Warriors open season with win over Hawks

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 16, 2005 1:58 PM

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Experience over youth.

The Eastern Wayne wrestling team smoothly proved that theory in its season-opening, non-conference 51-22 conquest of Erwin Triton on Tuesday evening. Five of the Warriors' eight returning starters emerged victorious either by fall or forfeit during the 62-minute battle.

The Hawks put eight freshmen -- in 13 weight classes -- on the mat. The visitors forfeited at 171 pounds.

"I was pleased with them ... for the most part," said Eastern Wayne coach Mike Brown, now in his ninth season. "We were rusty ... shooting with our head down and making some early-season mistakes. A couple of them weren't on weight, which is not that unusual, but they are returners.

"I didn't fuss to much because luckily we had somebody to put in each weight class which is the first time in a long time that I've had this many kids. I think that helps a whole lot."

Brown shuffled his lineup due to the weight issues, but the freshmen-laden Hawks were simply no match. The Warriors earned the initial takedown in eight of 13 contested bouts. Six of those takedowns eventually resulted in either first- or second-period pins.

Overall, Eastern Wayne had 15 takedowns.

Four matches lasted the full six minutes, but two extended into sudden-death overtime. Triton prevailed in both matches, which pleased head coach Roger Lundy since both wrestlers are returning starters.

"I have four wrestlers out there who have experience, and we're still missing a few people," said Lundy. "But with so many first-year kids, I think we were respectable. I thought we did a respectable job and some of the kids had guts.

"You could tell a lot of them were dead on their feet, but they kept working."

Warrior senior Travis Turner, a returning state qualifier, collected a first-period pin against Triton junior Bryant Parish at 189 pounds. Teammate Charles Boyd pinned heavyweight Clayton Wilson in 45 seconds, but the inexperienced Hawks refused to give in so easily.

Boyd gave up nearly 40 pounds to Wilson.

"Boyd has been in the wrestling room for only a week," said a grinning Brown. "I was tickled with my young kids ... they stepped up and had a couple of pins instead of wins. Triton won four or five matches and we didn't give up but one pin.

"We may not win them all, but if you do lose, give up three (a decision) and not six (a pin) points."

Freshman Jeff Suggs turned back Patrick Murray 20-12 in their 103-pound bout. Sophomore Richard Galvan followed up with a 58-second pin of Jordan Harris at 112.

Sophomore Chris Tesar, also a returning state qualifier, redirected the momentum to the Warriors. Tesar needed just 38 seconds to pin freshman Hunter Johnston. The quick stick started a 33-9 run as the Warriors claimed seven of the final nine individual matches.

James Knight followed Tesar with a 15-11 decision at 125. Brack Duvall, a first-year starter, recorded a 43-second pin at 130. After back-to-back wins by the Hawks, the Warriors received victories -- all pins -- from Decarlos Jones, Joey Burridge and Brian Lincoln.

Tyler Wicks gained the lone forfeit to end the match.

"The ones that got pinned ... they were overwhelmed by good experience," said Lundy. "My 89-pounder (Parish) missed last year for medical reasons and didn't wrestle as a sophomore. He was out there tonight trying to remember what to do.

"He's a tough kid. Once we get in some conditioning and learn some moves, I think we're going to look a lot different when we meet again."

Eastern Wayne 51

Erwin Triton 22

189 -- Travis Turner (EW) wbf Bryant Parrish, 1:18; 215 -- Charles Smith (T) dec. Brandon Johnson, 7-5 (OT); Hwt -- Charles Boyd (EW) wbf Clayton Wilson, 0:45; 103 -- Jeff Suggs (T) maj. dec. Patrick Murray, 20-12; 112 -- Richard Galvan (T) wbf Jordan Harris, 0:58; 119 -- Chris Tesar (EW) wbf Hunter Johnston, 0:38; 125 -- James Knight (EW) dec. Blake Garris, 15-11; 130 -- Brack Duvall (EW) wbf Steve Turnage, 0:43; 135 -- Johnny Sotelo (T) dec. T.J. Highsmith, 14-12 (OT); 140 -- Zach Tart (T) wbf James Condon, 0:38; 145 -- Decarlos Jones (EW) wbf Eathan Strickland, 2:59; 152 -- Joey Burridge (EW) wbf Caleb Cruse, 0:24; 160 -- Brian Lincoln (EW) wbf Trevor West, 0:48; 171 -- Tyler Wicks (EW) by forfeit.