[Sly Fox]

EDIT by PAmedic: Originally called "Wrestling Program Garners Attention from Local Fishwrap
And its not written by the Chris you would expect:

Flames wrestling to build a quality program

By Chris Humphreys
Lynchburg News & Advance
December 7, 2006

The Liberty University wrestling program took another important step in its re-establishment as a university sponsored sport on Nov. 22. The Flames hosted their first home wrestling meet since 1994, when the program was dropped for 11 years, and the scene at the Vines Center was as much a celebration as a competition.

"Having those mats back on the floor sent chills down my back," LU coach Jesse Castro said. "It's been too long and this was a landmark for us as we build our program."

Castro should know. He posted a 101-20-2 career record for Liberty from 1977-81 and was the first four-time national champion of the National Christian Collegiate Association history.

During his senior season, he went 29-5-1 and placed fourth at the NAIA national championships. Castro also served as an assistant coach for the Flames from 1983-88.

"As both a graduate and a former wrestler, it's great having wrestling back at Liberty," Castro said. "We really are living our dream right now."

"We have a lot of young guys that a have a dream and know it's only going to get better from here," Flames' 141-pound wrestler Tim Harner said. "Today was good day (for the program) and we are still undefeated at home."

Liberty swept all three matches of the quad-meet. The Flames defeated Newberry 26-14, James Madison 29-14 and Campbellsville 27-16 and improved to 7-4 in this year of rebirth.

"I'm pleased with how this first year is going," Castro said. "I didn't even have a reference point for this season. We really didn't know what to expect but I was hoping to be around .500. But, we are 7-4 right now and it is safe to say we've exceeded expectations so far."

"It's a really exciting time," Flames' heavyweight Pat Walker said. "It's great to see how each of these guys progressed from the start of the year and to go 3-0 in our first meet at home was special."

Though the wrestling program had the plug pulled once, it now appears to have the university's full support and has come a long way since it the program was reinstated on Feb. 24, 2005.

"We have a long way to go but we are off to a good start," Castro said. "The administration has been so supportive. Dr. (Jerry) Falwell obviously loves the sport and he is behind us fully."

But Castro is taking nothing for granted and working really hard to grow the sport in an area of the country where wrestling largely goes unnoticed.

"We want to grow the fan base and gain the support of the community," Castro said. "We want to establish an interest and a connection in Liberty University to the community. We still have two home matches left this season (Jan. 30 against King College and Feb. 15 against VMI). I would love for everyone to come out and support a Division I wrestling program in their midst."

The Flames also are off to a good start on the mat, but Castro knows it going to take some time to build the kind of program he envisions.

"Our athletes have the dream and they know what we are trying to accomplish," Castro said. "We just need to take it one step at a time."

http://www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Sate ... th=!sports

It seems odd to run this story now. Is it from a stringer?

[bigsmooth]

that is weird! it is great to see the program back. immed. after the cincy christian hoops game, they started putting the mats down in the vines...this will be a program that we will always be proud of.

[PAmedic]

I co-opted SLY's thread with my own to make a more comprehensive wrap-up. My apologies for diluting his journalistic efforts

***

Flames Wrestling Takes Three In First Home Match Since 1994

November 22, 2006
Lynchburg, Va.
» Box Score

The Liberty wrestling program had another historic day in the reinstatement of its program as the Flames hosted their first home event in 12 years, sweeping all three matches in a squad meet that included Campbellsville, James Madison and Newberry, Wednesday afternoon, at the Vines Center.

With the Flames’ sweep on the afternoon, Liberty improves its record to 7-4 on the year in its return season of wrestling as the University is fielding its first wrestling team since 1994.

Liberty started the day with a 26-14 win over Newberry, followed by a 29-14 victory over James Madison to account for the second time that Liberty has defeated the Dukes this year. The Flames closed out the quad meet with a 27-16 win over Campbellsville.

Highlighting the day’s action for Liberty was heavyweight Patrick Walker with two pins and a major decision, pushing his individual record to 9-1 on the year. Tim Harner followed at 141 pounds with three victories of his own, two by major decision, while Chad Porter (165 pounds) was also perfect on the day with three victories to push his record to 12-4 on the year.

In other action around the Vines Center, Newberry finished the day with a 2-1 record, Campbellsville was 1-2 and James Madison finished the afternoon 0-3.

