Stunning victory: CBA matmen surprise Eastern Wayne

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Published in Sports on January 23, 2014 2:24 PM

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Traditionally, freshmen aren't called upon to produce in pressure-packed matches against an intense archrival with the team's postseason fate hanging in the balance.

At least that hasn't been the norm at Charles B. Aycock.

Until Wednesday evening.

The coaching staff started the tandem of Chris Parks and Garrett Steers, and they answered the call in impressive fashion. With just a combined eight matches of varsity experience this season, each first-year starter pinned their respective opponent.

Their early success pumped adrenaline through the remainder of the Golden Falcons, who pulled off an improbable 39-33 victory over Eastern Wayne. Aycock seized the lone 3-A dual-team playoff berth available in Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference play.

"They definitely came through for us," said Ryan Morton, the lone senior in CBA's starting lineup. "I think that's what started our intensity. When they both got pins, we knew it could be done.

"We went out there and got it done."

The Golden Falcons (11-10 overall, 3-1 ECC) clinched their 16th consecutive trip to the N.C. High School Athletic Association playoffs.

The loss denied the Warriors their first postseason trip since 2009.

"We're usually a really aggressive wrestling team, but I don't know if the pressure (of tonight) got to them or the day off yesterday got to them which threw us off of our practice plan," said EW assistant coach Robert Steiner.

"We usually are the aggressor. We expected trouble in our lower weights and we're young there, but our older kids were a little bit more passive than they normally are."

Absent three starters, the Golden Falcons emerged victorious in seven of nine contested individual matches and grabbed the initial takedown on six occasions. The teams combined for five forfeits.

The 113-pound Parks and 120-pound Steers helped ignite a 20-0 run after the Warriors' Mario Harper opened the match with a forfeit at 106 pounds. Returning starters Zack Howard (126 pounds) and Jacob Dickenson (132) capped the surge with a technical fall and decision, respectively.

Aycock surrendered two forfeits, but Eastern Wayne (12-14, 2-3) would get no closer on senior night. Freshman Josh Wallace and sophomore Jarrett Paynter triumphed at 152 and 160 pounds, which boosted the overall advantage to 30-18.

Steiner contended those two outcomes proved pivotal.

Two forfeits later, Morton stepped onto the mat for his 190-pound encounter with returning starter Jamal Barrett. The two battled through a scoreless first period before Morton took control in the second.

"The first period, I was trying to wear him out ... wanted to be quicker on my feet so in the second and third periods I could get more shots in," Morton said. "The second period, he started stepping heavy with his left foot, so I went for the sweep."

Barrett tried to counter with a toss, but Morton took him down and earned three back points. Morton eventually won 6-3 and clinched the overall outcome for Aycock, which improved to 24-0 all-time against Eastern Wayne.

The Warriors won the final two matches.

Before the coin toss, Allen commented that miracles can happen. Parks and Steers solidified his belief.

"We had some wrestlers really step up today," first-year CBA head coach RJ Allen said. "It was dig deep. Some of them wrestled above their weight class and came out with wins ... pins. They gave it everything they had.

"I couldn't prouder as a coach tonight to see the team come together and win this. I'm extremely happy."