WRESTLING: Eagles, Hawks wear targets on their back in Eagle Invitational

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 9, 2016 9:57 AM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

That big purple-and-gold target on Rosewood's back gets bigger each time its wrestling team steps onto the mat this season.

When you're a reigning dual-team state champ, you don't expect anything less. That will be especially true Saturday when the Eagles play host to the 21st annual United States Air Force/Eagle Invitational.

More than 20 teams and 250-plus grapplers will vie for individual honors in 14 weight classes and the coveted team championship -- a wrestling belt sponsored by the USAF and currently held by 2015 Invitational title-winner Holly Springs.

Opening-round action starts at 9:15 a.m.

Admission is $10 for an all-tournament pass.

"I know our guys want to show well in our tournament," RHS head coach Bill Edmundson said. "Everyone wants to beat us. The guys have to learn they can never relax and become complacent on the mat."

Holly Springs wears a target, too.

The Hawks have won the last four Eagle Invitational crowns and once again, they bring another experienced group to town. Back among the fold is senior Hunter Morton, who won the 126-pound weight class a year ago.

Morton is 13-0 this season.

"Holly Springs is tough from top to bottom and that's what it takes to be a competitive team in duals," said Edmundson, whose team saw the Hawks in the I-95 Duals earlier this season.

"Teams can have several really good individuals who can score 20 to 26 points and not even have a full team (14 wrestlers) to win an individual tournament."

Edmundson expects Jack Britt, Fike and county rival Charles B. Aycock to be in the team title mix as well. Rosewood placed second and CBA claimed third in 2015.

Aycock returns two individual champs -- Tyler Marquard (132 pounds) and Josh Wallace, who ruled the 160-pound division. First-year head coach Brian Doyle expects his son, Austin, and freshman Tyler Hughes to advance to the medal round along with Marquard and Wallace.

The Golden Falcons enter the Invitational three days after an uninspiring effort in a tri-meet at Greene Central. They won just five of 16 contested individual matches.

Doyle described the outing as an "ugly (dual-team) win."

Tim Decatur and Jordan Todd are returning champs for Rosewood, which won the Mike Stanbridge Colt Stampede team crown and placed seventh overall in the Pierce-Davis Memorial just seven days ago.

Other Eagles to watch -- Christian Decatur, Chris Hill, Reid Amodeo, Jordan Todd, Luis Tortual, Jayden Thomas, Seth Finney, Cameron Helt, Hunter Weeks and Nyterrius Williams. Weeks missed last year's Invitational due to concussion protocol.

"So far this season I think we have a long way to go on improvements," Edmundson said. "I'm looking forward to seeing who else will step up and make a mark for our team. The coaching staff will push them and they will have to be hungry for success."

Rosewood last won the Invitational in 2005.