Rosewood matmen sweep tri-meet

By From staff reports
Published in Sports on December 31, 2008 1:46 PM

• Print
• Email

Rosewood recorded 14 pins in 21 contested matches and swept a non-conference, tri-wrestling meet against Smithfield-Selma and Ayden-Grifton on Tuesday evening.

The Eagles claimed eight individual victories in a 54-18 rout of SSS, and followed that with a lopsided, 66-10 decision over Ayden-Grifton. The victory over A-G did not count toward the Class 1-A Carolina Conference standings. All five league teams meet Jan. 10 at North Johnston to determine the regular-season champion and representatives for the N.C. High School Athletic Association dual-team playoffs.

"Tonight was the first time in a while since I felt we wrestled at the level we're capable of," said Rosewood head coach Bill Edmundson. "Coach (Dan) Miner and I were expected two much-closer matches, and we were pleasantly surprised with the effort given as a team. For us to score 120 points in two matches is pretty respectable."

Rosewood (5-1 overall) also benefited from five forfeits in the two matches combined.

Against SSS, the Eagles received falls from Zach Behrend (112 pounds), Jonathan Pate (130), Joshua Holmes (152), Jacob Roberts (160), Jonathan Rudolph (171) and Cameron Lane (215).

Heavyweight Paul Atkinson squeezed out a thrilling 4-3, four-overtime victory over the Spartans' Will Farnell. Teammate Dillon Guss earned a 13-10 decision at 140 pounds. Chris Lane and Ariel Nacca each collected a forfeit.

The Eagles, the reigning Carolina Conference regular-season and tournament champions, easily posted eight falls against short-handed Ayden-Grifton.

Pate, Matt Coley (135), Josh Pipkin (140), Guss, Holmes, Rudolph, Aaron Keefer (189) and Lane each pinned their respective opponent. Chris Lane, Behrend and Atkinson each drew a forfeit.

"I thought Cameron Lane and Jonathan Rudolph wrestled impressively tonight," said Edmundson. "First-year wrestlers Keefer, Pipkin and Guss also wrestled very smart matches tonight. They listen to their coaches and you can't ask for more than that."

Rosewood returns to action Saturday in the annual Pilkington Memorial Duals, hosted by county rival Charles B. Aycock. First-round matches begin at 9 a.m.

Rosewood 54

Smithfield-Selma 18

103 -- Chris Lane (R) by forfeit; 112 -- Zach Behrend (R) wbf Brandon Johnson, 1:04; 119 -- double forfeit; 125 -- Ariel Nacca (R) by forfeit; 130 -- Jonathan Pate (R) wbf Michael Woodard, 2:28; 135 -- Kyle Patric (SSS) dec. Matt Coley, 6-1; 140 -- Dillon Guss (R) dec. Henry Johnson, 13-10; 145 -- Collins Creech (SSS) wbf Greg Cavenaugh, 3:27; 152 -- Joshua Holmes (R) wbf Will Hopkins, 1:12; 160 -- Jacob Roberts (R) wbf Cristian Rivers, 0:25; 171 -- Jonathan Rudolph (R) wbf Caleb Moore, 0:42; 189 -- Nick Tedder (SSS) wbf Aaron Keefer, 1:10; 215 -- Cameron Lane (R) wbf Milo Weisbeck, 2:30; Hwt -- Paul Atkinson (R) dec. Will Farnell, 4-3 (4 OT).

Rosewood 66

Ayden-Grifton 10

103 -- Chris Lane (R) by forfeit; 112 -- Zach Behrend (R) by forfeit; 119 -- double forfeit; 125 -- Donovan Bullock (AG) maj. dec. Ariel Nacca, 14-3; 130 -- Jonathan Pate (R) wbf Brandon Whitaker, 0:58; 135 -- Matt Coley (R) wbf Michael Cannon, 1:14; 140 -- Josh Pipkin (R) wbf Zack Bailey, 5:14; 145 -- Dillon Guss (R) wbf Jeff Mullis, 1:07; 152 -- Joshua Holmes (R) wbf Darius Crumb, 4:27; 160 -- Johnny Brady (AG) wbf Jacob Roberts, 3:34; 171 -- Jonathan Rudolph (R) wbf Alex Whitaker, 3:52; 189 -- Aaron Keefer (R) wbf Daniel Faulkner, 1:12; 215 -- Cameron Lane (R) wbf Kyle Allen, 1:00; Hwt -- Paul Atkinson (R) by forfeit.

Record: Rosewood 5-1

Next match: Saturday, at Pilkington Memorial Duals hosted by C.B. Aycock