Eastern Wayne matmen turn back Nash Central

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 20, 2012 1:47 PM

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A good work ethic during Tuesday afternoon's practice paid off for the Eastern Wayne wrestling team Wednesday evening.

The Warriors emerged victorious in seven of 10 individual contested matches and handed Nash Central a 54-18 loss in the school's old gym at New Hope.

Junior captain Quadrick Williams collected his team-leading 18th win for the Warriors, who improved to 2-2 overall against Class 3-A opposition this season. Junior Brice Heller and sophomore heavyweight Bryan Wooten each picked up their 13th win of the season.

"I told them to come out and wrestle what we've been teaching them (in practice) tonight, not leave it in the locker room and give a good representation of what they are capable of doing (on the mat)," Eastern Wayne assistant coach Bruce Gates said. "I was really pleased with every one of them and even the kids who lost, they were very aggressive. I'm not disappointed in the least with any of them."

The teams split the first six individual bouts.

Eastern Wayne (8-6 overall) earned pins from 138-pounder Kevon Tune, 145-pounder Darian Adkins and Williams at 160.

Nash Central countered with Devonte Johnson's 9-7 decision at 152 pounds, Marquise Leonard's 81-second pin at 170 and Steven Joyner's 3-2 triumph at 182.

"I think our strong point is that we went out and we competed," Nash Central head coach Rashon Johnson said. "Wins and losses are a dime a dozen, We wanted to give everybody a Nash Central dogfight. Our shortcoming was that we didn't capitalize on our opportunities."

The Dogs didn't have much chance, especially against the Warriors' upper weights. Jamaal Barrett (190), Andre Smith (220) and heavyweight Bryan Wooten combined for three pins in a 5-minute, 33-second span, which gave Eastern Wayne a commanding 36-12 advantage.

Neither team could fill the lower weight classes. The teams combined for three forfeits and a double forfeit at 106 pounds.

Heller capped the Warriors' night with a first-period pin over the Bulldogs' Terrell Brown. Heller prevailed for the fifth time in his last seven outings and has 10 pins this season.