Aycock grapplers split season-opening tri-meet

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on November 18, 2015 1:48 PM

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PIKEVILLE -- A tradition-rich wrestling program, Charles B. Aycock expects to experience some growing pains on the mat this winter.

Just five starters return off last year's that won the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference regular-season championship outright.

Four veterans suited up in the Golden Falcons' season-opening tri-meet against Corinth-Holders and North Johnston on Tuesday evening. Two part-time starters and several "newbies" comprised the remainder of the lineup.

Aycock fell 51-27 to an aggressive and physical Corinth-Holders squad, but bounced back with a 48-36 conquest of North Johnston. Corinth-Holders knocked off North Johnston, 46-27.

"A lot of them are young. Most of what we put on the mat were first-year guys (and) it just takes time to learn," said CBA alum and assistant coach Charlie Mills. "I think as far as that first match went down, I think they were nervous. A lot of it was mat time as well, not used to it ... just a combination of things."

The Golden Falcons (1-1 overall) earned five individual wins -- including four falls -- by junior 170-pounder Joshua Wallace, Austin Doyle (106 pounds), Chris Parks (120), Hayden Gurley (132) and Tyler Marquard (138).

Marquard built a 6-2 advantage against Corinth's Brandon Barrow. Barrow scored third-period reversal and earned two nearfall points, which tied the match at 6-6. Marquard gained an escape point with 24 seconds to go and held on for a 7-6 decision.

Aycock won seven of 12 contested matches against North Johnston.

Wallace, the team's lone returning state qualifier, pinned the Panthers' Justin Pilkington in eight seconds. Teammates Gurley, Marquard, Justin Washington, Brandon Washington, Chris Parks Donnie Moorefield each won by fall.

Doyle drew a forfeit.

Wallace, Gurley, Marquard, Parks and Doyle each finished the night 2-0.

"(The second match) the light turned out, we're going after it," Mills said. "I think they needed a punch in the face 'hey, this what it's like.' I'm pretty pleased for the most part how it turned out tonight."

The Golden Falcons return to action Saturday in the day-long Demon Duals at Wilson Fike. Opening-round matches begin at 9 a.m.