20th Eagle Invitational has new "twist" this season

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 11, 2015 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

A good deed rewarded.

Last season, an Air Force recruiter asked Rosewood head coach Bill Edmundson if he could set up a table in the lobby and talk with wrestlers during his annual Eagle Invitational.

Edmundson thought, "why not?"

As the year progressed, Edmundson tinkered with the idea of partnering with the United States Air Force and presented them with an idea -- would they provide a championship belt to the winning team of this year's Invitational?

They agreed.

How about two?

The request met little resistance.

So, when the 20th installment of Wayne County's longest-running individual Invitational begins Saturday morning, not only will 300 grapplers compete for 14 individual titles, but a 12-pound belt -- which resembles those worn by pro boxers and wrestlers -- is up for grabs.

"I just had the idea and went for it," Edmundson said. "They gave one for us to keep in our trophy case and one for the winning team to carry back to their school. We thought it was a great way to promote the USAF in our community and the military neighbors that we have (who live around us)."

Oh, but there's a twist. The school that wins the belt MUST defend its title the following year. Should the reigning champ opt not to compete, then it must forfeit the belt.

Will Holly Springs -- the Invitational team champ three years running -- earn the dubious honor of claiming the inagural belt?

"They're the odds-on favorite ... will bring a team loaded top to bottom and everybody else is going to wrestle for second place, to be honest," said Edmundson, who had two individual champions and a program-best runner-up team performance since the Eagles won the title in 2005.

"If Rosewood finishes in the top half, I'll be super happy. Our kids really do have some pride about this tournament and get excited about the atmosphere with all of those people coming in. It's a big deal."

The Eagles, however, are short-handed.

Isaac Kornegay suffered a broken hand, Hunter Weeks is nursing an Achilles' tendon injury and Noah Carden sustained a possible concussion. All of those incidents occurred at the Pierce-Davis Memorial last weekend. Edmundson said Weeks and Carden could receive clearance to wrestle.

Holly Springs claimed the P-DM crown in dominating fashion.

Former four-time Invitational champ Charles B. Aycock is in the 22-team field along with county rival Eastern Wayne, which is coached by Rosewood alum Aaron Lynch.

"I am just as happy as I can be with him," Edmundson said of his former wrestler who continued his career at UNC Pembroke. "He's such a good guy and is very well respected as a young coach. He is doing a good job and Eastern Wayne is going to be a force with all of those athletes over there.

"He's a perfect fit for that school."

Opening-round matches begin at 9:15 a.m.

An all-day pass is $10 and coolers are not permitted. Fans may purchase drinks, candy and other food items at the concession stand.