| Burkart
Goes Undefeated |
By Anthony Paradise
Observer Staff Writer |
| Andrew Burkart going undefeated highlighted the South Lakes
varsity wrestling team's participation in a four-team meet
at Centreville High School on Jan. 31. |
| In addition to South Lakes and Centreville, West Potomac
and Oakton were also present at the meet, which was originally
scheduled for Jan. 22 but was postponed due to inclement weather. |
| The Seahawks first squared off against West Potomac when
South Lakes 135-pounder Cooper Trowbridge lost 3-0 to Rommel
Voellm. |
| Jaleal Sanjak then took on West Potomac's 145-pounder Nick
Frederick. Sanjak went on to lose after he was pinned with
20 seconds left in the first period. |
| South Lakes' Hill Montague lost to Joe Vallum after he was
pinned with one minute and seven seconds left in the second
period. |
| Burkart closed out the competition against the Wolverines
after he received a win via forfeit. |
| The Seahawks took on Centreville next, with the first match
featuring Trowbridge getting pinned 26 seconds into the first
period against Syed Ansari. |
| Sanjak was also pinned after 145-pounder Omar Hammond did
so one minute and eight seconds into the first period. |
| Montague then lost to 152-pounder Helton Pereira after he
won with a pin as the buzzer went off during the first period. |
| Burkart ended his team's match against the Wildcats when
he pinned 112-pounder David Micklus in the second period. |
| Next up for the Seahawks was Oakton, which won its first
match when Trowbridge was pinned by Jeff Dicicco with one
minute and nine seconds left in the first period. |
| Sanjak was pinned by Glen Warrington with 17.7 seconds left
in the first and Montague also lost after Tom Burton defeated
him 12-0. |
| Burkart stopped the losing skid when he was able to pin
John Perl with 31.8 seconds left in the third period. |
| With the conclusion of this event, Burkart's individual
record moves to 12-7, while Trowbridge's dropped to 4-13,
Sanjak's dropped to 3-14 and Montague's dropped to 4-13. |
| South Lakes coach Rob Gayle applauded Burkart's effort when
he said, "Andy's tough. He's the veteran on our team
as a junior. He works hard in practice. Everybody looks up
to him. Today he had two strong, hard-fought matches that
he won, so I'm really proud of him. He worked really hard." |
| Burkart and the rest of the team will have wrestled against
Edison and Bishop Ireton on Feb. 2, but will then compete
in districts at Langley on Feb. 11 and 12. |
| With the wins he received, Burkart said he's gaining confidence.
He also said the other wrestlers on the squad are competitive,
but he realizes this is a rebuilding year |
| "I feel a little more confident," Burkart said.
"The guys on the team are good, but it's definitely a
building year." |
| Coach Gayle also recognizes the inexperience his small team
has, but he thinks tonight's matches, along with the season,
can be a building block for next year. |
| "Of course we can build on this," Gayle said.
"My kids have been building all year. We got a young
squad and, you know, with a little more practice and a little
more experience, they'll be fine." |
| |
