County grapplers fare well in ECC 3A-4A tournament

By Staff Reports
Published in Sports on February 2, 2015 1:49 PM

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NEW BERN -- Michael Daughtry predicted heavyweights Bryan Wooten and Bobby Stocks would see each other again in the season-ending Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference wrestling tournament.

The Eastern Wayne coach wasn't wrong.

Wooten, this time, pinned Stocks -- just 72 hours after enduring a heart-breaking loss on senior night. Wooten emerged as one of six Warriors to place among the top four during the day-long tournament contested on the New Bern HS mats.

The host Bears had five individual champions and claimed the team title with 205.5 points -- 54.5 more than regular-season winner Charles B. Aycock. New Bern became just the fifth different team to seize the ECC tournament crown in the league's 14-year history.

South Central placed third with 133.5 points, followed by Southern Wayne (98 points), Eastern Wayne (89), J.H. Rose (80.5) and D.H. Conley (71). Each school had at least one conference champion.

Joining Wooten on the medal podium were Mario Harper (106 pounds) and Cainen Miller (126), who each took second place in their respective weight divisions. Miller wrestled with torn ligaments in his right hand. Justice Johnson (160) and Andre Collie (220) each placed third.

Kyler Sprague secured fourth place at 132 pounds.

Aycock had eight medalists and a total of 10 wrestlers to place among the top four overall. Jacob Dickenson (120), Zack Howard (132) and Joshua Wallace (152) -- all No. 1 seeds -- each prevailed as an ECC champion. Howard moved ever so closer to 200 career victories.

Fellow Golden Falcons Daniel Bryant (145) and Brandon Washington (220) each grabbed second place, while Hayden Gurley (113) and heavyweight Matt Teachey each ended up third.

Zach Creel (138) and Justin Washington (195) each took fourth.

Southern Wayne senior Okhanye Wallace grabbed the 160-pound title. Teammates Kimari Johnson (138), Mikal Leach (145), Chris Wilson (170), Austin Taylor (182) and Jaime Taledano (220) each logged a top-four performance on the day.