Aycock grapplers pummel Northern Nash

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on December 8, 2006 1:47 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- Charles B. Aycock grapplers posted eight falls in 12 contested matches and dismantled Northern Nash 67-12 in non-conference action Thursday evening.

The Golden Falcons, ranked No. 1 in the Takedown Report, improved to 2-0 overall and seized their 41st consecutive regular-season victory. They needed just 60 minutes to hand the Knights their second loss of the season.

Aycock head coach Kevin Smith said there were "plenty of kudos to go around" for an injury-riddled team which recorded the initial takedown in 10 matches. Kyle Harmon continues to recover from an ankle injury, while Justin Farrell will miss six to eight weeks with a broken collarbone.

Smith, as usual, heaped praise on his returning starters.

But Josh Grimes (160 pounds) and Jarrett Covar (215) received extra acknowledgment for workmanlike and proficient execution in their respective matches. Grimes pinned the Knights' Malcolm Stevens in 5 minutes, 14.3 seconds. Covar took about 31/2 minutes to pin Joseph Young.

"Josh and Jarrett get better every time they step on the mat and that is what we need for them do," said Smith. "Both are on track to have great seasons."

The Golden Falcons raced to a 37-0 lead. Senior 125-pounder Ngu Tran started the run with a 34-second fall over the Knights' Brandon Fetty. It was Tran's 97th career victory.

"I pride myself on being able to pick out little details from film that a wrestler can improve on, but it is really tough to do with a kid that is wrestling as well as he is right now," Smith said of Tran.

The Golden Falcons' Brandon Bailey followed with a nail-biting 13-12 decision over the Knights' Brandon Johnson. Bailey yielded two takedowns in the final two minutes of action, but denied Johnson back points.

Ronald Lynn (135), Josh Overton (140) and Bryant Lancaster (145) each notched a first-period fall over their respective opponents. Overton had the shortest stay on the mat with a 51-second fall.

Steve Bentley (152) recorded three nearfalls in an eight-point second period and turned back Vance Bynum 14-4. Grimes completed the monster run with his third-period fall.

Northern Nash, of the Class 3-A NEW 6 Athletic Conference, triumphed at 171 and 189 pounds.

Aycock claimed the final five individual bouts, starting with Covar's victory. Heavyweight Khiry Reid pinned Terrance Holland in the opening period. Drake Gurley (112 pounds) emerged victorious in the final contested match with a 27-second fall over Terrell Thorne.

James Combs (103) and Terrence Davis (119) each drew a forfeit.

The Golden Falcons have won 25 of 28 individual matches in two dual outings. They've outscored the opposition 140-18.

"We did some good things, but there is always room for improvement," said Smith. "Technically, we wrestled well enough to win big, but if I had to find a fault, it would be that we need to be able to kick up the intensity another notch for home matches in the future.

"The kids understand this and I'm sure they will respond to the need at our next match."

Aycock returns to action Saturday in the 11th annual Eagle Invitational at Rosewood. Opening-round matches in the 19-team tournament are scheduled to begin at 9:15 a.m.

"(Rosewood coach) Bill (Edmundson) always runs a top-notch tournament and he's done a lot to go out and seek solid competition from other parts of North Carolina," said Smith. "We are expecting plenty of tough, physical matches against kids we don't see every weekend. The top five or six teams there should all be within striking distance of the title going into the finals.

"It's going to be an interesting weekend."

C.B. Aycock 67

Northern Nash 12

125 -- Ngu Tran (CBA) wbf Brandon Fetty, 34 seconds; 130 -- Brandon Bailey (CBA) dec. Brandon Johnson, 13-12; 135 -- Ronald Lynn (CBA) wbf Dominique McCallup, 1:57.2; 140 -- Josh Overton (CBA) wbf Travis Lee Tippette, 0:51; 145 -- Bryant Lancaster (CBA) wbf Robert Jones, 1:29; 152 -- Steve Bentley (CBA) maj. dec. Vance Bynum, 14-4; 160 -- Josh Grimes (CBA) wbf Malcolm Stevens, 5:14.3; 171 -- Marquez Arnold (NN) wbf Bryan Diorio, 1:13.8; 189 -- Matt Korf (NN) wbf Gabriel Huang, 4:32; 215 -- Jarrett Covar (CBA) wbf Joseph Young, 3:39.6; Hwt -- Khiry Reid (CBA) wbf Terrance Holland, 1:17.8; 103 -- James Combs (CBA) by forfeit; 112 -- Drake Gurley (CBA) wbf Terrell Thorne, 0:27; 119 -- Terrence Davis (CBA) by forfeit.

Records: C.B. Aycock 2-0, Northern Nash 3-2.

Next match: C.B. Aycock at Eagle Invitational, Rosewood, Saturday.