Chargers ground Eagles' matmen

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 6, 2012 1:48 PM

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It's official.

Ayden-Grifton has become Rosewood's newest nemesis on the wrestling mat.

Less than one month after wrenching the regular-season, dual-team wrestling crown from the Eagles' talons, the Chargers completed the Class 1-A Carolina/4 Rivers/Tideland Athletic Conference sweep Saturday afternoon inside Norvell T. Lee Gymnasium.

Five Ayden-Grifton grapplers claimed individual championships and provided the momentum in a 263-234.5 triumph over Rosewood, which was denied its 18th tournament title in program history. Princeton captured third with 137 points, followed by Spring Creek (73.5), Manteo (49), Goldsboro (46) and Cape Hatteras (16).

"We had key matchups with Ayden-Grifton that didn't go our way and that was the difference," said RHS head coach Bill Edmundson. "It's unusual for us to not win the conference and I'm glad we have established the reputation of a winning program. Ayden-Grifton has a tremendous amount of natural athletes. If you look at their entire athletic program, you wil see that.

"We just have hard-working kids that give us all they have and wrestle to their athletic potential."

Jacob Holliday (106 pounds), Nick Quillen (126), Chris Lane (132), Quadre Ayers (152) and senior 195-pounder Taylor McGill each secured an individual title for Rosewood. Holliday and Lane pinned all four of their opponents during round-robin play.

"Jacob wrestled at the top of his game," said Edmundson. "Chris has decided to bump up in weight instead of cutting, and seems much stronger and happier at the higher weight. Taylor has really started to peak at just the right time of the year.

"He has been the epitome of a hard worker and leader, and his efforts are paying off."

Quillen had some tense moments when Jake Farmer from Ayden-Grifton rolled him onto his back. But the junior used his strength to reverse his fortune and stay unbeaten in 53 outings this season.

Rosewood received runner-up efforts from 113-pounder Angel Jaramillo, Samuel Drew (132) and 138-pounder Jordan Batson. Joshua Drew, Carlos Mata, Kaleb Smith, Jacob Bargoil and Jason Hilbert each placed third in their respective weight class.

Overall, the Eagles had 13 wrestlers finish either third or higher on the day.

* Princeton senior Forrest Stewart claimed gold at 182 pounds, while teammate James Hawley won the heavyweight championship. Fellow Dawgs Tyler Rose (106), Blake Wagner (160) and Gabriel Teague (170) each collected a silver medal.

* Spring Creek's Corey Howell won the 132-pound gold medal.

* Goldsboro's top finisher was Jamelle James, who placed second at 126 pounds.