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Sports Today
Taylor — Coach of the Year
Collegiate Wrestling at its best, Braves finish 5th in nation
By JACK GOLDBERG
The weekend of February 19-20, the-
Chowan Braves traveled to Bismark, North
Dakota to participate in NJCAA national
tournament. Heavyweight Melvin “Bull”
Crosby wrestled his way to the national
championship in his weight division. This
is only the second time in Chowan’s
history to ever have an individual cham
pion.
The Braves garnered five All-Americans
led by Crosby, at 190 lbs., John Reynolds,
who finished in 5th place, 165 lbs., Joe
Hawkins in 5th place, 165 lbs., Tyrone
Goins, 4th place, 118 lbs., Stockton
Williams, 4th place. The total of five All-
Americans is the highest ever achieved by
a Chowan wrestling squad and the highest
finish ever in the nationals.
Individually, there were superlative per
formances turned in by this year’s squad,
wrestling at 118, Stockton Williams
finished 32-6-2; 134, Victor Balmaceda2^-
10-1; 158, Tyrone Talbert 25-12; 167, Joe
Hawkins, 26-2; 190, John Reynolds, 31-3,
Melvin Crosby whp finished 33-1. On his
heavyweight Crosby, who has compiled a
60-8 record during his 2 years at Chowan
including a national runner-up per
formance last year and this year’s national
champion, Taylor had these comments,
“Melvin is the best heavyweight I’ve ever
seen in all my days as either a competitor
or a coach. His combination of muscle and
quickness give him the ingredients to
become a national champion.”
Mid-Atlantic Regionals
Sunday, February 11, the Braves par
ticipated in the Mid-Atlantic Regionals on
the campus of Wilkes Community College
in Wilkesboro, NC. The Braves proved
their undefeated season was no fluke, win
ning the Mid-Atlantic Districts, defeating
the no. 3 team in the nation, Middlesex
Community in head to head competition.
Chowan’s big four, Williams, Reynolds,
Crosby, and Joe Hawkins all wrestled to
individual championships in their weight
classes. Tyrone Goins, and Tyrone
Talbert, both finished second, and Alan
Hackman finished third. The Braves sent
its largest contingent of 7 to the national
tournament.
The Championship, was the first for
Chowan in its 20 year history while Taylor
was named Coach of the Year in the Mid-
Atlantic, which encompasses the entire
east coast. Athletic Director Jim Garrison,
when asked about this year’s program,
commented, “these guys are not only com
petitive but good students as well. With
their performance in the nationals, they’ve
already proven to me and the school that
they’re winners. This season they’ve
already taken on and beaten some of the
finest programs the U.S. has to offer and
that, my friend, speaks for itself.”
The Chowan Braves’ wrestling squad set
several new team records en route to a
prestigious victory in the Longwood Duals
held in Farmville, VA. Chowan defeated
district foe, Wilkes Community College,
for the third time this year, 38-10, to ad
vance into the second round where they
faced Newport News Apprentice School.
The Shipbuilders were no match for the
Braves, and Chowan soundly thrashed
them, 45-6. The championship found the
Braves across the mat from Pembroke
State, a nationally ranked power in
Division II who Chowan outpointed earlier
this season, 69-64, to win the Newport
News Invitational. In what has been a
trademark this season, the Braves “never
give up attitude” enabled them, after two
ties in earlier weight classes, to sweep the
upper weights led by All-American Melvin
“Bull” Crosby’s pin in the final match to
defeat Pembroke State, 23-17. With the
victory, the Braves conclude the regular
season undefeated with an outstanding 17-
0-2 record, ranked No. 4 in the nation their
highest finish ever. The undefeated season
is only the second" time in Chowan’s 18
year history of competitive wrestling that a
team in Chowan blue has gone through a
season unbeaten, the first since 1980.
Head Coach Jody Taylor, in only 3 years,
has established a new career record for
overall victories. The previous record,
which stood for 10 years, was set by for
mer coach Steve Nelson from 1975-1980
was 40-30-0. Under Taylor’s guidance, the
Braves have carved out an exemplorary 42-
6-1 record to establish a new standard of
excellence.
Melvin Crosby
John Reynolds
„ MH A r
Joe Hawkins
Stockton Williams
Casmus chosen Olympic festival trainer
Bob Casmus, a “trainer for all seasons”
at Chowan, has been invited to serve as a
trainer for the upcoming 1990 Olympic
Sports Festival. The event is slated for July
6-15 in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Min
nesota.
Casmus’ selection came from the U. S.
Olympic Committee and it was one of only
30 extended nationwide to take part in this
prestigious event. The festival is one of the
nation’s premier sporting events.
Since becoming head trainer at Chowan
College five yeaars ago, Bob Casmus has
probably taped over 5,000 ankles and has
put in as many as 80 hours per week during
the football season. During the athletic
seasons at Chowan, he is one young man
who just seems to be everywhere. In the
fall, he can be found on the football field
and volleyball court. In the winter, it’s the
Jesse Helms Center tending to the needs of
the basketball program and wrestling
program.
The spring will find him on the baseball
and softball diamonds and just for good
measure, he runs a very successftil Pre-
Athletic Trainers Program. This program
has grown frm six students in 1985, to 17
students this past year.
“The student trainers are an integral and
vital part of the athletic program at
Chowan. They are very instrumental in
assisting me to care for and rehabilitate
athletic injuries,” states Casmus.
Speaking to a group of students recently
about his volunteer work on die Mur
freesboro Rescue Squad, Casmus stated,
“I really feel confident about handling
whatever injuries may occur on the field
and in the course of my work with the
rescue squad. I like helping people. ’ ’
About his work in the athletic depart
ment at Chowan, Casmus explains, “I
have a great opportunity to be associated
with fine people and coaches such as
Garrison, Hawkins, and Surface. I enjoy
being a part of the action and helping to
make the difference between winning and
losing. It’s a lot of fun helping to educate
and guide students in the Pre-Athletic
Training Program, as they are the future of
Sports Medicine.”
The future of Sports Medicine is cer
tainly safe in the hands of Bob Casmus.
Bob Casmus trains future athletic trainers on the techniques of sports medicine.
CHOWAN TODAY, March, 1990 - Page 11