CHESAPEAKE – Going down got them going back up.

Friday, April 06, 2001

CHESAPEAKE – Going down got them going back up. Four Chesapeake wrestlers attended the Allegheny Takedown Tournament in Sparta, N.C., and placed to advance to one of the nation’s most prestigious events.

Josh Smith took first in the 100 pounds division,Bill Jenkins was second at 105, Steven Smith was fourth at 143 pounds, and Jim Kinder placed fourth in a combined weight group of 154-to-165.

The tournament was a qualifier for the Ohio Tournament of Champions to be held April 21 at the Columbus Convention Center.

Because the quartet placed among the top four, all qualify for the tournament which features more than 2,800 wrestlers on 28 mats, one of the largest tournaments in the United States.

"The competition was great. The wrestlers got to watch or actually wrestle several state winners from North Carolina and Virginia," said Katie Kinder, chaperone for the wrestlers. "I was proud of the them. This was their last chance to qualify, they knew what they needed to do and they did it."

Jenkins and Jim Kinder also wrestled in the Mason County Open at Pt. Pleasant, W.Va., March 17.

Jenkins was fourth in the 115-pound class while Kinder did double duty, taking fourth at 155 and third in the 165 division.

Chesapeake held the Panther Open Wrestling Tournament recently. Here are the results of the Chesapeake wrestlers:

Junior High

85 lb. – 3. Gore; 105 – 2. Smith; 115 – 2. Jenkins; 125 – 2. Robbins, 2. White; 135 – 2. Caynor; 145 – 4. McWhorter; 155 – 2. Eldred; 165 – 2. Adkins; 190 – 1. McDonald, 3. Huffman, 4. Butler.

High School

135 – 2. Steven Smith; 145 – 2. Chester Collins; 165 – 1. Jimmy Kinder.