RHS second, EW third in Pierce Davis wrestling tourney

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 6, 2004 1:56 PM

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PINETOPS -- Rosewood turned in its best team performance of the year Saturday at the 11th annual Pierce-Davis Memorial.

The Eagles picked up 140 points and finished second overall to traditional Class 3-A powerhouse Jacksonville White Oak, which secured the team title with 145 points. Eastern Wayne, appearing in its first Pierce-Davis event, captured third in the 17-team field with 137.5 points. Washington (116.5) and Southern Nash (112.5) rounded out the top five.

Rosewood also finished second in 1997 and 2001.

Jeff McCumber (152 pounds) didn't participate due an injury and 171-pounder Kevin Cox missed action because of sickness. The Eagles' concerns increased when Tyler Daniels (119) sustained an injury in his first match which sidelined him the rest of the day.

Coach Bill Edmundson remained optimistic about his team's chances. Rosewood led White Oak by four points with six matches remaining in the tournament. However, Washington and Nash Central stood in the Eagles' way of earning their first-ever Pierce-Davis title in 11 trips to Pinetops.

Washington's Gerald Lawrence remained unbeaten in 12 outings with a 12-4 major decision against Clayton Taylor in the 215-pound final. Nash Central's Gilbert Moore improved to 7-0 with an 8-3 victory against Michael Sander in the heavyweight championship.

Fellow Eagle Antar Shafer settled for fourth at 189.

"One additional win by major decision, tech fall or pin would have given us the tournament championship," said Edmundson, whose team was in the bottom 10 after the first couple of rounds. "After the finals, I told our upper weight guys that this was a group effort (and) not to feel burdened or feel like they let the team down.

"We did the absolute best we could on that day." Senior Ramsey Brown (112) and Jeremiah Goodson (135) each won a silver medal.

Brown, who normally competes at 103 pounds, wrestled up a weight class to get a rematch with defending champion Michael Boring of Manteo. Boring defeated Brown earlier in the preseason Super 32 Challenge and had not allowed a point in nine matches this season.

The duo staged a classic championship with Boring emerging victorious 9-6.

"They have quite a history," Edmundson said. "The experience and confidence he (Brown) gained in this match will give him the desire and drive to be very competitive this season."

Brown (7-1) became the first four-time placer in Pierce-Davis history.

Goodson, the No. 2 seed, advanced to the finals lost by pinfall to Washington's Keith Harper. Jim Bish marched to the consolation finals at 103 and collected a bronze medal after pinning White Oak's Ryan Mosczienski with one second left in the second period.

Junior Matt Davis took third at 130 pounds with a 24-second pinfall against Nash Central's Randy Harrison.

"Jim and Matt wrestled some of the best matches of their career," Edmundson said. "Shafer was down 10-2 in the third period and came back, getting a reversal and pinning his opponent with six seconds left in the period.

"Byron Cavenaugh and Chris Holmes came through for us adding valuable consolation-round points."

While Rosewood enjoyed its most-successful outing on the young season, Eastern Wayne turned its best tournament effort as well. The Warriors had three gold medalists -- freshman Chris Tesar (103), junior Travis Turner (171) and senior David Brown (189).

Tesar (12-1) extended his win streak to 10 matches and grabbed his second individual title of the season. Turner remained unbeaten in 14 tries after handing top-seeded Raymond Pearson, a state runner-up last season, a 3-1 loss in their championship battle.

Brown (11-2) outscored Marquez Staton of Nash Central 13-5 in their title match.

Chris Martin (130) and Joey Burridge (140) each finished second in their respective weight classes. West Craven's John Fulcher pinned Martin with two seconds left in their match. Burridge, competing in his first tournament of the season, got pinned by Hunt's Patric Coleman midway through the second period.

The annual tournament is named after SouthWest Edgecombe wrestlers Terry Pierce and Maurice Davis. The two athletes lost their lives in a car crash while traveling to Pierce's home the night before a day-long invitational at Southern Vance.

Eastern Wayne (2-1) returns to action Wednesday with a non-conference dual match at Spring Creek.

Rosewood takes the week off before hosting its annual Eagle Invitational on Dec. 11. First-round matches are scheduled for approximately 9 a.m.