CB Aycock tops Princeton wrestling

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 18, 2009 1:46 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Offseason conditioning.

Intense weight training.

The preseason regimen definitely factored into Charles B. Aycock's season-opening, 58-12 triumph over Princeton on the wrestling mat Tuesday evening. Several first-year starters looked like seasoned veterans in Mark Peck's head coaching debut for the Golden Falcons.

Peck is the fourth head coach for Aycock since the late Terry Pilkington started the program in the 1990s. Mark Bass, who coached the Golden Falcons to back-to-back appearances in the dual-team playoffs, stepped down during the summer and will serve as Peck's assistant this season.

"We had a great offseason workout program and that was key," said Peck. "All of our kids were in excellent shape (tonight). We stayed off our backs and the first-year kids translated what they've learned so far in the room to the mat.

"You could see the light bulb go on."

A year ago, Bass was distraught after a season-opening loss to Greene Central. The Golden Falcons struggled to get off their backs and surrendered too many pins.

Aycock, this time, allowed just one pin against Princeton.

"The best part about it is we fought off our back well when we got there," said Bass.

Freshman Daniel Romo (130 pounds) and returning starter Zeb Darden (145) each earned a come-from-behind victory. Romo collected seven third-period points to beat David Waddell 7-2, while Darden scored a critical third-period reversal to stop Billy Creech, 8-7. Creech was the Dawgs' lone returning starter on the mat.

First-year starters Jordan Lee (152) and Aaron Foster (189) each pinned their respective opponent for Aycock. Newcomer Nick Simmons, a transfer from Georgia, provided a first-period fall at 171.

"We had a good effort ... all of our guys young, they just got caught," said Princeton head coach Terry Braswell. "Some of them have been practicing for just three days. You could tell our guys were thinking a whole lot. They'll come around."

The short-handed teams, due to the football playoffs, combined for six forfeits including a double forfeit at 112 pounds. Aycock's Mario Darby (103), David Romo (119), Aaron Pate (140) and Travion Lewis (215) each stepped onto the mat unopposed and each claimed six points toward the final match score.

Princeton's Drew Malarchik logged a first-period fall at 135 pounds, while teammate James Hawley picked up a forfeit at heavyweight.