Southern Wayne sophomore Omar Soler-Sanchez, back, attempts to sweep the outer leg and take North East Carolina Prep’s Alan Tebalan to the mat during their 113-pound match Wednesday evening. Soler-Sanchez pinned Tebalan. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne heavyweight Chris Melvin, who missed part of the season with an injury, works against Goldsboro’s Ryan Nelson Jr. Wednesday. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Andrew Dickins, top, pins Goldsboro’s Jymeia Nobles during their 157-pound bout Wednesday evening. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
A returning regional qualifier from last season, Southern Wayne’s Amari Thompson sticks Goldsboro’s KeShawn Williams during their 144-pound match. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Zach Sauls, top, scores an early pin over Goldsboro’s Jessica Zelaya at 132 pounds. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Southern Wayne’s Dary Perez-Lucas, left, attempts to break away from North East Carolina Prep’s Justice Carpenter during their 165-pound match. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
GOLDSBORO — Southern Wayne accepted the challenge.Head wrestling coach Tori King couldn’t have been more pleased.
Stinging from a mid-season loss against county rival Goldsboro, the Saints responded in dominating fashion. They prevailed in all seven contested matches and cruised past the Cougars, 57-12, inside Norvell T. Lee Gymnasium Wednesday evening.
King’s squad started the night with a 48-30 loss to perennial 1A powerhouse and Four Rivers champion North East Carolina Prep. The Huskies won five of six individual bouts.
“We wrestled really well against Goldsboro,” King said. “The guys took the challenge that I issued to them to heart, and it really showed. They listened well and executed the game plan. I think we are a much different team now than we were when we faced them earlier in the year.”
Goldsboro grabbed a 12-0 lead with back-to-back forfeits at 120 and 126 pounds. A tradition-rich program in the 1950s and 60s, the Cougars dropped the next 10 matches – six by fall, one by decision and three by forfeit.
First-year grappler Zach Sauls put the Saints on the board with a fall over Jessica Zeleya at 132 pounds. After a double forfeit at 138, returning regional qualifier Amari Thomas logged a pin over KeShawn Williams at 144 pounds.
Thomas improved to 15-10 on the mat this season.
“A big win [in] a tough match,” King said of Thomas. “When he gets out of his head and just lets the match come to him, he is very solid for us.”
Freshman Jordan Valentine drew his second forfeit of the night at 150. Teammate Andrew Dickins stepped into the circle and eventually pinned a feisty Jymeia Nobles at 157 pounds.
Dickins claimed his fourth triumph.
“We got some big wins from our younger kids,” King said. “Andrew has been wrestling very well lately and bumped up to 157. He has a very bright future … does things naturally and is really aggressive, which I love.”
Dary Perez-Lucas rallied from an early deficit to defeat Stephen Miller, 6-3, at 165. Senior Gabe Carmack pinned Joseph Hux at 175, while Yusef Ceballos earned a forfeit.
Another double forfeit followed before heavyweight Chris Melvin claimed a satisfying conquest of the Cougars’ Ryan Nelson, Jr. Melvin seized the opportunity when it arose and stuck Nelson, which silenced the Goldsboro faithful in attendance.
“Chris has been battling a shoulder injury that caused him to miss the [Quad County 3A] conference championships,” King said. “He responded very well on top and controlled the action against Nelson.”
Sophomore Omar Soler-Sanchez pinned Levi Jennings at 106 and Isiah Smith sealed the outcome with a forfeit at 113. The victory came after a comeback conquest of NECP 113-pounder Alan Tebalan.
Soler-Sanchez emerged as the QCC champion at 106 after missing the first semester due to disciplinary reasons. He takes a 7-1 worksheet into the NC High School Athletic Association 3A east regionals, which are Feb. 10 at East Wake High School.
Carmack, Ceballos, Melvin and Jordan each finished 2-0.
The Saints (8-17 overall) capped their dual-meet season with four victories in their last six outings.
“Overall, the guys wrestled really well tonight … am proud of how we fought and finished the season,” King said. “[A] great way to head into the regionals.”
Southern Wayne 57, Goldsboro 12
120: Chris Phillips (G) by FF; 126: Kurtis Tate (G) by FF; 132: Zach Sauls (SW) wbf Jessica Zelaya (G); 138: Double FF; 144: Amari Thomas (SW) wbf KeShawn Williams (G); 150: Jordan Valentine (SW) by FF; 157: Andrew Dickins (SW) wbf Jymeia Nobles (G); 165: Dary Perez-Lucas (SW) dec. Stephen Miller (G), 6-3; 175: Gabe Carmack (SW) wbf Joseph Hux (G); 190: Yusef Ceballos (SW) by FF; 215: Double FF; HWT: Chris Melvin (SW) wbf Ryan Nelson, Jr. (G); 106: Omar Soler-Sanchez (SW) wbf Levi Jennings (G); 113: Isaiah Smith (SW) by FF.
North East Carolina Prep 48, Southern Wayne 30
106: Holton Quincy (NECP) wbf Isaiah Smith (SW); 113: Omar Soler-Sanchez (SW) wbf Alan Tebalan (NECP); 120: Colton Lewis (NECP) by FF; 126: Kemon Downing (NECP) by FF; 132: Aiden Andrews (NECP) wbf Zach Sauls (SW); 138: Double FF; 144: Ryan Mann (NECP) wbf Amari Thomas (SW); 150: Cole Anderson (NECP) wbf Andrew Dickins (SW); 157: Jordan Valentine (SW) by FF; 165: Justice Carpenter (NECP) wbf Dary Perez-Lucas (SW); 175: Gabe Carmack (SW) by FF; 190: Yusef Ceballos (SW) by FF; 215: Carlos Tebalan (NECP) by FF; HWT: Chris Melvin (SW) by FF.
