Princeton's Michael Daughtry signs NLI to wrestle at Campbell U

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on May 23, 2016 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

PRINCETON -- Could that be me?

Michael Daughtry certainly thought so when he attended a wrestling match at Campbell University nearly three months ago.

Camel heavyweight Jere Heino trailed The Citadel's Joe Bexley by one point in the final half minute. Heino scored a takedown with 20 seconds to go and sealed Campbell's dual-team victory over its Southern Conference rival.

Daughtry hasn't forgotten that match.

"It was nice, the crowd went nuts," Daughtry said.

Then reality hit the Princeton High senior. Instead of Heino, he could be the one to experience the euphoria of clinching a last-second win in a collegiate atmosphere.

And it could happen for the orange and black.

The most-decorated grappler in Princeton's short history, Daughtry signed a national letter-of-intent to wrestle with Campbell next season. Although the well-renowned academic school was his destination all along, he did receive some attention from Division II, Division III and NAIA programs.

"I never strayed from it," said Daughtry, who plans pursue a degree in kineseology and enter the work field as either a physical therapist or physician's assistant.

"(Seeing that match) was a crazy thing. I knew I was going to be there soon because I've been determined to get to college. I was like, 'Wow, I'm going to be training with these guys. They're going to be my new friends.' When I went up there for my official visit, I made a couple of friends.

"I almost wanted to stay there, but had to come back to school."

Daughtry still had roughly three weeks left in his prep career -- a four-year journey that undoubtedly raised the standard for future Bulldog wrestlers. He finished state runner-up at 145 pounds during the season-ending N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A individual state championships.

A two-time regional champ and three-time state qualifier, Daughtry will graduate with a program-best 118 victories.

"His signing with a Division I program is a huge accomplishment for our program as a whole ... hopefully gives us a big shot in the arm," said PHS assistant coach Tyler Baker, who spent the last two seasons as one of Daughtry's two workout partners during practice. Kyle Balageo was the other.

"His biggest improvement has been his technique, how to control things, how to set up a move one way, but also another way. He's gone to out-of-state tournaments. You've got different competition which has turned him into a better wrestler, a better individual, a better team player."

And he'll wrestle for his idol.

Campbell hired former USA Olympic Team member Cary Kolat, who spent the last five seasons as an associate head coach at the University of North Carolina. He won two NCAA individual titles at Lock Haven (Pa.) University.

Kolat inherits a program that produced two NCAA qualifiers this past winter. The Camels finished fifth in the eight-team SoCon tournament. They emerged as the league's regular-season dual-team runner-up in 2012.

"I've met him just once, we spoke when I went up there for my official visit," said Daughtry, who expects to contend for a starting spot at 149 pounds, but also understands he must develop his strength and stamina to achieve that goal.

"I guess I'm just ready to get in there and show him what I'm capable of (doing on the mat). I might have a tough start getting the conditioning and wrestling against those high-level guys in there, but I feel like after a while, I'll get used to it and will be able to stick with them.

"I think it's going to be hard, but it's going to end well in the long run."

Spoken like a true Bulldog.