Gryphons fall to Southern Alamance in NCHSAA 3-A dual team wrestling opener
February 4, 2009 Rocky Mount High School
By Nick Phillips
iHigh.com Correspondent
GRAHAM - The Rocky Mount wrestling team traveled to Southern Alamance High School for the second time in three years to compete in the NCHSAA 3-A dual team state tournament.
The final results, however, were the same as the Eagles upended the Gryphons 45-36 in first-round action.
Senior Dedrick Silver started the night out right for the Gryphs, pinning his opponent at 171 pounds for a quick 6-0 RMHS lead. Two matches later, Guy Williamson was given a forfeit at 215 to keep Rocky Mount ahead, 12-6.
After taking the heavyweight match and getting forfeit victories in the next four weight classes, the Eagles were in control of the match, up 36-12. They were far enough ahead of the Gryphons on points that they did not send out wrestlers for 140- thru 160-pound matches.
This was the last dual match of the year for a tough bunch of guys. The team was unable to put a full lineup on the mat for the entire year, giving up between 18 and 24 points each time they wrestled. In spite of that, they won more matches than they lost and secured a tie for the regular season NEW 6 Conference championship. The team will be back on the practice mat to prepare for the individual state tournament.
Team members will travel to Winterville, where South Central High School will host the 3-A Regional next Friday and Saturday, Feb. 13 and 14. The top 16 wrestlers in each weight class qualify for the double elimination tournament, with the top four at each weight advancing to the state tournament in Winston-Salem. |
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