WRESTLING: Led by underclassmen, Rosewood achieves historical first

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 8, 2016 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

A misty-eyed Bill Edmundson exchanged hugs and handshakes, but felt as if he was living a dream that just didn't seem real.

He had just watched a team full of underclassmen compete like seasoned veterans and turn in a phenomenal performance against perennial wrestling powerhouse Mitchell County, which had won the past two dual-team state titles.

Rosewood finally sampled that sweet nectar of victory Saturday afternoon.

And what a delectable taste it was.

Timothy Decatur-Luker's second-period pin put an exclamation point on a 34-26 victory that gave Rosewood its first-ever N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A dual-team state championship - and the first team state crown of any kind in school history. The emotion-filled, two-hour battle easily erased memories of three consecutive finishes as the east regional runner-up from 2013-15.

"Coach told us 'don't be nervous because they're the two-time defending state champions. Keep yourself together and we can win this'," said Decatur-Luker, a freshman who picked up his 52nd win -- a 2-minute, 48-second fall over the Mountaineers' Coltin Marlowe.

"(Winning states) didn't kick in until a few minutes ago because I was tired, but now that it's kicked in, I'm happy and it feels really, really good."

The Eagles (42-6 overall) emerged as just the fourth eastern school to win a dual-team title since the Association created the 1-A classification in 2002. Edmundson's 2010 squad lost to West Wilkes in the state finals.

Rosewood became the 11th different Carolina Conference school to claim a state championship since the league's inception in the early 1970s. Those teams have combined to win a total of 14 state crowns in seven different sports - football, baseball, men's/women's basketball, volleyball, softball and wrestling.

Edmundson attributed his team's success to mat time.

The 48 dual matches and numerous individual tournaments that featured quality competition undoubtedly prepared for the Eagles for their finest moment on the sport's biggest stage.

"Everybody just stepped up and wrestled hard," said heavyweight Kaleb Taylor, one of just three seniors on the team. "We got the points where we needed them and then we relied on the people we've relied on all year. We all wrestled really good.

"We just had all of the keys for success."

Four underclassmen - freshman Chris Hill, sophomore Reid Amodeo, junior Louis Tortual and freshman Jordan Todd - staked Rosewood to an 18-0 lead through four individual bouts. Mitchell 138-pounder Josh McGee halted the run when he couldn't continue due to unnecessary roughness assessed by the referree to Jayden Thomas.

Edmundson grew concerned.

The Mountaineers eventually tied the match at 21-21 when the Eagles forfeited at 170 pounds. It was the lone forfeit by either team, but another crucial turning point that could have rattled Rosewood.

Instead, senior Dylan Melgar ignited a match-clinching 15-3 run. His decision, which was career win No. 100, preceeded nail-biting wins by teammates Cameron Helt (195 pounds) and Taylor. Decatur-Luker broke out the polishing rag with his historical pin.

"It was such an amazing feeling to watch the emotion of this group as they experienced the payoff of the hard work, time and effort they have put into the program," an emotional Edmundson said as he choked back tears.

"I thought this was the most physical and intense the team has wrestled (all season). The mat experience led to their confidence and they just wanted it ... they just wanted it."

With the underclassmen leading the way.