Prep Notes

March 2, 2002

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT: At 6-3½, 220 pounds, Collegiate's Seth Lotts was the
second smallest heavyweight in the National Prep tournament this past weekend
at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.

That didn't keep him from finishing sixth.

"He was probably the best pure wrestler in terms of technique," Collegiate coach
Frank Kiefer said. "But with that kind of size and athletic ability [in other
heavyweights], you can't make any mistakes.

"We're talking some major dudes."

Lotts won his first match in the 35-man bracket, then lost his quarterfinal
match to eventual champ Bode Ogunwole (273 pounds) of Georgetown Prep.
Lotts then won four straight matches in the consolations rounds before losing
to 6-7, 265-pound Conrad Bolston of St. John's in the consolation finals.
Bolston finished third.

Lotts, who wrestled five matches in less than three hours the second day,
lost his final match to Zamian Charles of Will Northampton.

"He just got worn out pushing those guys around," Kiefer said. "His last
match was winnable. His technique broke down because of exhaustion. Seth
couldn't even open and close his hands."

Lotts, a senior and the state independent schools champ, finished the
tournament 5-3, making him 47-5 for the season.

Two-time state champ Brian McGurk of St. Christopher's went 4-2 at 189
pounds. He lost his final match 3-2. Had he won that bout, he would have
placed in the top eight.

St. Christopher's finished 23rd out of 120 teams. Collegiate finished 41st.

© 2002, Richmond Newspapers Inc.