Rosewood grapplers sweep tri-match

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 22, 2006 2:12 PM

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Jim Bish didn't want the forfeit.

Before Rosewood took the mat against North Johnston on Thursday evening, Bish walked over to head coach Bill Edmundson and asked to move up to 125 pounds. Edmundson obliged and inserted Dusten Patterson into the 119-pound slot to preserve the forfeit.

Bish made the most of his chance. The senior squeezed out a two-point decision over the Panthers' Roger Willoughby during a decisive 33-0 run as the Eagles easily prevailed 51-22.

A returning state qualifier, Bish emerged one of eight Rosewood grapplers to post a 2-0 record during the non-conference tri-meet. The senior notched a second-period fall against Franklinton's Gar Askew earlier in the evening.

"Jim had family here and wanted to have them see what he can do," said Edmundson. "He beat a quality wrestler."

Rosewood turned in a dominating performance against North Johnston. Edmundson's squad reeled off 33 consecutive points before the Panthers' Glenwood Watson recorded a first-period fall at 145 pounds.

Bish's "bump" to 125 didn't faze teammates Baker, Hare and Josh Holmes, who each pinned their respective opponents. Overall, Rosewood's lower weights -- from 112 to 145 -- posted a combined 12-1 record.

"I think our strength is in our lower weight classes," said Edmundson. "(Bish's request) was seen as a challenge. The most-important aspect of bumping up is that they are doing what is best for the team.

"That sense of team and the ability to sacrifice for the team is what makes our bond so tight here at Rosewood."

North Johnston pulled within 39-16 behind victories from Brandon Oliver (152), Jacob Lewis (171) and Wayne Johnson (189). The Eagles' Person and Morris closed out the match with first-period falls.

Edmundson said the result did not count toward the Class 1-A Carolina/Tar-Roanoke Athletic/Albemarle Conference standings. The league is planning a two-day, dual-team conference championship in mid-January due to travel time involved for some of the teams.

Rosewood improved to 5-1 overall, while North Johnston exited 6-6.

"We're viewed as the team to beat in our conference," said Edmundson. "We don't mind having the target on our backs because we have a mature group of guys with a great sense of team concept.

"I'm sure North will come at us pretty strong at every opportunity."

Rosewood started the night with a 69-12 rout of Franklinton.

After the teams traded forfeits, Olivia Neal put the Eagles ahead for good with a come-from-behind 10-6 decision over the Red Rams' Bobby Holloman. Holloman led 6-5 after two periods, but turned the match in her favor with a late third-period reversal.

"I think she's beginning to get a reputation as a tough competitor and she just wishes people would view her as a wrestler, and not get so caught up in the fact she is a girl competing with boys," said Edmundson. "I think she wrestled smart tonight against an obviously stronger wrestler and was able to pull out a very closely-contested match."

Bish, who wrestled at 119, J.D. Baker (125) and Chris Hare (130) followed with consecutive falls. Franklinton triumphed at 135, but Rosewood closed out the match with a 42-0 run.

The Eagles got victories from three first-year starters -- Jordan Owens (145), Vontarius Kornegay (171) and J.P. Person (215) during that stretch. Byron Cavenaugh, Austin Jernigan and heavyweight Trevor Morris each drew a forfeit.

"Our key matchups tonight just seemed to fall where our experience is," said Edmundson. "I will put our first-year guys against anyone's first-year guys, and we will usually win. I think it's because we don't shy away from hard competition and the boys will give me everything they have.

"It's nice to be able to say that as a coach."

Rosewood 69

Franklinton 12

Hwt -- Trevor Morris (RHS) by forfeit; 103 -- Brandon McFaune (FHS) by forfeit; 112 -- Olivia Neal (RHS) dec. Bobby Holloman, 10-6; 119 -- Jim Bish (RHS) wbf Gar Askew, 2 minutes, 54 seconds; 125 -- J.D. Baker (RHS) wbf Adra King, 0:55; 130 -- Chris Hare (RHS) wbf Corey Hoffman, 1:06; 135 -- Jose Loera (FHS) wbf Josh Holmes, 1:10; 140 -- Richie Pelt (RHS) by forfeit; 145 -- Jordan Owens (RHS) wbf Trey Krooney, 0:59; 152 -- Byron Cavenaugh (RHS) by forfeit; 160 -- Austin Jernigan (RHS) by forfeit; 171 -- Vontarius Kornegay (RHS) wbf Dallas Puett, 5:08; 189 -- Brandon Dean (RHS) by forfeit; 215 -- J.P. Person (RHS) wbf Andrew Shelton, 1:47.

Records: Rosewood 4-1, Franklinton 3-8.

Rosewood 51

North Johnston 22

112 -- Olivia Neal (RHS) by forfeit; 119 -- Dusten Patterson (RHS) by forfeit; 125 -- Jim Bish (RHS) dec. Roger Willoughby, 6-4; 130 -- J.D. Baker (RHS) wbf Dean Jones, 3:51; 135 -- Chris Hare (RHS) wbf Justin Paul, 1:55; 140 -- Josh Holmes (RHS) wbf Daniel Munoz, 0:41; 145 -- Glenwood Watson (NJ) wbf Richie Pelt, 1:50; 152 -- Brandon Oliver (NJ) wbf Jordan Owens, 1:31; 160 -- Byron Cavenaugh (RHS) by forfeit; 171 -- Jacob Lewis (NJ) maj. dec. Vontarius Kornegay, 11-1; 189 -- Wayne Johnson (NJ) wbf Brandon Dean, 5:08; 215 -- J.P. Person (RHS) wbf Tyler Hayes, 0:19; Hwt -- Trevor Morris (RHS) wbf Preston Wilkins, 1:30; 103 -- double forfeit.

Records: Rosewood 5-1, North Johnston 6-6.

Next match: Rosewood home vs. Clinton, Dec. 28.