Eastern Wayne matmen dominate Wilson Hunt

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 4, 2006 2:10 PM

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Aware of preseason expectations and certainly hoping his wrestlers wouldn't gaze too far ahead toward future opponents, Mike Brown offered one simplistic piece of advice Tuesday evening -- don't overlook Wilson Hunt.

The team listened.

Brown's squad scored the final 42 points of the match and dealt Hunt a 53-21 defeat in the Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference opener for both teams. Eastern Wayne remained unbeaten at home (5-0) this season and improved to 13-5 overall.

Hunt, an ECC newcomer, exited 3-5.

With its most-balanced and experienced team, Eastern Wayne is expected to challenge archrival Charles B. Aycock for ECC supremacy later this month. Until that Jan. 31 meeting, Brown urged his Warriors remain focused on Hunt.

"I just wanted to make sure they didn't overlook," said Brown. "I didn't want them to come out and underestimate Hunt, thinking it was going to be an easy match.

"We went out and wrestled well."

Hunt prevailed in four of the first six individual bouts and built a 21-11 lead. Heavyweight Terrell Dunn, who out-weighed the Warriors' Charles Boyd by 70 pounds, collected a second-period pin. Teammate Ryan Lippert also pinned his opponent, while Brandon Barnes escaped 4-2 with a late takedown at 130 pounds.

"Hunt has got a young team," said Brown. "They came out, fought hard and didn't give up."

Once Eastern Wayne ventured into the upper-weight classes, the Warriors seized control of the match.

Freshman A.J. Washington started the 42-point rally with a second-period fall over 135-pounder Chase Randall. T.J. Highsmith received a forfeit and Detori Mitchell followed with a second-period fall against Tanner Tinnerman at 145 pounds.

Senior 152-pounder Joey Burridge inched closer to the 100-win plateau with a first-period pin of Spencer Morton. Burridge has 98 career victories and should surpass the century mark Friday in a quad (four-team) dual at South Central.

Brian Lincoln (160 pounds), Tyler Wicks (171), Travis Turner (189) and 215-pounder Brandon Johnson each picked up a win. Turner leads the team with 36 individual victories, and is on pace to shatter the school's single-season win total of 45 shared by current teammate Chris Tesar and former standout Vince Ramirez.

"We always stress being aggressive from the start," said Brown. "I was pleased with my upper weights and once we got to 145 pounds, we wrestled pretty good."

Eastern Wayne recorded the initial takedown in nine of 12 contested matches. The Warriors appeared in better condition in matches that lasted four-plus minutes.

"I've noticed in dual meets and (individual) tournaments that we're in as good as shape or better than some people we've wrestled," said Brown. "We haven't lost because of conditioning."

Notes: The Warriors' Tesar, a sophomore, is 34-0 and 79-4 in his career. ... Burridge is one win away from becoming the fourth EW wrestler with 30-plus victories this season. ... Eastern Wayne has won four of its last six ECC matches, and 30 of its last 42 dual-team matches overall since 2004-05.

Eastern Wayne 53

Wilson Hunt 21

Hwt -- Terrell Dunn (H) wbf Charles Boyd, 4:35; 103 -- Spencer Rhem (H) by forfeit; 112 -- Jordan Harris (EW) wbf Cameron Hutchens, 4:00; 119 -- Chris Tesar (EW) tech fall Parker Jackson, 16-1; 125 -- Ryan Lippert (H) wbf Romondo McEachern, 0:57; 130 -- Brandon Barnes (H) dec. Brack Duvall, 4-2; 135 -- A.J. Washington (EW) wbf Chase Randall, 3:06; 140 -- T.J. Highsmith (EW) by forfeit; 145 -- Detori Mitchell (EW) wbf Tanner Tinnerman, 2:34; 152 -- Joey Burridge (EW) wbf Spencer Morton, 1:20; 160 -- Brian Lincoln (EW) wbf Charles Pittman, 3:35; 171 -- Tyler Wicks (EW) dec. Walker Holt, 11-5; 189 -- Travis Turner (EW) wbf Nick Boyette, 4:38; 215 -- Brandon Johnson (EW) dec. Billy Barnes, 9-4.