Rosewood's Holmes claims runner-up honors

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 23, 2009 1:48 PM

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WINSTON-SALEM -- Two-time state qualifier Joshua Holmes emerged the third Rosewood High grappler to finish runner-up in the season-ending N.C. High School Athletic Association Classes 1-A/2-A wrestling championships.

Holmes, a senior, lost to Orange High senior Remington Jarrett in the 145-pound finals. Just two weeks ago, Jarrett led Orange to the NCHSAA 2-A dual-team state title.

"Joshua ran into a really strong wrestler," said Rosewood coach Bill Edmundson of Jarrett. "(But) Joshua wrestled brilliantly through the championship rounds. He was as focused as any wrestler I've ever had the honor of coaching.

"He was very business-like ... loose, relaxed and on a mission."

Holmes, the East regional champion, recorded a 31-second fall over Brevard's Ed Lyda in opening-round action. He edged Albemarle's Damond Kelly in the quarterfinals and stopped Polk County senior Nick Hehner, the West champion, in semifinal-round action.

Teammate Zach Behrend ended up third at 103 pounds.

An East champion, Behrend dropped a overtime decision to Madison sophomore Cody Roberts in the semifinals. Roberts scored critical nearfall points as third period expired and earned the match-clinching takedown in overtime.

Behrend, who suffered a rib injury against Roberts, bounced back to take third place with a 6-2 decision over Robbie Gladwell. It was a rematch of the regional final, which was won by Behrend after Gladwell defaulted due to an injury.

"Zach dominated the match from beginning to end," said Edmundson.

Spring Creek junior Daniel Richter logged an 0-2 record at 119 pounds.

In the 3-A ranks, Charles B. Aycock junior Justin Farrell posted a 1-2 record in the 119-pound division. Farrell dropped his first-round match to Southwestern Randolph's Dakota Aldridge, but stayed alive with a 3-1 triumph over Morehead's Isaiah Witcher in consolation-round action.

Farrell's season ended with a 3-1 loss to Northwest Cabarrus junior Joseph Cutler.

"Justin performed well in all three matches," said Aycock head coach Mark Bass. "In each of Justin's two losses, the victory was in reach and he knows how close he is to becoming one of the elite wrestlers in North Carolina.

"It was good to get that state-tournament experience under his belt before his senior year and now he has a clearer vision of what he wants to achieve in his final year."

Southern Wayne senior Dustin Richards finished 0-2 at 145 pounds.