-17, and Forest Park, 74-35, last week.
Barner, a 5-5 senior guard, averages 19.3 points, while McGriff, a 5-8 senior forward/guard, averages 15.8. Returning starter Samone Smart, a 5-0 senior guard, also chips in 12 points per game.
The two losses came at the Pre-Holiday Mixer at University City in Philadelphia. The Warriors dropped games to University City, 67-59, and to Dougherty (Pa.), 67-50, before rebounding last week.
Coach Vanessa Marion said this year's group is much more balanced than last year's 9-11 squad.
"They're playing more like a team," said Marion. "And I don't have fTC to rely on one specific person to do everything. Everyone is getting involved and I'm extremely happy about that."
Of course, she added, the toughest competition is yet to come. But the Warriors got a boost coming into the season by beating No. 7 and defending city champ Western in summer-league competition. The two won't meet again until Feb. 12.
Pub Date: 12/22/98