C.B. Aycock takes 2nd at TDR Invitational

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 15, 2007 2:22 PM

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WILSON -- Nine Charles B. Aycock grapplers finished among the top four in their respective weight classes and the Golden Falcons settled for second place overall during team competition in the 5th annual TDR Invitational contested Saturday at Edgar T. Beddingfield High School.

Returning starters Ronald Lynn, Bryant Lancaster and Jarrett Covar each emerged individual champions in the day-long, 15-team event. The trio helped C.B. Aycock accumulate 183 points -- its best output in tournament action this season. However, perennial powerhouse Winston-Salem Parkland, a last-minute entrant, piled up an Invitational-record 307 points.

The Mustangs qualified their entire team for either the championship or consolation finals round, and walked away with an impressive 14 medals -- eight gold, five silver and one bronze.

"We never like finishing second in a tournament, but Parkland is very deserving of its ranking as the best 3-A team in the state," said C.B. Aycock head coach Kevin Smith. "We rarely get to see any competition from out west until the state tournament, meaning we are going into those matches in February without a clue as to what to expect.

"We are definitely starting to get some point production out of our younger kids. So from a team score, there isn't much to be dissatisfied on from my part."

Cardinal Gibbons posted a third-place score of 113, followed by Southern Nash (89 points) and First Flight (84). Pasquotank (73), Clayton (69), Nash Central (66), Oxford J.F. Webb (47) and East Wake (46) rounded out the top 10.

C.B. Aycock, ranked No. 1 by The Takedown Report, fashioned a 2-3 record against Parkland in the championship finals. Lynn turned back Luis Camacho, ranked No. 2 statewide, in the 135-pound title bout. Covar stunned No. 7-ranked Taylor Watkins 6-1 in their 215-pound affair.

In three matches, Lynn yielded just three points -- all to Camacho. A returning state qualifier, Lynn pinned his quarterfinal- and semifinal-round opponents.

"Impressive," said Smith. "Ronald wrestled a very smart finals match against Camacho. We were fortunate enough to keep the match on our feet where we felt we had a slight advantage.

"The gold medal has been elusive for Jarrett this year, but today he put it all together and found a way to win against a very good kid. This was Jarrett's break-out tournament."

Lancaster claimed the 145-pound championship with a two-point decision against state-ranked Andrew Langlois of Pasquotank. Langlois, ranked No. 2 among North Carolina's Class 1-A/2-A wrestlers, has just two losses -- both against Lancaster -- in 23 outings this season.

Lancaster improved to 33-1 overall.

"Bryant and the coaches had a game plan going into the match, and Bryant stuck with it for the full six minutes," said Smith. "It's hard to beat any wrestler two times, and even harder to beat a state-ranked kid twice in the same year."

The Golden Falcons' Drake Gurley (112 pounds), Ngu Tran (125) and Kyle Harmon (171) each took second in their respective weight divisions. All three lost to wrestlers from Parkland.

Steve Bentley knocked off Clayton's Rusty Wagner for third place at 160 pounds. Heavyweight Khiry Reid stopped Greene Central's Justin Wellington in their third-place bout, and Josh Overton claimed fourth at 140 pounds.

"It was a day of hits and a few near hits for us," said Smith. "We are so close to becoming the team we know we can be. Today was another big step for our program in many ways. We just have to keep working to make those closes matches against great wrestlers go our way."

C.B. Aycock (16-0) will take a few days off for semester exams and return to action Saturday in the Thomas Cowles Firebird Duals at Southern Nash.