Southern Wayne senior Amari Thomas emerged as the 157-pound champion during the third annual Saint Takedown King Invitational and earned Most Outstanding Wrestler accolades. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
DUDLEY — Two positive days of practice after a disappointing dual-team season opener paid dividends for Southern Wayne’s wrestling team Saturday.
The Saints seized seven medals during the third annual Saint Takedown King Invitational contested inside “The Halo.”
Amari Thomas emerged as the 157-pound champion and grabbed the Most Outstanding Wrestler award. Teammate Omar Soler-Sanchez seized the gold medal (first place) at 113 pounds.
In all, seven Saints reached the medal podium.
“Amari is coming into his own … taking to heart early words I told them when they started – you will be the ‘nail’ in wrestling as and as time goes on, you learn more, get more confident and you will be come the ‘hammer,’” King said.
Thomas spent just 2 minutes, 15 seconds on the mat.
He needed 68 seconds to pin Wilmington Ashley’s Mike Neubauer in semifinal-round action. He polished off Wake Forest’s Aiden Lopez in 67 in the championship match.
Thomas remained unbeaten in four outings this season. Neubauer and Lopez each endured their first defeat of the year.
Sanchez pinned Ashley’s Noah Bowker in 3:57 during their semfinal-round encounter. He took just 60 seconds to stick Devin Lucas from Charles B. Aycock in their championship tilt.
“Omar continues to improve and is starting to resemble himself,” King said. “He will be eligible to go back to 106 pounds in December, and by then he should be even better.”
Isaiah Smith (106 pounds) and Zach Sauls (138) each collected a silver medal. Jesus Giron Castillo (120), Yusef Ceballos (190) and heavyweight Bryce Sanders each earned a bronze medal.
Smith, Castillo and Ceballos each wrestled in a round-robin format in their respective weight classes due to lack of competitors.
Antwan Allen placed fourth at 165 pounds. Meanwhile, teammate Douglas Player battled at 175 and advanced to the consolation semifinals.
“Sometimes success can be your greatest motivator,” SW head coach Tori King said. “We went back to work this week in preparation for our tournament. The energy was good at practice the room [participation] is starting to grow. I’m just thankful that the kids are believing in what Coach Devin [McCorkle] and I are preaching, and are starting to see results.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the guys today and their efforts. To have seven kids place and still not be at full strength I think says a lot.”
Wilmington Ashley concluded the day with 11 medalists and won its second Takedown King crown with 193.5 points. Perennial 1A powerhouse Rosewood took second with 119 points, followed by the Saints with 113.5. Wake Forest scored 112 points. CBA rounded out the top five with 92.
Goldsboro (51.5), Farmville Central (42), Pender (38) and Eastern Wayne (36.5) also participated in the day-long affair.
Each school had at least one medalist.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call/text 919-709-9257.
3rd annual Saints Takedown King Invitational
(at Southern Wayne HS, Dudley)
Team scores
Wilmington Ashley (WA) 196.5, Rosewood (RHS) 119, Southern Wayne (SW) 113.5, Wake Forest (WF) 112, Charles B. Aycock (CBA) 92, Goldsboro (G) 51.5, Farmville Central (FC) 42, Pender (P) 38, Eastern Wayne (EW) 36.5.
Championship Finals
106: Eliel Lopez (RHS); 113: Omar Soler-Sanchez (SW) wbf Devin Lewis (CBA), 1:00; 120: Lucas Angstadt (WA); 126: Isaiah Mazura (RHS) tech fall Fisher Piper (WA), 18-3 (5:52); 132: Shane Mango (RHS) wbf Anthony DeRiso (CBA), 4:30; 138: Tyler Watt (WF) wbf Zach Sauls (SW), 2:44; 144: Chris Heppner (WA) wbf Zymir Best (CBA), 2:44; 150: Ryan Garcia (WF) tech fall NaSir Williams (EW), 16-1 (4:27); 157: Amari Thomas (SW) wbf Aiden Lopez (WF), 1:07; 165: Andrew Botterio (WA), 175: Unas Chandler (CBA) wbf Stephen Miller (G), 2:44; 190: Doug Botti; 215: Nick Wade (RHS) wbf Angelo Ipanaque (WF), 3:44; HWT: Sean Banks (RHS) wbf Cason Walker (WA), 0:14.
Consolation Finals
106: Isaiah Smith (SW); 113: Noah Bowker (WA) wbf Cameron Taylor (RHS), 0:26; 120: Kolton Hunter (RHS); 126: Anthony Mealer (WF) wbf Jeremiah Barnes (EW), 2:56: 132: Carson Lane (WA) wbf Wilcar Contreras (G), 1:35; 138: Cooper Heppner (WA) dec. Micah McMillan (FC), 7-0; 144: Taquellous Miller (G) tech fall Jeffrey Maye (P), 23-8 (3:39); 150: Elijah Allinen (WA) wbf Xzavier Morrison (G), 1:22; 157: Mike Neubauer (WA) wbf Devan Bell (FC), 1:35; 165: Dorian Blum (FC), 175: Liam Morrow (WA) wbf Joe Love (FC), 0:28; 190: Lazante Brown (P); 215: Yusef Ceballos (SW) maj. dec. Adian Weilacher (WA), 17-6; HWT: Bryce Sanders (SW) waf Skyler Lanier (CBA), 0:58.
