Warriors finish 1-1 in Tri-meet

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 25, 2009 1:46 PM

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Make the right moves.

First-year Eastern Wayne head wrestling coach Jon Jones delivered the message each time his team stepped onto the mat Tuesday evening. First-year starters Megan Lafave and Collin Johnson listened well to the advice, and each recorded their first-ever victories.

Lafave (125 pounds) earned a crowd-pleasing 63-second pin over Hunt's Marcus Barnes, while the 215-pound Johnson pinned Princeton's Gabriel Teague in the opening period.

"I saw some kid young kids step up ... Megan and Collin," said Jones. "Collin didn't wrestle in the tournament (Falcon Invitational) and is a good-looking kid who will do some good things. He had surgery a week ago and has himself back in shape."

Eastern Wayne fashioned a 1-1 worksheet in the three-team, non-conference affair. The Warriors prevailed in seven of 11 contested matches in a 48-23 triumph over Princeton. Perennial power Hunt defeated Eastern Wayne 53-27 in the season opener for both teams.

"I wanted to see aggression (tonight) and I saw that," said Jones. "I wanted to see them work the things they've been working on in practice. I preach work what you know, don't try to wrestle to your opponent (strengths) because you may get a kid who knows more moves.

"You can still win with working what you know."

Jasmine Doubt's forfeit at 112 pounds put the host Warriors ahead to stay against the Dawgs. Corbin Harris (130), Austin Helm (135) and Monroe Simmons (140) each pinned their respective opponent, and extended Eastern Wayne's advantage to 24-5.

Princeton's B.J. Creech (145) and Blake Wagner (160) triumphed for Princeton to cut into the insurmountable deficit. Eastern Wayne won the final three matches, including a 30-second fall by returning starter Zach Myers at heavyweight.

Myers posted a career-best, six-second pin against Hunt's Jody Best.

"I was pleased with the our guys overall," said Princeton coach Terry Braswell. "We saw two good teams and we wrestled well for what we have. We'll just take that and keep building.

"We need to work on basic moves. I don't know if we're not drilling them enough or what, but they're just not remembering what they need to do (on the mat)."

Hunt (2-0) escaped Princeton 42-36 when returning regional qualifier Kenny Hertling pinned Teague. The teams were tied at 36-36 after Wagner and Forrest Stewart (171) each logged a pin, and Derek West pulled out a 9-8 decision at 189 pounds.

Eastern Wayne won five individual matches against Hunt. In addition to victories from Lafave and Myers, the 130-pound Harris pinned Josh Sutton in 49 seconds. Byron Washington (160) claimed a first-period pin and 189-pounder James Barrett outlasted Kyle Lippert, 5-1.