C.B. Aycock wrestlers swarm Eastern Wayne

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 30, 2004 2:00 PM

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Short-handed all season long due to injuries and lack of interest, the Eastern Wayne wrestling team has done its best when competing in a dual-team format.

Individual victories have been the primary focus since the Warriors surrender precious points on forfeits before the matches usually begin. Thursday evening was no exception to what has been the rule this season for coach Mike Brown's squad.

State-ranked Charles B. Aycock benefited from five forfeits and overwhelmed Eastern Wayne 75-4 in the regular-season finale for both Class 3-A Eastern Carolina Conference programs. The Golden Falcons, who are No. 6 in the latest Elite 10 dual-team state poll, finished 5-1 in the league. They'll face White Oak in the opening round of the N.C. High School Athletic Association dual-team playoffs on Feb. 3.

The Warriors concluded their ECC slate 1-5.

"Kevin has a got a great group of kids and he's done an excellent job over there," Brown said. "His kids came out hard and aggressive, and put it to us tonight."

Aycock also received pins from Jackson Massey (125 pounds), Ronald Lynn (135), Blake Brockmeyer (140), Randy Meisenhelder (145), heavyweight Dustin Gurley and 103-pounder Derek Lancaster. The Golden Falcons beat an ECC opponent for the 14th time in their last 16 outings.

"Four days off the mat was a serious cause of concern for us," C.B. Aycock coach Kevin Smith said. "I was concerned about being rusty when we took the mat, and in some areas we were. I think we did a good job making up for that rust by staying aggressive and taking the match to our opponents."

While the Golden Falcons fought to secure their No. 2 position in the postseason, they also knew -- along with the Warriors -- that individual matches would factor into Saturday's season-ending ECC tournament. Aycock prevailed in two critical bouts and each grappler seized the No. 1 seed for their respective weight class.

John Robertson, ranked No. 6 among the state's 171-pounders, jumped on the Warriors' David Brown in the opening period. Robertson needed half a minute to earn the takedown and turned Brown on his back for three nearfall points as the click ticked under a minute.

Brown excited the bi-partisan crowd with a reversal and almost returned the favor with a nearfall of his own. Brown started the second period with a hard-earned reversal, closing the gap to 5-4. He locked Robertson's legs and attempted several times to turn him, but couldn't as time expired.

Robertson scored a reversal in the third with less than a minute to go. He kept Brown on the mat before Brown broke his grasp, and picked up his second reversal of the match. By then, it was too late as Robertson escaped 7-6.

"David gave up a five-point move early and that hurt," Brown said.

Turner Wood and the Warriors' Travis Turner faced off in a key battle at 189. However, the match didn't hold as much drama as Robertson's nail-biting victory.

Wood led 4-0 after one period and chose the "down" position to start the second period. The two wrestled on the mat almost half a minute when Turner attempted to put Wood into a cradle. Turner's shoulder blades inched closer to the mat and he eventually pinned himself.

"The kids knew that almost every match tonight had implications for Saturday's tournament," Smith said. "Several wrestlers won big matches tonight that will help the move up or maintain a seed."

Eastern Wayne's lone victory came from senior Tyler Sasser. Sasser, unbeaten in 21 matches, needed three periods to claim a major decision against Will Medus.

"I expected him to win and he did," Brown said. "He's still not in the shape he was before he got hurt. He wrestled the match I expected and was aggressive.

"(Senior) Cameron (Anderson) put up a good fight against a pretty good kid. I was pleased with the way he wrestled and that he didn't give up."

Brown presented each of his seniors with a plaque thanking them for their dedication to the program.

The ECC Tournament begins Saturday at 10 a.m. at Eastern Wayne.

West Carteret, ranked No. 1 in the Elite 10 dual-team poll, is the defending champion.

"We have one day to prepare for a very important tournament," Smith said. "The kids know that tomorrow has to be the best practice of the year, and that they have to be at the top of their game this weekend."

C.B. Aycock 75, Eastern Wayne 4

112 -- David Rose (CBA) by forfeit; 119 -- Greg Coudriet (CBA) by forfeit; 125 -- Jackson Massey (CBA) wbf Josh Stevens, 1:23; 130 -- Luan Tran (CBA) by forfeit; 135 -- Ronald Lynn (CBA) wbf Timmy Brown 3:43; 140 -- Blake Brockmeyer (CBA) wbf Eric Daughtry, 1:11; 145 -- Randy Meisenhelder (CBA) wbf Brian Lincoln, 3:02; 152 -- Tim Harrison (CBA) by forfeit; 160 -- Tyler Sasser (EW) maj. dec. Will Medus, 11-2; 171 -- John Robertson (CBA) dec. David Brown, 7-6; 189 -- Turner Wood (CBA) wbf Travis Turner, 2:25; 215 -- Lacardra Mitchell (CBA) by forfeit; Hwt -- Dustin Gurley (CBA) wbf Cameron Anderson, 3:06; 103 -- Derek Lancaster (CBA) wbf Phillip Dingus, 0:31.