Cary Academy Chargers Wrestling Takes Bengal Duals Title

BENGAL DUALS

Greensboro Day School

Greensboro, NC

January 10, 2009

By: Victor Lerch

Coach Moore laid down the gauntlet earlier in the week, publically promising to bring home the trophy today, and Charger wrestlers did not disappoint. CA ran the table against a field of other independent schools, improving the team's overall record to 11-13 on the season, going 4-0 for the day. Here are the individual match results:

CARY ACADEMY - 60

KERR VANCE ACADEMY - 18

Charger wrestlers opened the day against the Spartans, a still-developing second year program that has not yet presented the Chargers with a serious challenge. With the additional 2-pound weight allowance as of January 1, Coach Moore was able to rearrange his lineup to fill some earlier holes, making it an even steeper climb for the crew from Vance County. Kyle Lerch (7), having won the 103 spot in a wrestle-off at Friday's practice, took the first six points in a forfeit. Austin Neaville (7), subbing for the absent Joe Calder (SO) at 112, suffered a mid-second period pin to even the score. At 119, Alex Rosenthal had a clear mismatch, pinning his man in what turns out to be a school record six seconds. Zac Wilson (FR) went down towards the end of the first at 125, but that would be the last time that Kerr Vance would be in the match. Nathaniel Ting was in constant motion in the 130 contest and the outcome was never in doubt, ending with the win just before the first period whistle. At 130, Tyler Hartsfield and his opponent danced through the first minute. After a delay to wipe some blood from the mat, Tyler attacked, keeping the Spartans' man with his back to the mat for the final minute of the first and the first minute of the second before finishing it. Next up was Keaton Friedman (FR), starting for the first time this year at 140. Keaton wasted no time taking advantage of his opportunity, subduing his counterpart in just 16 seconds. It was another no contest at 145, with Ian Molvie doing the honors this time in just 12 seconds. Carson Bills (152) had his opponent on his back from the start but took until 1:47 of the first to get his win awarded by the referee. At 160, Connor Smithson faced off against one of Kerr Vance's stronger wrestlers and the match was fairly even throughout. Both men seemed to wear each other down and the pace of the contest slowed noticeably as it went along. Fortunately for Connor, he was able to catch his man in a quick takedown and pinning combination late in the third, adding six more for CA. At 171, Aaron Jones scored a quick takedown off the opening whistle and the outcome was never in doubt, finishing with a pin at 1:40 of the first. Trevor Pearce's match at 189 was even through the first period, then the Kerr Vance man seemed to gain the advantage in a rapid-fire second. Down 2-6 entering the third, Trevor needed something dramatic but couldn't quite pull it off, eventually falling late in the period. In the final match, Miguel Alecio stepped up to 215 to take on Kerr Vance's most experienced man. Though once again giving up significant weight (as he has much of the season), and having to shrug off a minor shoulder strain, it was just a matter of time before the superior man won, taking the pin at 1:02 of the second.

CARY ACADEMY - 60

ST. DAVIDS'S - 18

CA next faced off against the 6-man squad from St. Davids. Alex Rosenthal made quick work of the 119 match. There were no more matches until 140, where Keaton Friedman took on Kevin Park, St. Davids most experienced wrestler, and suffered an early pin. Ian Molvie and his 145 opponent seemed about even, but then Ian tired late and took the loss midway through the third. At 152, first year wrestler Mike McCord (11) stepped in for usual starter Carson Bills. Mike was able to begin a round of takedowns at will against the St. David's man in efforts to avoid "locking hands" penalty points and finished with the pin just before the end of the first. In the final contested match, Connor Smithson at 160 momentarily let down his guard and got caught in an early cradle en route to a first period fall.  All of the upper weights were forfeited to CA to account for the final score.