In the opening session against Newberry, the Flames dominated the beginning of the match behind the strength of two major decisions and an early fall. Sean Katz started things off with a pin at 3:11 over Chauncey McElheney at 125 pounds, followed by a 3-1 decision in favor of Newberry’s Brian Callinan over Zachary McCray at 133 pounds.

Harner started a Liberty run at 141 pounds with an 8-0 major decision over Latra Collick and Aaron Kelley continued things for the Flames with a 15-2 major decision over Matt Black at 149 pounds, giving Liberty a 14-2 edge after a point was deducted from Newberry’s total for unsportsmanlike conduct.

At 157 pounds, Shaun Smith got a 7-1 decision over Dustin Harvey, followed by Chad Porter picking up a hard-fought 3-0 decision at 165 pounds, pushing Liberty’s lead to 20-2.

However, Newberry made the opening session a match with two decisions and a fall in the next three weight classes, starting with a close 3-2 decision in favor of Quinn Tolbert over Kyle Walters at 174 pounds.

At 184 pounds, Keeno Griffin pulled Newberry to within 12, 20-8, with a 9-5 decision over Chris Daggett, followed by Kelly Anderson pinning Rory Bosek 1:25 into the match at 197 pounds, closing Liberty’s lead to six points, 20-14.

However, Walker ended the Tigers’ run as the heavyweight pinned his third opponent of the season, Cy Wainwright, with seven seconds left in the match at 6:53 to give Liberty the 26-14 victory.

The second session of the day provided the closest matches of the event, including Liberty’s 29-14 win over in-state opponent James Madison. The Flames and the Dukes traded the first four weight classes, starting with Katz’s 5-3 decision over Nhat Nguyen at 125 followed by an 8-1 match in favor of JMU’s Brandon Luce over McCray at 133 pounds.

Harner gave the Flames an early edge as he picked up a 12-3 major decision win over Jimmy Mitchum at 141 pounds, while a late reversal by Nick Broccoli gave the Duke a 7-6 win over Kelley at 149 pounds.

James Madison took its first lead of the match as Scott Yorko got a 7-5 decision over Smith at 157 pounds, giving the Dukes a 9-7 edge. But the home team took control of the match with a decision and three pins to post its second win of the day.

Porter got Liberty’s run started with a 10-2 decision over Jeff Jacobs at 165 pounds, followed by Kyle Walters’ pin of Ivan Lagares 1:48 into the 174 pound match. Walters’ teammate Daggett gave Liberty its second-straight pin seven seconds better as he pinned Dan Rafeedie at 1:37 at 184 pounds to push the Flames’ advantage to 23-9.

Marcus Bartley got a 17-2 technical fall win over Bosek at 197 pounds, before Walker closed out the match with his second pin of the afternoon in 48 seconds over Patrick Finch to top off Liberty’s 29-14 win.

In the final session of the day, Liberty jumped out to a 15-0 lead and never looked back en route to the 27-16 win over Campbellsville. Katz picked up a forfeit win at 125 pounds, followed by a 7-4 decision by Sam Walters at 133 pounds over Jacob Murton.

Harner pinned MarcAntoni Macias in the first round (2:45) to give Liberty the 15-0 lead. Campbellsville took the next two weight classed by decision to close the gap as Jarius Murton edged out Aaron Kelley in a 3-2 decision at 149 pounds, followed by a 13-2 major decision by David Clemens over Smith at 157 pounds, allowing Campbellsville to trim Liberty’s lead to 15-7.

Porter and Kyle Walters quickly extended the lead as Porter picked up a 18-3 technical fall win over James Linker at 165 pounds, followed by Walters 4-1 win over John Lowery at 165 pounds.

Campbellsville attempted to stay in the match as Josh Deadrick picked up a 4-1 decision over Daggett at 184 pounds and Glen Jackson pinned Bosek in the first (1:45) at 197 pounds. But Walker capped off his perfect day with an 8-0 major decision in over Chad Brown at heavyweight.

The Flames will take a few days off for the Thanksgiving holiday as they next will take to the mats on December 2 when they travel to York, Pa., to participate in the Spartan Invitational hosted by York College. The following day, Liberty will travel to State College, Pa., to take part in the Penn State Open.