ECC 3-A wrestling - Golden Falcons pummel Warriors

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 20, 2006 2:10 PM

• Print
• Email

PIKEVILLE -- Unemotional and focused on its immediate task, Charles B. Aycock's wrestling team grabbed its lunch pail and turned in a blue-collar effort Thursday evening against Wilson Hunt.

The Golden Falcons notched seven falls and two decisions in 11 contested individual matches, and dumped the Warriors 66-9. C.B. Aycock continued its best start in school history (15-0) and remained unbeaten in two Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference outings.

The loss mathematically eliminated Hunt (3-7, 0-3 ECC) from the dual-team playoffs.

"It was a good business-like, workman-like effort for the most part," said Aycock coach Kevin Smith, who has 109 career victories. "We wanted to come out and take care of business ... get it done and get off the mat.

"It's good to see that we don't have to ride emotional highs to wrestle well. That says we're starting to mature as a team."

A sparse and surprisingly quiet crowd watched Aycock defeat Hunt in just 65 minutes. The Golden Falcons, who last won an ECC regular-season crown in 2002, moved into a first-place tie in the five-team league with county rival Southern Wayne. The teams meet next Tuesday evening in Dudley.

Smith and his coaching staff spent the week correcting mistakes that surfaced in last weekend's individual tournament at Wilson Beddingfield. Smith said that several wrestlers showed those minor changes on the mat against the Warriors, but proved to be most pleased with 189-pounder Zach Wright and 135-pounder Josh Overton.

Wright earned his 12th individual win with a first-period fall against Taylor Aycock. Overton recorded the match's fastest fall -- a 47-second pin against Cody Parrish.

"We had a couple of kids take a step forward tonight," said Smith. " Zach wrestled much better tonight than he did a week ago. Josh looked much better tonight, too.

"That's what we've got to have out of our young kids."

Aycock's Drake Gurley (103 pounds) and Jordan Pearson (112) recorded back-to-back falls within one second of each other. Gurley needed 1 minute, 17 seconds to pin Spencer Rhem. Pearson pinned Brandon Mooring in 1:16.

The quick results put the Golden Falcons ahead 12-0.

Senior Derek Lancaster (26-3) recorded a five-minute fall sandwiched between two Warrior victories. Hunt trailed 18-10, but would get no closer en route to its fifth consecutive defeat.

Aycock reeled off nine consecutive individual wins to finish off Hunt -- a first-year ECC competitor. Overton's fall started a match-ending 48-point run which included three forfeits, two decisions and four falls.

Junior Ronald Lynn and Bryant Lancaster drew back-to-back forfeits at 140 and 145 pounds, respectively. Steve Bentley pinned Spencer Morton with three seconds left in the opening period at 152 pounds.

Tim Harrison (160) picked up the Golden Falcons' final forfeit. Jason Steed (171) and heavyweight Shane Lozier each earned a decision. Lozier fought off his back in the first period to defeat the Warriors' Terrell Dunn 8-4.

Wright and Covar (215) each pinned their respective opponent.

"We looked much better on bottom today," said Smith. "At this point in the season, the practices are shortening up. We're doing more polishing and less teaching, and we'll continue on that course.

"We want our kids to be fresh and ready to go."

Notes: Aycock is 25-3 in ECC regular-season play since 2002. ... Lynn leads the team with 29 individual wins. ... The Golden Falcons recorded the initial takedown in seven matches and 13 overall. ... Hunt lost a team point due to unsportsmanlike conduct. ... Aycock has outscored ECC opposition 141-9 this season.

C.B. Aycock 66

Wilson Hunt 9

105 -- Drake Gurley (CBA) wbf Spencer Rhem, 1:17; 114 -- Jordan Pearson (CBA) wbf Brandon Mooring, 1:16; 121 -- Jackson Parker (H) maj. dec. Brandon Bailey, 17-4; 127 -- Derek Lancaster (CBA) wbf Ryan Lippert, 5:00; 132 -- Brandon Barnes (H) wbf Sam Rabhan, 3:38; 137 -- Josh Overton (CBA) wbf Cody Parrish, 0:47; 142 -- Ronald Lynn (CBA) by forfeit; 147 -- Bryant Lancaster (CBA) by forfeit; 154 -- Steve Bentley (CBA) wbf Spencer Morton, 1:54; 162 -- Tim Harrison (CBA) by forfeit; 173 -- Jason Steed (CBA) dec. Walker Holt, 10-4; 191 -- Zach Wright (CBA) wbf Taylor Aycock, 1:27; 217 -- Jarrett Covar (CBA) wbf Billy Barnes, 3:51; Hwt -- Shane Lozier (CBA) wbf Terrell Dunn, 8-4.

Records: C.B. Aycock 15-0, 2-0 Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference; Wilson Hunt 3-7, 0-3.