C.B. Aycock grapplers advance to eastern dual-team regionals

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 7, 2007 2:19 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Eager to forget Saturday's collapse in the championship round of its conference tournament, the Charles B. Aycock wrestling team carried a new attitude onto the mat Tuesday evening.

Humbled in Monday's practice by their coaching staff, the Golden Falcon grapplers attacked from every angle during Tuesday's matches in the Class 3-A N.C. High School Athletic Association dual-team playoffs. They collected 30 takedowns in a 59-10 pounding of nemesis West Carteret and escaped Northeast Guilford 38-30 in second-round action.

C.B. Aycock (25-1) clinched its third consecutive trip to the eastern regional semifinals and opposes Havelock on Thursday. Joining them are defending state champion Eden Morehead and Rockingham County. A site for the four-team regional had not been determined at press time.

"Tonight we found that Aycock intensity that we had been missing for the last few weeks," said Golden Falcons coach Kevin Smith. "We were active, aggressive and hunted those takedowns all night long. We looked so much better on our feet.

"That is really where we won our matches for us tonight."

The Golden Falcons prevailed in 18 of 26 individual bouts against West Carteret and Northeast Guilford. They recorded nine pins, one tech fall, one major decision and seven decisions.

Smith couldn't have been more pleased with the Bentley brothers, Nick and Steve, who each played a pivotal role in the nail-biting victory over Northeast Guilford. Nick pinned Sam Summers in 3 minutes, 50 seconds at 103 pounds. And with the overall outcome hanging in the balance, Steve recorded a technically-sound 6-0 decision over Zack Gunter in the night's final match at 160.

"Nick wrestled his best match of the season for us tonight when we needed him the most," said Smith. "His brother calmly went out on the mat and took care of business for us when we needed him the most.

"With such a close score, those two matches were critical."

The Bentleys, Kyle Harmon, Jarrett Covar, heavyweight Khiry Reid, Ngu Tran, Ronald Lynn and Bryant Lancaster each posted 2-0 records. Brandon Bailey went 1-0. Joseph Conner, Josh Overton and Josh Grimes each fashioned a 1-1 worksheet.

Smith jokingly admitted he and his assistants were a little sore after Monday's practice. They dusted off their wrestling boots and "scrapped" with the team for a while.

C.B. Aycock is 8-2 during postseason play over the last three seasons and is making its fifth eastern regional appearance in school history.

"Getting back to the final eight is a great feeling; ourselves and seven other teams are still chasing that dream of a state title," said Smith. "It is a huge accomplishment for our kids, so we are very proud of them. We are also excited about representing Wayne County in the regional semifinals.

"The wrestlers know what is expected of them, and the coaches are going to continue to demand that our kids be physical, work hard for our takedowns and be in the best condition."

C.B. Aycock 59

West Carteret 10

160 -- Steve Bentley (CBA) maj. dec. Taylor, 19-10; 171 -- Kyle Harmon (CBA) wbf Holloman, 5 minutes, 35 seconds; 189 -- Aaron Parsons (WC) maj. dec. Gabriel Huang, 16-3; 215 -- Jarrett Covar (CBA) by forfeit; Hwt -- Khiry Reid (CBA) wbf Lewis, 0:36; 103 -- Nick Bentley (CBA) by forfeit; 112 -- Taylor (WC) wbf Josh Pulley, 2:36; 119 -- Joseph Conner (CBA) wbf Watanabe, 3:11; 125 -- Ngu Tran (CBA) wbf Tomlinson, 0:21; 130 -- Brandon Bailey (CBA) dec. Moore, 5-4; 135 -- Ronald Lynn (CBA) dec. Stanton, 7-5; 140 -- Josh Overton (CBA) dec. Williams, 7-0; 145 -- Bryant Lancaster (CBA) wbf Wade, 0:34; 152 -- Josh Grimes (CBA) maj. dec. Tarrell, 16-5.

Records: C.B. Aycock 24-1, West Carteret 9-10.

C.B. Aycock 38

Northeast Guilford 30

171 -- Kyle Harmon (CBA) dec. Nelson, 5-4; 189 -- Patrick (NEG) wbf Gabriel Huang, 4:30; 215 -- Jarrett Covar (CBA) wbf Fulk, 1:03; Hwt -- Khiry Reid (CBA) wbf Mabe, 2:47; 103 -- Nick Bentley (CBA) wbf Summers, 3:50; 112 -- Anderson (NEG) wbf Josh Pulley, 2:21; 119 -- Mesar (NEG) wbf Joseph Conner, 1:40; 125 -- Ngu Tran (CBA) wbf McBroom, 3:04; 130 -- McDonald (NEG) wbf Kevin Carmel, 5:00; 135 -- Ronald Lynn (CBA) dec. Overman, 10-5; 140 -- Hall (NEG) dec. Josh Overton, 4-0; 145 -- Bryant Lancaster (CBA) tech fall C. Mesar, 18-3; 152 -- Mitchell (NEG) dec. Josh Grimes, 9-2; 160 -- Steve Bentley (CBA) dec. Gunter, 6-0.

Records: C.B. Aycock 25-1, Northeast Guilford 14-3.

Next match: Thursday, C.B. Aycock vs. Havelock at undetermined site.