Cline rebuilding North Lenoir wrestling program

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 26, 2013 1:47 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

La GRANGE -- Each time a North Lenoir wrestler steps onto the mat, he brings new questions, answers and direction to not only himself but to a resurrected program this season.

First-year head coach Patrick Cline likes what he sees.

Eager, inexperienced wrestlers have shown improvement not only in the practice room, but in live competition one month into the season. Sixteen grapplers have combined for 46 individual wins and the Hawks have prevailed in two of six dual-team matches.

"Each wrestler brings something to the room and to the team," Cline said. "The hard work and dedication of the entire team has been a bright spot. I am proud of this group and look forward to growing as a team and as a coach."

And as a program, too.

North Lenoir dropped wrestling 18 years ago due to a lack of interest. It produced one state champion, Darryl Goff, who emerged the N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 3-A 119-pound state champion in 1994. Goff made three state tournament appearances, while Kelly Benston and Scott Tilghman made two trips apiece.

Ridge Johnson advanced to one state tournament.

Cline, who wrestled at perennial powerhouse Statesville, talked with school administrators about re-instating the sport last fall. The desire to expand the athletic department and create more opportunities for students to participate in sports factored into the decision.

"We looked at the overall impact of wrestling to the athletic program, and determined that it could improve many aspects of our current athletes such as speed, flexibility, endurance and balance," said Cline, who has coached four middle school state champs, two NCHSAA state champs and four all-state wrestlers.

The program also encountered minor obstacles -- no equipment and no designated area for practice. Once those issues were addressed, Cline set up a voluntary workout program last spring.

The buzz carried over into the fall. Nearly 40 wrestlers signed up and through attrition, Cline now works with 30 matmen on a daily basis. Nine seniors are joined by 21 underclassmen, including four freshmen.

"They have given great effort from the start and the most difficult thing to teach them has been patience," Cline said. "They want to learn every move possible and (immediately) be good (at execution). It takes time to learn and master the fundamentals. The basics must be drilled until they are second nature."

Cline sees limitless potential in a team that has already achieved two preseason goals -- win a dual match and have a wrestler place in a tournament. North Lenoir (2-4 overall) defeated Eastern Carolina 2-A Conference foes Goldsboro and South Lenoir.

Sophomore 120-pounder Doug Penny and senior heavyweight Keywan Morgan each earned a bronze medal (third place) in the Panther Invitational contested last weekend at North Pitt. Penny has logged a team-high 10 individual victories.

The team's remaining goals are to have a regional qualifier and finish with a 3.0 grade-point average in the classroom.

"One of our team mantras is 'learn something every time you wrestle,'" Cline said. "The beauty is that no one has any experience, and every day is a success and improvement. The wrestling future is bright in 'The Swamp'."