Aycock romps past competition at Beddingfield

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 16, 2006 2:03 PM

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WILSON -- Four Charles B. Aycock wrestlers earned gold medals and helped the Golden Falcons easily take the inaugural Wilson County Takedown Report Invitational contested Saturday at Beddingfield High School.

Coach Kevin Smith's team piled up a whopping 214 points, easily out-distancing runner-up Southern Nash, which amassed 121 points during the day-long event. Clayton finished one-half point behind the Firebirds, followed by East Wake (110.5) and Cardinal Gibbons (CG).

Greene Central, of the Class 2-A Eastern Plains Conference ranks, ended up 11th overall in the 18-team field.

"It was a really good day of wrestling for us," said Smith. "We had a super first round, pinning out in 10 matches which really gave us a lot of momentum going into the quarterfinals.

"It really takes a team effort to put as many points on the scoreboard as we did today. We got our usual solid performances out of our four seniors, but our younger kids played a big part in this victory today as well."

Ten of 13 Aycock wrestlers placed among the top three in the respective weight classes. Drake Gurley (103 pounds), Ngu Tran (119), Derek Lancaster (125) and Tim Harrison (160) each seized a gold medal.

Gurley earned the initial takedown against Pasquotank's A.J. Sykes, who drew the No. 1 seed. Gurley added a takedown, reversal and third-period escape to beat Sykes 7-4.

Tran dominated Clayton's Bryce St. John 11-2 in their 119-pound title tilt. Tran improved to 25-3 overall.

Lancaster (25-3) edged state-ranked David Mondragon, from Cardinal Gibbons, by a 2-1 count in their title match. Harrison (25-4) defeated Southern Nash standout Eric Wischhusen for the second time in four outings.

"Derek, technically, had a very good match," said Smith. "I cannot say enough about the way Ngu, Derek, Tim, Ronald (Lynn), Jason (Steed) and Drake wrestled today. Sometimes, it is easy as a coach to take each of their performances every week for granted and really focus on the younger kids who are making a contribution for us.

"But they are really the backbone of this team, and all of them are setting such a super example for our younger wrestlers."

Lynn (140), Steve Bentley (152) and 171-pounder Jason Steed each finished second. Bentley upset top-seeded Antonio Hedgepeth of Northeastern in the semifinals, but lost Southern Nash's Zack Shearin in the finals.

Lynn, who has 93 career victories, lost to Pasquotank's Andrew Langlois in the finals. Steed dropped a close 11-7 decision to Lucas Wendeborn in their title match.

Bryant Lancaster (145) and heavyweight Shane Lozier each finished third. Overall, the 13 Golden Falcon grapplers combined for 39 individual victories and 12 losses en route to the team title.

C.B. Aycock puts its 13-0 record on the line at home next Thursday against Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference newcomer Wilson Hunt. The first individual match is slated for a 7 p.m. start.

Inaugural Wilson County

Takedown Report Invitational

(at Beddingfield HS, Wilson)

Team scores

1. C.B. Aycock (CBA) 214

2. Southern Nash (SN) 121

3. Clayton (C) 120.5

4. East Wake (EW) 110.5

5. Cardinal Gibbons (CG) 99

5. First Flight (FF) 99

7. Nash Central (NC) 97.5

8. Northeastern (NE) 88.5

9. Pasquotank (Pas) 69.5

10. Currituck County (CC) 65

11. Greene Central (GC) 63

12. Porter Ridge (PR) 57

13. Rocky Mount (RMSH) 56

14. J.F. Webb (JFW) 51

15. Bunn (B) 47

16. Beddingfield (Bed) 37

17. SouthWest Edgecombe (SWE) 36.5

18. Hunt (Hun) 34

Championship finals

103 -- Drake Gurley (CBA) dec. A.J. Sykes (Pas), 7-4; 112 -- Ryan Mitchell (FF) wbf Saloman Tzintzun (C), 2:55; 119 -- Ngu Tran (CBA) maj. dec. Bryce St. John (C), 11-2; 125 -- Derek Lancaster (CBA) dec. David Mondragon (CG), 2-1; 130 -- Ben Varela (EW) dec. Michael Larson (C), 6-0; 135 -- Matt Pavlus (CC) maj. dec. Jasmine Cooper (NC), 18-5; 140 -- Andrew Langlois (Pas) dec. Ronald Lynn (CBA), 8-4; 145 -- Nick Gregoris (CG) maj. dec. Paul Horner (SN), 15-2; 152 -- Zack Shearin (SN) tech fall Steve Bentley (CBA), 15-0; 160 -- Tim Harrison (CBA) dec. Eric Wischhusen (SN), 4-3; 171 -- Lucas Wendeborn (NE) dec. Jason Steed (CBA), 11-7; 189 -- Marquez Staton (NC) dec. Brandon McDonald (RMSH), 5-4; 215 -- Marquis Eanes (GC) maj. dec. Robert Whitfield (SWE), 14-2; Hwt -- Charles Estep (JFW) wbf John Valissariou (EW), 2:40.