Prep wrestling -- Rosewood dominates GC

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 2, 2004 1:57 PM

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After turning in ninth-place finishes in each of the Falcon Invitational and Turkey Invitational, veteran Rosewood wrestling coach Bill Edmundson didn't know what to expect heading into Wednesday's season-opening dual match against Greene Central.

Once the match concluded, Edmundson was pleasantly surprised. The Eagles triumphed in 11 of 14 contested matches and cruised past the Rams 66-18.

"I did not expect this," Edmundson said of the lopsided score. "It's always a morale booster to win your opening dual match of the season. Tonight we had several guys who experienced their first head-to-head wrestling match."

In his varsity debut, sophomore Chris Holmes turned in an entertaining effort at 171 pounds. Aggressive from the opening whistle, Holmes got in several throws against the Rams' Clifton Ellison.

Holmes recorded two takedowns and two nearfalls in the opening period. He added a pair of second-period takedowns and another nearfall before pinning Ellison in 3 minutes, 41.9 seconds.

Edmundson appeared shocked, but extremely tickled, with Holmes' effort.

"I think he found out it's a little tougher than football as far as endurance and strength requirements," Edmundson chuckled. "He has never seen that side of the mat before, but he's a natural athlete. It always helps to have athletic ability.

"He came through for us."

Holmes' second-period pin clinched the overall match for the Eagles, who handed Greene Central (3-4) its third straight defeat. Rosewood collected 10 pinfalls against the Rams, who had several first-year wrestlers on the mat.

Edmundson's squad rattled off 36 straight points, beginning with Dustin Sittig's second period-pin at 125 pounds. Matt Davis and Jeremiah Goodson followed with first-period pins, while Byron Cavenaugh stuck Eric Horton in the second period.

"Byron and Chris turned in impressive individual matches," Edmundson said. "Both of these young men listen and respond to coaches suggestions. It's such a pleasure to have a team that relies on us to see things they can't see and make suggestions.

"Veteran wrestlers sealed the win with solid performances."

Senior Ramsey Brown pinned the Rams' Grayson Hall as time expired and picked up career win No. 116. Kyle Scott claimed a disqualification against Eric Horton, who received four technical violations including three for illegally locking hands.

Jeff McCumber (152 pounds), Antar Shafer (189) and heavyweight Michael Sander each stopped their respective opponent in the first period.

Three matches needed two periods to decide the outcome, while Horton extended Scott to three periods.

Greene Central received victories -- all pins -- from Joel Chamberlain (119), Tim McKinney (160) and 215-pounder Marquis Eanes. All three matches averaged 54 seconds.

"Most of the guys, except two or three, wrestled a good match," Rams coach Dan Minor said. "A lot of stuff was put on them tonight, not by a veteran team, but by a veteran-coached team. It's stuff that's been passed down to these new guys and they run it well.

"That's some stuff we weren't ready for, but all in all, I was pleased with the effort."

The Rams take a week off before visiting Wilson Beddingfield on Dec. 9.

Rosewood returns to action Saturday in the 11th annual Pierce-Davis Memorial Tournament at SouthWest Edgecombe in Pinetops. Opening-round matches begin at 10 a.m.

"The next few weeks will be critical to our development as a competitive team, and so far, the team is showing real dedication and potential," said Edmundson.

Rosewood 66

Greene Central 18

112 -- Ramsey Brown (RHS) wbf Grayson Hall, 1:50

119 -- Joel Chamberlin (GC) wbf Chris Hare, 1:13

125 -- Dustin Sittig (RHS) wbf Robert Phillips, 3:44

130 -- Matt Davis (RHS) wbf Cameron Taylor, 0:38

135 -- Jeremiah Goodson (RHS) wbf Michael Speedy, 0:59

140 -- Byron Cavanaugh (RHS) wbf Eric Horton, 2:29

145 -- Kyle Scott (RHS) by DQ

152 -- Jeff McCumber (RHS) wbf Billy Teston, 1:26

160 -- Tim McKinney (GC) wbf Brandon Dean, 0:37

171 -- Chris Holmes (RHS) wbf Clifton Ellison, 3:42

189 -- Antar Shafter (RHS) wbf Darrin Gohrman, 0:47

215 -- Marquis Eanes (RHS) wbf Brandon Hall, 0;51

Hwt -- Michael Sander (RHS) wbf Justin Wellington, 0:52

103 -- Jim Bish (RHS) wbf Stephen Mace, 0:29