DUDLEY – “We are coming.”
That’s the message Southern Wayne delivered on the wrestling mat during the inaugural Saints Takedown Kings Invitational contested Saturday.
Eli Hulet emerged as the heavyweight champion and teammate Joseph Evans finished runner-up 182 pounds for the Saints, who posted a third-place effort in the team title chase with 124.5 points.
“Proud is an understatement,” SW head coach Tori King said. “I have a bunch of very determined, dedicated kids that are eager to learn and very aggressive. They get after it and they represent everything we are trying to build at Southern Wayne.”
Overall, five SW matmen made a medal podium appearance and nine placed among the top four in their respective weight classes.
Seeded fourth in a five-man bracket, Hulet filed three consecutive pins en route to the gold medal. He knocked off Cohen Ezzell (Charles B. Aycock), top-seeded Jaden McClary (Goldsboro) and Chris Gutierrez-Fuent (North Lenoir) in succession.
Hulet spent a total of 6 minutes, 2 seconds on the mat, and collected 24 team points.
Evans pinned his first two opponents and endured a 10-6 loss to CBA’s Dawson Sauls in the championship bout.
JaySheen Boyd (152 pounds), Narderon Cox (195) and Lamontez White (220) each claimed a bronze medal (third place). Omar Solar Sanchez (113), Ozzie Quiroz (132), Amarii Faison (160) and Daylan Kornegay (170) each wound up fourth.
“We are only going to get better,” King said. “I couldn’t be more excited about the direction the program is headed.”
Washington emerged as the team champion with 147.5 points, followed by Aycock with 128. The former Eastern Carolina 3A Conference rivals combined for five individual crowns.
Perennial 1A powerhouse Rosewood and North Lenoir rounded out the top five with 119.5 and 100 points, respectively. Sixth-place Wake Forest posted an invitational-high four individual titles.
RESULTS
DUDLEY – Final team and individual results from the inaugural Saints Takedown Kings Invitational held Saturday at Southern Wayne High School:
TEAM SCORES
Washington (W) 147.5, Charles B. Aycock (CBA) 128, Southern Wayne (SW) 124.5, Rosewood (RHS) 119.5, North Lenoir (NL) 100, Wake Forest (WF) 97.5, West Johnston (WJ) 82.5, Goldsboro (G) 43.5, Tarboro (T) 22.5.
INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS
106 – Landron Brame (W), 113 – Jaylen Bennet (RHS), 120 – Kevin Hunter (RHS), 126 – Tyler Walt (WF), 132 – Emmit Holland (WF), 140 – Bailey Wilman (WF), 145 – Everett Rouse (NL), 152 – Stephen Ribustello (T), 160 – Bryant Smith (W), 170 – Cole Jenkins (WF), 182 – Dawson Sauls (CBA), 195 – Gabe Davis (W), 220 – Dallas Bailey (CBA), Hwt – Eli Hulet (SW).
