Southern Wayne’s Oswaldo Quiroz (right) works against Fike’s Zach Greene during their 138-pound match Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
South Johnston’s Nathaniel Stanley, top, gets full control against Southern Wayne’s Andrew Dickins during their 144-pound match Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Jordan Valentine, back, tries to keep control against South Johnston’s Julio Gonzalez during their 150-pound match Wednesday evening. Valentine fell to Gonzalez, but bounced back to claim his first varsity win of the season against Fike. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
DUDLEY — The needle is stuck on the record and Southern Wayne head wrestling coach Tori King hopes his team finds another groove soon.
Still plagued by injuries, illness and outside distractions, the Saints launched their Quad County 3A campaign with losses against South Johnston and Fike on Wednesday evening.
South received six forfeits and prevailed in seven of eight contested matches during a 78-6 win. Fike picked up four forfeits and triumphed in five six matches in a 48-24 triumph.
“We had some kids that got good mat time that will help them grow and get better,” King said. “Jordan [Valentine] picked up his first win on varsity. He showed a lot of heart and toughness.”
Valentine worked two-plus periods before getting pinned by South’s Julio Gonzalez during their 150-pound match. He rebounded to stick Fike’s Jacob Thomason in 2 minutes, 34 seconds.
Olivia Ruiz (113 pounds), Isaiah Smith (106) and Gabe Carmack (175) each earned a forfeit against Fike. Carmack pinned South’s Cayden Wright in 2:57.
“Gabe wrestled very well and continues to get better every week,” King said. “Edith [Arteaga] wrestled tough and I’m very proud of her progress. Hopefully, Amari Thomas [foot injury] returns soon and we can get some of our other guys back in the lineup. [We need] to get our conditioning back after so many were out due to sickness.
“We have to be a resilient group and continue to work hard through our recent struggles.”
Southern Wayne (3-8 overall, 0-2 QCC) returns to action Dec. 20 in the Pilkington Memorial Duals at county rival Charles B. Aycock. The day-long event begins at 9 a.m.
South Johnston 78, Southern Wayne 6
113 — Saleem Jones (SJ) by FF; 120 — Carson Corl (SJ) pin Edith Arteaga (SW), 0:16; 126 — Ethan Brownlee (SJ) by FF; 132 — Karo’o Aquino (SJ) by FF; 138 — Tyrone Crouthamel (SJ) pin Oswaldo Quiroz (SW), 1:24.3; 144 — Nathaniel Stanley (SJ) pin Andrew Dickins (SW), 1:06.3; 150 — Julio Gonzalez (SJ) pin Jordan Valentine (SW), 4:14.4; 157 — Israel Estrada (SJ) by FF; 165 — Diego Uribe (SJ) pin Dary Perez-Lucas (SW), 1:45.6; 175 — Gabe Carmack (SW) pin Cayden Wright (SJ), 2:57; 190 — Nash Ellis (SJ) by FF; 215 — Jamarion Ward (SJ) by FF; HWT — Tyler Beasley (SJ) pin Chris Melvin (SW), 5:54.6; 106 — Diego Perez (SJ) pin Isaiah Smith (SW), 3:48.2.
Wilson Fike 48, Southern Wayne 24
120 — Ethan Skibins (F) pin Edith Arteaga (SW), 3:32; 126 — Caleb Winstead (F) by FF; 132 — Edgar Toribin (F) by FF; 138 — Zach Greene (F) pin Oswaldo Quiroz (SW), 4:13; 144 — Zach Turner (F) pin Andrew Dickins (SW), 0:39; 150 — Jordan Valentine (SW) pin Jacob Thomason (F), 2:34; 157 — Jamari Hill (F) by FF; 165 — Jacob Farmer (F) pin Dary Perez-Lucas (SW), 1:11.4; 175 — Gabe Carmack (SW) by FF; 190 — Justin Bullock (F) by FF; 215 — double FF; HWT — Nicholas Rodgers (F) pin Melvin Smith (SW), 2:24; 106 – Isaiah Smith (SW) by FF; 113 — Olivia Ruiz (SW) by FF.
