Wrestling notebook: Ocean Lakes coach retiring

Long-time coach Jack Harcourt said he will step down from coaching the Ocean Lakes team at the end of the season.

“People call me the swinging door because I’ve stepped down and come back,” said Harcourt, who has guided the Dolphins 12 of the 16 years he has been at the school.

Harcourt, who wrestled at Norview High and Old Dominion University, previously coached at Princess Anne and Great Neck middle schools and Green Run High. He was also a match official and a state rules interpreter.

Harcourt will be inducted into the Virginia Chapter of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame on April 17. along with former Kellam coach Kevin Michaels.

“I’ll miss part of it,” Harcourt said. “I’ll be there for the coaches to help the program; I’m always there for that.”

Ocean Lakes edges past Western Branch

Host Ocean Lakes and Western Branch dominated at the weather-shortened Ocean Lakes Invitational. Both schools finished with four individual weight-class winners, but the Dolphins took the top-spot 142½-132½.

Third-place Tallwood trailed the Bruins by 48 points.

Eleven schools were unable to attend because of the winter storm, including state powers Matoaca (AAA), Grafton and Poquoson (AA) and state private school stalwarts Cape Henry and St. Christopher’s.

“We had a lot of good kids in a lot of different weight classes,” Harcourt said. “It’s the second year of the competition and we’re planning a third. The intent is to make it a premier event before the district tournaments.”

Storm plays havoc with teams’ schedules

The winter storm has left a number of Beach and Eastern District schools scrambling to wrap up their regular seasons.

Bayside, Cox, Kellam, Kempsville, Landstown, Salem and host Princess Anne are set to make up matches from Saturday at 3 p.m. today.

On Thursday, Booker T. Washington and Maury are scheduled to kick off at 6 p.m. at Granby, while the Comets will host Norview. Churchland, Lake Taylor and Norcom will square off at Wilson at the same time.

Back points

Because of a limited number of wrestlers, there wasn’t a 125-pound weight class in the Ocean Lakes Invitational. Western Branch’s Afsheen Hashemy bumped up to 130, pinned fellow 125-pounder Taylor Whitt of Norfolk Academy in the semis and was supposed to face teammate Kyle Wilson in the final – it ended up in a double forfeit. ... Granby has gone undefeated in the Eastern District the last six years.

– Darrell Cuenca