Golden Falcons pin Saints, Bruins

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 27, 2009 9:11 AM

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PIKEVILLE -- The "pep talk" worked.

Charles B. Aycock's wrestlers headed toward the practice room after a lackluster showing against county rival Southern Wayne on the mat Wednesday evening.

The Golden Falcon coaching staff cooled their jets outside, while the wrestlers got a little time to think on their own. After a 10-minute "dressing down" by the coaches, the team remained in the room to digest the challenge they had been given.

And they responded.

Aycock wrestled with aggression, emotion and intensity against Wilson Beddingfield and avenged a regular-season loss from last season. Although the Golden Falcons triumphed in just five of 15 contested individual matches combined against the Saints and Bruins, they remained perfect (3-0 overall) on the dual-team scene this season.

"They seemed to be focused and alert (for Beddingfield)," said Aycock head coach Mark Peck. "Even the kids not dressed out were asking when they could wrestle, when were they going to get a shot. We came out with a different tone and that was the key.

"That match with Beddingfield could have gone either way."

The Golden Falcons battled the Bruins to a 4-4 draw in contested matches. Peck's squad seized a 21-0 lead on victories from Andrew Chambers (119 pounds), Daniel Romo (125), Charlie Mills (130) and Preston Tucker (135).

Beddingfield won five of the next eight matches and shaved the deficit to 39-31, including 103-pounder Marquel Bullock's 14-4, major decision against Mario Darby. Peck said that was the "swing" match.

"We asked Darby to stay off his back because I sensed from the very onset if we could get him to stay off his back or pull (off) the victory, he would be the pivotal match," said Peck.

Returning starter David Romo capped the Golden Falcons' win a 62-second pin against Matt Quick at 112 pounds.

Southern Wayne captured six of seven contested matches against Aycock. Hunter Brown (119), Jacob Richards (140), Jamison Dove (145), Ethan Brogden (152), Minek Ford (171) and Derek Whitman (189) each picked points for the Saints.

Georgia transfer Nick Simmons (160) posted Aycock's lone individual win. The Golden Falcons collected 36 of their 42 points off forfeits and seized their 11th consecutive victory against the Saints since 2001.

"(Southern Wayne) did all they could do to bump their wrestlers into position to compete and they did well with that," said Peck. "We're decimated with injuries right now with five starters not in our lineup, so we have to replace them with mostly first-year kids.

"We've still got some work to do."