Eagles return home with three state runners-up

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 24, 2014 1:47 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

GREENSBORO -- Rosewood's wrestlers tried their best to rewrite the program and Wayne County record books Saturday evening.

The Eagles ran out of ink.

Kaleb Smith, Joshua Drew and Kaleb Taylor each finished state runner-up in their respective weight divisions during the season-ending N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A wrestling championships contested at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex.

The trio attempted to give head coach Bill Edmundson a state champion for the third consecutive year. However, with Rayquon Jones' top-four performance at 220 pounds, the Eagles set a single-season program record for most state placers with four.

"The finals matches for all three of our young men were great, great matches," Edmundson said. "We had an opportunity to win every one of them. In all three cases, there was a slight sense of self doubt and a tremendous amount of nerves that factored into the equation.

"I think all three of them now have the confidence to make a huge impact next season. They have earned respect and are elite wrestlers."

Smith dropped a 10-4 decision to Frank LaDew of Bishop McGuinness in the 160-pound title bout. Drew fell 8-2 to Mitchell's Daniel Bomar in the 170-pound final, while Trask's Jervon Faison pinned Taylor with one second remaining in their heavyweight championship affair.

Taylor reached the final with an overtime upset of top-seeded Casey Canterbury of Chatham Central. Canterbury defeated Taylor in the eastern dual-team regional finals and in the eastern regional individual tournament.

Drew and Smith struggled to fight off of their backs in the finals.

"I didn't even have to tell them," Edmundson said. "As they came off the mat, they both said, 'coach, this is something I'm going to get a lot better at in the offseason.'"

Malique Boyd (113 pounds) and 152-pounder Trevor Thompson each posted a 1-2 record during the eight-wrestler, double-elimination tournament. Sam Drew (132), Evan Reiss (145) and Garner Beasley (190) each finished 0-2.

Rosewood placed fourth as a team with 62 points.

"The other guys had a great experience at the state tournament and now have the self confidence and respect to do very well next season," said Edmundson, who has coached 15 different state placers. "In my 20-plus years as a wrestling coach, I have never had this many returning state qualifiers. Expectations will be high from the coaching staff.

"But, the best part about it all, is the expectations of these young men have been pushed higher as well."

Wayne County hasn't had three state champions in one year since 1959 when then-powerhouse Goldsboro produced four in the Association's Open classification. The quartet was Irvin Hales, David Lane, Bill Rutledge and Phil Ellis.