Rosewood matmen dump Louisburg

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 21, 2007 2:01 AM

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A six-day layoff due to first-semester exams didn't seem to bother Rosewood's wrestling team Friday evening.

The Eagles prevailed in eight of 11 contested matches and turned back league rival Louisburg 45-24. The match did not count toward the Class 1-A Carolina/Tar-Roanoke Athletic/Albemarle/Mid-State Conference standings.

"Considering we're coming off exam week, I feel very good about tonight's effort," said RHS head coach Bill Edmundson. "We had to wrestle Saturday, so several of the guys wanted to wrestle a six-minute match so their weight would be down for the Saturday (dual) tournament."

Rosewood's J.P. Person, a first-year starter, earned his seventh consecutive victory with a 26-second fall over the Warriors' Daniel Johnson. Heavyweight Trevor Morris followed with a third-period fall over Orlando Ruffin, which gave the Eagles a 12-0 advantage after two individual bouts.

"J.P. has really turned into a quality wrestler ... smart and very strong," said Edmundson. "Trevor wrestled a very good match against Ruffin. He kept the lead going into the third period where we chose bottom (to start).

"(Trevor) got an escape, then a takedown to the pin."

After a forfeit at 103, Rosewood's Olivia Neal turned in a masterful third-period fall over Justin Arssian. Neal dominated from the opening whistle and led 16-8 when she turned the 112-pound Arssian with half nelson and pinned him at the 5-minute, 28-second mark.

"Olivia finally got the match she's been waiting for with Justin," said Edmundson.

Jim Bish (119), Chris Hare (130) and Byron Cavenaugh (145) each picked up a three-point decision. T.J. Sprinkle (160) pinned Keith Lancaster late in the opening period. Vontarius Kornegay (171) pinned the Warriors' Rashad Yarborough early in the second period.

Andrew Sass received a forfeit at 152.

"Our athletes, especially the first-year guys are exactly where we expect them to be this time of the year with their skill set," said Edmundson. "Saturday's tournament will be a great test and go a long way in preparing us for the regionals."

The Eagles (21-6) competed in the day-long Firebird Duals at Southern Nash. Teams expected to participate were perennial 4-A power Cary, Charles B. Aycock, New Bern, West Johnson and the host Firebirds.

Details from the dual will appear in Monday's edition.

Rosewood 45

Louisburg 24

215 -- J.P. Person (RHS) wbf Daniel Johnson, 0:26; Hwt -- Trevor Morris (RHS) wbf Orlando Ruffin, 4:45; 103 -- Corey Newell (L) by forfeit; 112 -- Olivia Neal (RHS) wbf Justin Arssian, 5:28; 119 -- Jim Bish (RHS) dec. Mamour Camara, 5-4; 125 -- Gilbert Williamson (L) dec. J.D. Baker, 16-15; 130 -- Chris Hare (RHS) dec. Anthony Diaz, 7-1; 135 -- Cody Kittle (L) dec. Josh Holmes, 9-7; 140 -- Noel Mueller (L) by forfeit; 145 -- Byron Cavenaugh (RHS) dec. Ernest Henderson, 6-3; 152 -- Andrew Sass (RHS) by forfeit; 160 -- T.J. Sprinkle (RHS) wbf Keith Lancaster, 1:35; 171 -- Vontarius Kornegay (RHS) wbf Rashad Yarborough, 2:32; 189 -- Jackson Sherrod (L) wbf Brandon Dean, 2:43.

Record: Rosewood 21-6.