STATE CHAMPS: Rosewood grapplers exceeded Edmundson's expectations

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on February 22, 2016 1:48 PM

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GREENSBORO -- Never one to pay attention to either astrology or astronomy, Bill Edmundson gazed at an amazing sight when he stepped outside on a recently-cold morning to crank up the bus.

The planets Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter had aligned together.

The rare phenomenon, in Edmundson's estimation, led to an incredibly fun, exciting -- and historic -- season for the Rosewood wrestling program. His youth-ladened group of grapplers seized not one -- but two -- team state championships within a 14-day period.

The Eagles claimed the program's first-ever N.C. High School Athletic Association Class 1-A dual-team crown over perennial power Mitchell County. They followed that up by winning the 1-A state individual tournament team title at the Greensboro Coliseum on Saturday evening.

Rosewood senior Kaleb Taylor repeated as the state heavyweight champion. Timothy Decatur-Luker became the first-ever freshman state title-winner in program history.

A humble Edmundson admitted it wasn't supposed to happen this year. Fifteen seniors, including eight state qualifiers, received their diplomas last June. Just one full-time starter returned along with quality "understudies" who stepped into and succeeded in their respective starting roles this winter.

"The coaching staff really thought last year was going to be 'the year.' This was to be our rebuilding year," Edmundson said. "I feel like we have had several teams in the past that were capable of a run like this, but for one reason or another, it just hasn't happened until this year."

Taylor, and fellow seniors Dylan Melgar and Blake Dean, took ownership of the team. A backup at heavyweight each of the past three year, the soft-spoken Dean dropped an amazing 30 pounds and turned in a fantastic senior campaign at 220 pounds. He finished state runner-up to Mitchell's Will Atkins.

A spiritual soul who leads by example, Melgar developed a competitive and fierce nature on the mat this season. He shared fifth place with North Stokes' Dalton Sawyer in the state tournament. Melgar logged a 42-12 worksheet and became the latest entrant to the program's Century Club (100 career wins) during the dual-team final.

Taylor, quite simply, emerged as the vocal leader. The three-time state qualifier ended the year 50-0 overall -- just the second grappler to finish the season unbeaten in school history.

"He never minds telling you exactly how he feels, but he has a heart of gold and always has the team's best interest at heart," Edmundson said.

Rosewood, undoubtedly, has set the new standard for wrestling in Wayne County. Edmundson credited part of his success to the late Terry Pilkington, who resurrected the wrestling program at Charles B. Aycock.

Pilkington took Edmundson under his wing. The two friends established youth wrestling clubs to help develop their respective programs since wrestling isn't offered on the middle school level. The Golden Falcons enjoyed remarkable runs and racked up numerous conference championships during the early part of the new millennium.

The Eagles surpassed their county rivals.

Before this season, Edmundson's previous two teams had fallen to nemesis Chatham Central in the eastern dual-team regional championship. The individual success continued on the regional and state levels, but those heart-breaking losses left a void in the program.

Assistant coach Hal Kilpatrick, toward the end of last November, remarked that RHS could possibly host the state dual-team championship match. He thought the Eagles would match up against two-time reigning state champion Mitchell.

"Note, he didn't say beat them," Edmundson quipped.

A grueling individual tournament schedule gave the young Eagles considerable mat time against some of the state's top talent -- either returning state qualifiers or returning state champions -- in every classification. On many Saturday afternoons, Rosewood was the lone 1-A team competing in those top-tier invitationals.

Edmundson noted his team seemed to peak in terms of physicality and effort. The wrestlers didn't always receive total praise after their individual bouts, but a "combination review" that recognized their strengths and weaknesses. That led to more blood, sweat and tears in the workout room against the non-starters, who worked hard and yearned to earn a starting spot of their own.

The effort paid off against Mitchell County.

So, the Eagles checked off one preseason goal.

Next came the eastern regional and the quest to qualify seven wrestlers for the state individual tournament. Rosewood had four regional champions and took a total of eight competitors overall to Greensboro.

Another preseason goal checked off.

Four Eagles -- Jordan Todd, Taylor, Decatur-Luker and Dean -- each won their opening-round match. Jayden Thomas, who battled an illness, lost and worked his way through the consolation rounds to place fourth overall at 138 pounds. Teammates Reid Amodeo and Cameron Helt each encountered difficult opponents.

Rosewood trailed Rosman by six points heading into the championship round. Dean's runner-up finish and Taylor's championship closed the gap to two points. Decatur-Luker (58-4) took the mat and looked like a seasoned veteran. He pinned his opponent and clinched the overall team title.

Todd finished state runner-up at 126 pounds.

"Every wrestler's goal is to stand at the top of that podium and be crowned state champion," Edmundson said. "Our eight guys wrestled their hearts out."

And each lived up to the motto, "those who remain will become champions," which is posted in the team's workout room. As they posed for the team championship picture late Saturday evening, a dream for every Rosewood wrestler finally became reality.

They were all stars on this night.