CBA wins Firebird Duals

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on January 24, 2006 2:07 PM

• Print
• Email

BAILEY -- Charles B. Aycock emerged the team champion and Rosewood finished 10th overall in the Thomas Cowles-Firebird Duals contested Saturday at Southern Nash.

Eight wrestlers finished the day unbeaten as the Golden Falcons cruised past West Johnston 59-15 in the title match. Aycock extended its single-season school record to 20 victories, and has yet to experience defeat.

"This weekend was a step up in competition for us," said Golden Falcon coach Kevin Smith. "There were some really solid dual teams here today that we wanted to see prior to the postseason. We know that we have to put our kids in tough, competitive situations before we get to (individual) regionals so that they will have experience with those type of matches.

"Our philosophy is that tough competition makes you better, win or lose."

Half of the 15-team field included participants -- in all four classifications -- from the 2004 N.C. High School Athletic Association dual-team playoffs.

First-round winners remained in the Cowles Bracket, while first-round losers dropped into the Firebird Bracket. Aycock posted victories over Bunn (63-0), Jacksonville (55-18) and First Flight (60-18). The Golden Falcons advanced to the championship match with a 44-27 decision against Raleigh Millbrook.

Aycock recorded the initial takedown in 11 of 13 contested matches against West Johnston.

"I was extremely pleased with how we wrestled on our feet in this match," said Smith, whose team collected 28 takedowns overall, compared to just five for West. "We were able to watch West Johnson over the course of the day, and they looked very good from the top and bottom positions.

"We felt like we had an edge on our feet, so we chose to keep as many of the individual matches in the neutral position as much as possible to exploit where we felt like we had an advantage."

Drake Gurley (103 pounds), Ngu Tran (119), Derek Lancaster (125), Ronald Lynn (140), Bryant Lancaster (145), Steve Bentley (152), Tim Harrison (160), Jason Steed (171), Zach Wright (189), Jarrett Covar (215) and heavyweight Shane Lozier each picked up an individual win. Tran posted a major decision, while Lancaster and Bentley each earned a technical fall -- a victory by 15 or more points.

Lynn exited with 99 career wins and can reach the century mark Wednesday at Southern Wayne. Lancaster, Harrison, Steed and Covar each ended the day 5-0. Tran, Lynn and Lozier each turned in a 4-0 worksheet.

"There isn't much more to say about these guys that I haven't already said," quipped Smith. "All of them had to wrestle some tough kids to get that undefeated record. I think we had some kids continue to turn the corner for us, which is key if we want to do well in the postseason.

"Jarrett and Zach had their best showings of the year, and that really makes us a much better dual team. Both are sophomores, which means they should continue to get better each week."

Aycock can clinch a share of the Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference regular-season title -- its first since 2002 -- with a victory over the Saints on Wednesday. The Golden Falcons will participate in the Lee R. Hall Duals at SouthWest Edgecombe on Jan. 28 and conclude regular-season action Jan. 31 at home against archrival Eastern Wayne.

"We are still a young team, and as a result, continue to be too inconsistent on certain aspects that I would like us to be," said Smith. "So, there are always things to improve on. We have two big conference matches coming up over the next two weeks that we have to prepare for, and next weekend will be another tough dual tournament.

"There will be very little down time this week in the practice room."

Rosewood endured an opening-round loss to D.H. Conley and battled back through the consolation bracket. The Eagles turned back SouthWest Edgecombe (55-24), Northern Nash (56-24) and Rocky Mount Senior High (48-36). The host Firebirds grounded Rosewood 46-34 in the ninth-place match.

Sophomore Olivia Neal posted a 5-0 mark, including an overtime pin against Landon Lucas of SouthWest. Senior captain Matt Davis tied the school record for career wins (153) with a 30-second pin of the Firebirds' Justin Sanders.

Jim Bish also turned in a 5-0 record. Byron Cavenaugh, J.D. Baker, Anthony Gibson, Andrew Sass and Chris Holmes each won three matches.

The Eagles (15-7) return to action Wednesday at North Johnston for a key Class 1-A Carolina/Tar-Roanoke Conference match. Rosewood finishes off its regular-season schedule with a tri-match Saturday against C/T-RC foes Spring Creek and Manteo.

2005 Thomas

Cowles-Firebird Duals

(at Southern Nash HS, Bailey)

Championship match

C.B. Aycock 59

West Johnston 15

103 -- Drake Gurley (CBA) wbf Supple, 2:29; 112 -- Dipkin (WJ) dec. Jordan Pearson, 6-3; 119 -- Ngu Tran (CBA) maj. dec. Alrala, 16-4; 125 -- Derek Lancaster (CBA) wbf Furr, 0:59; 130 -- Gonzales (WJ) wbf Sam Rabhan, 4:30; 135 -- Boca (WJ) wbf Josh Overton, 3:45; 140 -- Ronald Lynn (CBA) wbf Johnson, 3:37; 145 -- Bryant Lancaster (CBA) tech fall Hodges, 23-8; 152 -- Steve Bentley (CBA) tech fall Montagne, 19-4; 160 -- Tim Harrison (CBA) wbf McMullins, 0:13; 171 -- Jason Steed (CBA) wbf Sparrow, 1:36; 189 -- Zach Wright (CBA) dec. Taylor, 7-2; 215 -- Jarrett Covar (CBA) wbf Heatley, 3:27; Hwt -- Shane Lozier (CBA) by forfeit.