The Bishop O'Connell Knights currently weigh-in with an overall record of 7-6 in the 2002-3 wrestling season. Injuries and a shortage of personnel have hurt the Knights chances this season.

Instead of having 14 grapplers available for every match to fill the 14 designated weight slots the Knights have been wrestling the entire season with just 12 wrestlers.

"I don't recall in my 22 years of coaching ever forfeiting two weight classes virtually every match," said veteran head coach Bill Carpenter.

The Knights give up 12 team points each match due to the two forfeits.

Thus far, O'Connell has defeated conference foes Paul VI (34-33), Good Counsel (47-34) and Gonzaga (56-13). In addition, O’Connell has defeated: St. Mary's Rykken, Episcopal, Yorktown and Washington-Lee.

The Knights have dropped dual matches to: DeMatha, Ireton, St. Stephens/St. Agnes, Landon, Georgetown Prep and Wakefield.

Leading the Knights are: (103 pounds) - junior Vonn Lewis; (112 and 119) - not filled; (125) - junior Norman Anderson; (130) - freshman Corey Seglem; (135) - sophomore Kris Park; (140) - senior R.J. Constantino; (145) - senior captain Dan Yates; (152) - freshman Mike Tato or sophomore Clay Davis; (160) - senior Shea Dunbar; (171) - junior Andrew Sigalas; (189) - sophomore Mike Laird; (215) - junior Ed Lynch; and (275) – junior Warren Negri.

Spearheading the Knights in total wins (tournaments plus dual matches) is Yates - 26, Park - 23, Anderson - 20, Laird - 18, Lewis - 15 and Constantino - 13.

Leading the Knights in total pins is Yates and Laird - 12 each; Park, Anderson and Constantino - seven each; Negri - five.

Junior standout Steve Ratley was injured before the season and has not participated this season.

"The kids have been working hard. It's tough to win consistently when we forfeit two weight classes. We're doing all we can with what we have. The guys are putting 100 percent into it," said Carpenter.

The Knights participated in two tournaments during the Christmas break. Dan Yates won both the Sterling Lions Tournament and won the St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes Tournament. Kris Park and Ed Lynch won the St. Stephen’s/St. Agnes Tournament as well. Warren Negri finished as the runnerup in the Sterling tournament.

PVI Boys Are Heating Up

The Paul VI varsity boys basketball team is experiencing a good season thus far. The Panthers, coached by Levi Franklin (second season), have won four of their past five contests.

Despite a 68-63 loss to Gonzaga on Jan. 25, PVI currently weighs in with an overall record of 12-6 and a conference mark of 6-3. The Panthers were scheduled to host McNamara Jan. 28 (too late for this edition).

The "Black and Gold" led Gonzaga 40-31 at halftime and also had a nine-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Gonzaga (the third-ranked team in the entire area by the Washington Post), however, stormed back to prevail late in the fourth quarter.

Pacing the Panthers were senior Steve Proctor (21 points), junior Ryan Williams (20), senior Joe Cascio (10) and junior Darryl Proctor (eight).

Prior to the Gonzaga loss the "Black and Gold" had defeated St. John’s 71-67 (Jan. 17), McNamara 53-50 (Jan. 18), Ireton 60-54 (Jan. 21) and Carroll 2-0 (Jan. 22). The Carroll game was a forfeit, thus accounting for unusual score. It was their sixth conference win this season.

In the three wins (St. John’s, McNamara and Ireton) Steve Proctor led the way with a combined 46 points; Darryl Proctor (33); senior Nick Grant (31) and Ryan Williams (30).