MICHAEL KIRAL / L’Observateur / Febuary 11, 1999

KENNER – East St. John’s Jason Delatte stayed with the No. 2-seed,Northshore’s Gene Bird before being pinned near the end of the second period in the first round of the Louisiana High School Athletic Association’s Division I state wrestling meet Friday morning at the Pontchartrain Center.

Delatte, wrestling in the 103-pound weight class, went on to fall to Kaplan’s Laron Patin, the seventh seed, in a 17-4 major decision in the consolation round Friday night. Patin was eliminated in the next round byDeLaSalle’s Matthew Vasquez by a 18-13 decision.

Delatte, a senior in only his second year of wrestling, stayed with Bird throughout his match. Delatte took down Bird to take a 2-0 lead beforeBird came back with three escapes to take the lead. Bird then took downDelatte near the end of the first three-minute period to take a 5-2 lead.

Delatte rallied to open the second period, pulling to within two on an escape and then tying the score at 5 with a take down. Bird came backwith an escape and then took down Delatte to take an 8-5 lead. Delattecould not escape as the clock ran down and Bird pinned him with three seconds left in the second period.

Bird pinned Jesuit’s Mickey Kincade in 43 seconds in the next round before falling to Adam Manguno of Brother Martin in the quarterfinals by a 9-8 decision. Bird went on to sweep through the consolation round, pining HolyCross’ Jesse Bonin in the finals in 5:51 to place third overall. Catholic’sAlex Knight, the top seed, won the championship with an 8-3 decision over Manguno in the finals.

“He got the last takedown and pinned me,” Delatte said. “But it has been awonderful season.”Delatte qualified for the state meet by reaching the quarterfinals in the regionals two weeks ago at Jesuit and going through the consolations to place fifth.

“Jason did really well,” East St. John coach said. “Wrestling the No. 2-seed and kept it tied at 5 until he made a mistake and Bird caught it. “Foronly his second year in wrestling, he wrestled really good. “You can’t takeanything away from Bird. He is a great wrestler and if you make a mistake,he will catch you.”In the team standings, Brother Martin ended Jesuit’s run of 11 consecutive state championships, edging the Blue Jays, 234-229. It was BrotherMartin’s first state championship since 1987. Grace King was third with137.5 points, followed by St. Paul’s with 127.5 and Northshore with 115.

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