Southern Wayne’s Yusef Ceballos, left, works for a takedown against Rosewood’s Nick Wade during their 215-pound match Wednesday evening. Ceballos eventually pinned Wade. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
GOLDSBORO — There’s more work to be done.
Expect Southern Wayne to embrace that mantra in the wrestling room after its season-opening, tri-meet Wednesday evening at Rosewood.
The Saints exited the “Eagles’ Nest” with two losses.
They tied Goldsboro 42-42, but lost based on the least number of forfeits criteria. The Saints conceded four matches, while the Cougars gave up two.
Rosewood collected 24 points on forfeits and prevailed 54-27.
“We have some pretty good young talent that I’m very excited about,” said SW head coach Tori King. “We wrestled pretty good with some mistakes here and there that were to be expected. The veteran guys did really well.”
One of two seniors in the lineup, Amari Thomas turned in a 2-0 worksheet. The 157-pounder recorded pins over the Cougars’ Jessica Zelaya (16 seconds) and the Eagles’ Jacob Craig (52 seconds).
“Amari looked really good, as you would expect a senior to look,” King said.
Sophomore Zach Sauls (144 pounds), sophomore Jordan Valentine (150) and senior Yusef Ceballos (190) each concluded the night 2-0. All six victories resulted in pins.
Tyler Speight and Douglas Player each went 1-0. Returning state qualifier Omar Soler posted a 1-1 mark at 120 pounds, while sophomore Isaiah Smith ended up 1-1 at 106.
“I was very pleased with how Yusef wrestled and he is going to surprise some people this year,” King said. “Omar is dealing with some things that has his weigh a little high so he had to wrestle up at 120 and had a tough first match against Rosewood, but I’m certain he will bounce back soon.
“As a whole, I’m just ready to get after it this season and continue to get better every day.”
Southern Wayne returns home Saturday for the third annual Saints Takedown Kings Invitational. The day-long, individual event begins at 9 a.m.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
Southern Wayne 42, Goldsboro 42*
106 — Isaiah Smith (SW) by FF; 113 — Isaac Ham (G) by FF; 120 — Omar Soler (SW) by FF; 126 — Chris Phillips (G) wbf Jeremiah Blanco (SW), 1:45.6; 132 — Will Contreras (G) by FF; 138 — Joseph Brown (G) by FF; 144 — Zach Sauls (SW) wbf Taquellous Miller (G), 3:43.7; 150 — Jordan Valentine (SW) wbf Josh Basnight (G), 1:11.6; 157 — Amari Thomas (SW) wbf Jessica Zelaya (G), 0:16; 165 — Jymeia Nobles (G) wbf Antwon Allen (SW), 2:26.7; 175 — Steven Miller (G) by FF; 190 — Tyler Speight (SW) wbf Joseph Hux (G), 0:49; 215 — Yusef Ceballos (SW) wbf Daylan Ortiz (G), 1:23.6; HWT — Antonio Howell (G) wbf Bryce Sanders (SW), 0:55.
*Note: Goldsboro won on criteria of less number of individual forfeited matches.
Records: Southern Wayne 0-1, Goldsboro 1-0
Rosewood 54, Southern Wayne 27
113 — Jason Pickard (RHS) by FF; 120 — Kolton Hunter (RHS) wbf Omar Soler (SW), 3;30; 126 — Isaiah Mazura (RHS) wbf Jeremiah Blanco (SW), 0:36; 132 — TJ Jeffries (RHS) by FF; 138 — Shane Mangroo (RHS) by FF; 144 — Zach Sauls (SW) wbf Wesley Roberts (RHS), 1:33.8; 150 — Jordan Valentine (SW) wbf Landon Lowery (RHS), 5:12.1; 157 — Amari Thomas (SW) wbf Jacob Craig (RHS) 0:52; 165 — Fabion Sabillon (RHS) by FF; 175 — Douglas Player (SW) wbf Dylan Tittle (RHS), 0:28; 190 — Marcus Jimenez (RHS) wbf Tyler Speight (SW), 1:05.7; 215 — Yusef Ceballos (SW) dec. Nick Wade (RHS), 11-8; HWT — Sean Banks (RHS) wbf Bryce Sanders (SW), 0:50; 106 — Eliel Lopez (RHS) wbf Isaiah Smith (SW), 1;12.1.
Records: Southern Wayne 1-1, Rosewood 1-0
