19th Eagle Invitational: Holly Springs turns in record-setting performance

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 15, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Bill Edmundson got a first-hand glance at Holly Springs during a dual match two weeks ago.

He walked away impressed.

And what he saw Saturday certainly didn't surprise him.

Holly Springs successfully defended its crown in dominating and record-setting fashion. The Hawks established records for total team points (291), individual champions (nine) and total placers (11) during the 19th annual Eagle Invitational contested on the Rosewood High mats.

"They've got the potential to be a special team," Edmundson said. "As anticipated, this was an extremely tough and physical tournament."

A total of 237 grapplers competed in the 11-hour affair. Five matmen protected their No. 1 seed and 14 championship medals were distributed among five schools -- Holly Springs, Rosewood, Corinth-Holders, Topsail and Cleveland.

Rosewood's two champions were 170-pounder Kaleb Smith and 220-pounder Rayquon Jones. The duo helped the Eagles place second in the team standings with 179 points.

Corinth-Holders claimed third with 140.5 points, followed by Topsail (133.5) and Charles B. Aycock.

"Our goal this tournament was a top-five finish," Edmundson said. "It had been several years since have placed in the top three in our tournament and today we had a great team effort. Kaleb dominated his weight class from beginning to end (and) is so physically tough and agile.

"Rayquon has matured and developed into a great wrestler. His speed and agility have increased so much from when he came into the program."

The Eagles' Malique Boyd (120) and Josh Drew (182) each earned runner-up accolades. Evan Reiss (152) and heavyweight Kaleb Taylor each placed fourth.

Garner Beasley (195) advanced to the consolation semifinals.

C.B. Aycock

Former Invitational team champion C.B. Aycock placed fifth overall with 118.5 points behind runner-up finishes from Zack Howard and Joshua Wallace.

Howard entered the tournament unbeaten and seeded No. 1 at 132 pounds. He dropped a 7-1 decision to Cleveland's Mathews Cruz-Cruz in the championship match.

Seeded third at 152 pounds, Wallace advanced to the finals with a 7-3 triumph over Reiss in semifinal-round action. Wallace endured a 5-2 loss to top-seeded Nick Connochie in the title match.

The Golden Falcons' Trent Marquard shared third place at 160 pounds, while Jacob Dickenson claimed fourth at 126. Teammates Jaret Paynter (182 pounds) and Brandon Washington (220) advanced to the consolation semifinals in their respective weight classes.

"Once again we did have some wrestlers make it further into the tournament than last year," said second-year CBA head coach Ronnie Allen, whose team compiled 25 individual victories during the day-long event.

"For that I am pleased. Many of our beginning wrestlers from last year have learned a lot and (are) doing much better this year. We continue to build our program each practice, match and tournament."

Eastern Wayne

A trio of Eastern Wayne wrestlers knocked on the door and just missed reaching the medal round in their respective weight divisions.

Mario Harper (106), Cainen Miller (126) and Justice Johnson (170) were each eliminated in consolation semifinal-round action.

The Warriors, who wrestled short-handed, collected 11 individual wins as a team. They placed 19th overall with 36 points.

Southern Wayne

Zach Buff logged four wins -- all by pin -- at 126 pounds as the Saints ended up 16th with 49 team points.

Buff defeated North Johnston's Spencer Jernigan, Richlands' Chadwick Thomas, North Lenoir's Brian Heck and Goldsboro's Jargron Flanagan.

Teammates O'Khanye Wallace (160) and Nick Kennon (152) each won a pair of individual matches. The Saints posted 13 individual wins as a team.

Goldsboro

The short-handed Cougars, directed by first-year head coach Dwight Glenn, recorded a 27-point outing and finished with eight individual victories.

D'Qurious Bradford, a returning regional qualifier, and Reshawn Alston had three wins apiece.

Princeton

The Bulldogs endured a tough outing and concluded the day with six individual wins -- including three by Martin Bayles.