CARY ACADEMY - 66

RAVENSCROFT - 15

The Chargers secured their largest margin of the day against their perennial cross-town rivals. A year ago, the Ravens' first year program attracted a huge number of new recruits, but there seems to have been significant attrition this year and it looks like it will be some time before Ravenscroft's wrestlers are able to compete with Coach Moore's squad. The match opened with three consecutive forfeits to CA at 103, 112 and 119. Alex Rosenthal moved up to 125 and executed a surgically precise deconstruction of his much less experienced opponent in just under a minute and a half. Nathaniel Ting at 130 showed none of the ferociousness that has often been the trademark of his wrestling, falling by a 5-10 minor decision. Tyler Hartsfield and Keaton Friedman took the next two forfeits. Ian Molvie, attacking from the start at 145, got his second pin of the day at 1:03 in. It was no contest at 152, with Carson Bills posting another pin, this time in just under a minute. At 160, Connor Smithson stepped in against Alex Popa, by far Ravenscroft's best wrestler and a probable contender for a state championship this year. Connor fought gamely to hold off the stronger and quicker man, but eventually fell at 0:38 of the second. Aaron Jones then picked up his second win of the day. It's too bad that this first year man is already a senior. Aaron is a talented athlete and though he lacks the large repertoire of moves that some of the other older boys have, the ones he know he executes exceedingly well. Aaron always seems to have a plan out there, and this time he got the pin less than a minute into the second. At 189, Trevor Pearce steadily built up a lead but had trouble overpowering his opponent, then ultimately came up with the winning combination at 0:26 of the third. In the final match at 215, Miguel Alecio spent close to a minute in takedown practice (due to his opponent's unseen cheap shot to start the match) before tiring of the exercise and putting his man away at 0:53 of the first. Ravenscroft picked up their only six of the match when CA had no heavyweight to send out against their heavily muscled (but unfailingly polite) bruiser.

CARY ACADEMY - 54

GREENSBORO DAY - 27

CA finished the day against the host Bengals in the match that would decide the overall tournament champion. The Chargers narrowly decisioned GDS at the start of this season, but aided in no small measure by contributions from two middle schoolers new to the lineup, this one would not turn out to be as close. Kyle Lerch started off at 103 in his first competitive match of the season against a Greensboro Day wrestler who had clearly been at it considerably longer. Still, Kyle managed to stay out of the pin (even saving a cradle midway through the match) and go the full six minutes, settling for a very respectable 4-7 minor against. Next up at 112, Austin Neaville seemed overmatched at first but then realized that he could stay with his man and gradually worked his way back into the match. In the second Austin took over, closing with his first pin of the year at 0:34 of the middle period for a 6-3 CA lead. A forfeit to Zac Wilson at 119 ran CA's lead to 12-3 before the big guys started piling on. Alex Rosenthal performed another round of surgery at 125, end with a pin at 1:47 of the first. Nathaniel Ting took a little longer against his familiar foe but got to the same result, at 0:22 of the third at 130. Tyler Hartsfield was dominant from the start, finishing the 135 match at 0:59 of the first with another of his signature figure-four works of art. With the Chargers leading 30-3 at that point, Keaton Friedman came out fired up at 140 but was overmatched and got cradled and pinned early in the second. GDS sent their most experienced man out next to take on Ian Molvie at 145. Ian was having the better of the action in the early going but things turned against him in the second and he fell to two and two on the day with a mid second period pin against. At 152 Carson Bills came out fast, seeking to re-establish dominance for the good guys, which he promptly accomplished at 0:41 of the first. Connor Smithson came up against a very quick GDS wrestler at 160 but raised his own speed to stay with his opponent, almost got the pin twice in the first period and then finished with a buzzer beating winner right at the end of that first stanza. With CA up 42-15, the match was effectively over at that point. Aaron Jones looked lightning fast all day at 171 but his inexperience peeked through just a bit. One major mistake led to a reversal and turn in one move and he went down midway through period one. Miguel Alecio put the Chargers over the top with pin #3 on the day just 35 seconds into the 189 match. Trevor Pearce moved up to 215 and while visibly gritting his teeth in determination, punctuated the tournament championship with the final pin of the day four seconds before the end of the first period.

Charger wrestlers returned home with a big new trophy to find a place in the display case for. Next up is a home tilt against the perennial NCISAA State Champion Forsyth Country Day Furies. Last year's squad came within one match of upsetting the champs on their home mat. That same effort for achievement is expected to be displayed no matter the outcome, but Forsyth's roster full of defending individual champions should give Charger veterans a good look nonetheless at what they'll have to contend with at next month's state tournament in Asheville. Come out Wednesday night and cheer our boys on!