Saints, Warriors battle on the wrestling mat

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 7, 2016 1:48 PM

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Even though the final score reflects a different outcome, county rivals Eastern Wayne and Southern Wayne wrestled an even match Wednesday evening.

Each earned six individual victories.

The difference?

The Warriors fielded a full team and benefited from two Saints forfeits in a 48-33 triumph on the Eastern Carolina 3-A/4-A Conference scene. Eastern Wayne (8-6 overall) remained unbeaten in three league outings this season with new head coach Aaron Lynch.

"I thought our guys wrestled well, came out to set the tone, tried to attack and wrestle hard, and that really made the difference," Lynch said. "I told my guys I was proud of them, they got it done. Hat's off to Southern Wayne's coaches.

"They're doing a good job over there and their guys look really good."

The first four bouts -- all first-period falls -- lasted a total of 2 minutes, 45 seconds. Eastern Wayne's Equan Tune and Cainen Miller, a returning starter, each pinned their respective opponent. The Saints countered with pins from 132-pounder Devante Jackson and 145-pounder Willie Leonard.

The teams traded leads over the next four matches.

Southern Wayne (4-8 overall, 1-1 ECC) led 27-24 after 195-pounder Tyler Lane, in just his third mat appearance of the season, pinned Dilissus Council in 1:22.

"Really good matches tonight," said second-year SW head coach Kelvin Gurley, whose team logged the initial takedown in five matches.

"We've got a really young team and probably have eight or nine freshmen in the rotation who wrestle every week. So I'm very proud with a young team -- as inexperienced as we are -- to come in, show a lot of heart and wrestle well."

Eastern Wayne retook the overall match lead, 36-27, with back-to-back forfeits. Returning starter Mario Harper (106 pounds) sealed the outcome with a second-period fall over Delvonte Davis.

The Warriors' Colby Miller won at 113.

Southern Wayne's Ty McGowan pinned Jonathan Harris with five seconds left in their 120-pound encounter.

"We've got some great young men and there's not any quit in any of them," said Gurley, who has just two seniors and returns five starters from last season.

The Warriors (8-6) return to action Saturday at South Lenoir. The Saints return to the mat Jan. 19 at ECC foe South Central.