Southern Wayne’s Oswaldo Quiroz, top, works against an opponent last season. Quiroz is one of five returning starters for the Saints, who opened their dual-team season with victories against Rocky Mount and Goldsboro Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
DUDLEY — Head coach Tori King got a “first” look at his Southern Wayne wrestling team during a three-team meet Wednesday evening.
He’s anxious for a “second” look Saturday.
The Saints play host to the second annual Saint Takedown Kings Invitational, an individual tournament that features grapplers from 13 teams including county rivals Rosewood, Charles B. Aycock, Eastern Wayne and Goldsboro.
Washington returns to defend its team crown.
Opening-round matches begin at 9 a.m. inside “The Halo.”
“We expect to go out and compete hard on Saturday, and let the chips fall where they may,” King said. “As long as we compete hard, it should be a great day of wrestling, a learning experience for our kids and a great opportunity for growing [a] wrestling community in this area.”
The Saints finished third in the team standings a year ago. However, a majority of those wrestlers who reached the medal podium either graduated or won’t return this season.
The two major losses are heavyweight Eli Hulet and 215-pounder Lamontez White. Hulet’s family moved to Germany during the offseason. White suffered an injury during football that could keep him off the mat.
King will rely on five starters to provide leadership — Oswaldo Quiroz (138 pounds), junior Amari Thomas (157), Dary Perez-Lucas (165), Antonio Solice (175) and backup heavyweight Yusef Ceballos. Selected as the team captain, Thomas finished third in the Quad County 3A tournament last winter.
Quiroz missed the QCC tournament due to a season-ending injury.
“Amari, Oswaldo and Chris Melvin have all been looking really good at practice and we expect big things from them in the conference,” King said. “We are very young this year which can be frustrating at times but also shows great promise toward the future.”
King welcomed back Gabe Carmack, who sat out last season. The 190-pounder launched his senior campaign with three impressive pins against opponents from Rocky Mount, Goldsboro and Rosewood on Wednesday evening.
Two coaches also joined the staff — Brandon Proctor and former University of Mount Olive standout Devin McCorkle. Proctor and Nick Smith, who coached the Saints in the early 2000s, handle the weight-room duties.
“We have been focusing on getting off of bottom [on the mat] and just staying solid our fundamentals as we are all so young and learning,” King said. “We should eventually fill all weight classes, although at the start of the season we may give up two or three weight classes.
“As always, I expect the team to come out, compete hard every match, strive to get better every day as the season goes on while we continue to rebuild the program.”
