Eagles win 13th straight tourney title

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 5, 2007 2:15 PM

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From staff reports

KENLY -- J.P. Person set a freshman record for individual victories and Rosewood, as expected, dominated the season-ending Class 1-A Carolina/Tar-Roanoke/Albemarle/Mid-State Conference wrestling tournament Saturday.

Person claimed the gold medal at 215 pounds and enters postseason play with a 30-13 record. A first-year starter and junior, Person emerged one five Eagles to earn gold medals during the six-team, day-long event contested at North Johnston.

Jim Bish (112 pounds), J.D. Baker (125), Josh Holmes (135) and Byron Cavenaugh (145) also notched first-place finishes in their respective weight classes. The quintet, along with their teammates, helped Rosewood accumulate 241 points and capture the program's 13th consecutive tournament championship.

"J.P. has come so far this year," said Rosewood head coach Bill Edmundson. "Assistant coach Mike Sander has been working with him on Greco-type throws and finishing moves. Byron was in a tough weight class."

Baker and Chris Hare, who ended up second at 130 pounds, joined the program's Century Club (100 career wins). Cavenaugh, depending on his postseason success, could become the next member of the prestigious group.

Olivia Neal trailed by a mere two points until Manteo's Shane Brine pinned her in the third period of their 103-pound title bout. Freshman Luke Davis, who returned to the lineup this week, settled for runner-up honors at 119 pounds.

Andrew Sass (152), Chris Holmes (189) and heavyweight Trevor Morris notched silver medals in their respective weight classes. Morris stumbled against Princeton's Jon Hartley, who successfully defended his tournament title from a year ago.

"We were a little disappointed that Olivia and Chris were not champions, but both of those wrestlers had good days," said Edmundson. "Vontarius (Kornegay) was a surprise all-conference wrestler for us. He has been working hard in practice and picking up on some of coach Sander's upper-body throws."

Kornegay took third at 171 pounds.

Spring Creek's Dequan Wright seized gold at 160 pounds.

Rosewood (29-7) plays host to a four-team sectional in the N.C. High School Athletic Association dual-team playoffs on Tuesday. The Eagles oppose perennial power South Davidson in the opening round, while wild-card entry Heide Trask faces Coastal Plains champion Holly Ridge Dixon.

Class 1-A Carolina

Tar-Roanoke/Albemarle

Mid-State Tournament

(at N. Johnston HS, Kenly)

Team scores

Rosewood 241

North Johnston 197.5

Louisburg 147

Princeton 117

Spring Creek 103

Manteo 43.5

Individual champions

103 -- Shane Brine (M); 112 -- Jim Bish (RHS); 119 -- Mamour Camara (LHS); 125 -- J.D. Baker (RHS); 130 -- Anthony Diaz (LHS); 135 -- Josh Holmes (RHS); 140 -- Noel Mueller (LHS); 145 -- Byron Cavenaugh (RHS); 152 -- Brandon Oliver (NJ); 160 -- Dequan Wright (SC); 171 -- Jacob Lewis (NJ); 189 -- Tonnie Cooper (NJ); 215 -- J.P. Person (RHS); Hwt -- Jonathan Hartley (PHS).