Gryphons claim NEW 6 wrestling crown

From staff reports
Wilson Daily Times

RED OAK -- Rocky Mount claimed the 3-A NEW 6 Conference wrestling championship Saturday at Northern Nash but wrestlers from Southern Nash and SouthWest Edgecombe earned individual titles.

The Firebirds boasted NEW 6 champions in Buddy Tom at 119 pounds, and senior Matt Watson at 189, while the Cougars had Landon Lucas at 103.

Southern Nash finished fourth in the team standings with 151 points behind Rocky Mount (201), Nash Central (166) and Northern Nash (157.5).

Fike was fifth with 62 points, one head of SouthWest Edgecombe. The Golden Demons' best showings were third-place finishes by Vincent Webb at 112, Hunter Myers at 152 and Cameron Jernigan at 215.

Southern Nash's Matt Swanson was the runner-up at 125 while Firebirds teammate Darryl Emig was second at 130.

Lucas ran his record to 12-0 with a pin of Nash Central's Miles Pringle at 3:47. Ken Mooring at 189 and Adrian Smith at 285 finished third for the Cougars.

Watson clipped Northern Nash's Nelson Pierce to escape with the championship while Tom handed Nash Central's Lane Parker a major decision at 14-4.

Rocky Mount and Nash Central each had four individual champions. The Gryphons and the Bulldogs move onto the N.C. High School Athletic Association 3-A dual-team playoffs, beginning today.

The 3-A East Regional tournament will be held at Winterville's South Central High on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 15-16. Individual regional assignments will be announced at the conclusion of the dual-team playoffs this weekend.

NEW 6 Conference Championship

(Saturday @ Northern Nash High School)

TEAM SCORES

Rocky Mount 201, Nash Central 166, Northern Nash 157.50, Southern Nash 151, Fike 62, SouthWest Edgecombe 61

INDIVIDUAL FINALS RESULTS

103 pounds -- Landon Lucas (SWE) pin Miles Pringle (NC), 3:47.

112 -- Ahmir Scott (RM) dec. Jacob Robinson (NC), 3-0.

119 -- Buddy Tom (SN) maj. dec. Lance Parker (NC), 14-4.

125 -- Chandler Phillips (RM) pin Matt Swanson (SN), 2:58.

130 -- Francisco Alfaro (RM) pin Daryl Emig (SN), 1:16.

135 -- Tavis Richardson (NN) pin Charles Wooten, 3:18.

140 -- Steven Luper (NC) pin Dominique McCallop (NN), 3:33.

145 -- Jasmine Cooper (NC) pin Bryan Sweet (NN), 2:52.

152 -- Ryan Kitchen (NC) maj. dec. Justin Atkinson (RM), 11-1.

160 -- Donny Wacenske (NC) pin Anthony Miller (RM), 1:45.

171 -- Dedrick Silver (RM) by inj. default Marquez Arnold (NN).

189 -- Matt Watson (SN) dec. Nelson Pierce (NN), 6-5.

215 -- Joe Young (NN) pin Guy Williamson (RM), 2:20.

285 -- Terrance Holland (NN) dec. Quintin Jeffries (NC), 2-1, 2 OT.

Editor's note - This is RMHS' fifth conference title of the 2007-08 sports season.