Wrestling 30-1 entering playoffs
Published 9:48 am Thursday, February 2, 2017
It’s been a wonderful season for Davie’s wrestling team – except when West Forsyth is in the picture.
Davie’s only loss as a dual team was to West. Davie scored 199 points in the Central Piedmont Conference Tournament. But it was 39 fewer than the total from – you guessed it – West.
On the road on Jan. 20, the War Eagles tossed away Mt. Tabor 61-6. Hunter Smith, David Sigmon, Will Allen, Joseph Myers, Kyle McCune and Jesus Olmedo had pins. Tommy Trader won a major decision. Josh Shore, Nick Gillis, Bryson Hunter, Jesse Carter and Anthony Olmedo won decisions. Hunter Strickland received a forfeit. Davie’s lone loss was a forfeit at 160, with Crayton Wise taking the night off to rest his banged-up shoulder.
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Davie demolished the competition in the 16th-annual Phillip Reid Rumble at Glenn on Jan. 21, scoring 235.5 points to beat Hough (149), Mallard Creek (107.5) and 12 other participants.
“There were some studs sprinkled in there,” assistant coach Timmy Allen said. “We wrestled like we were supposed to.”
The weekend before, Davie captured the 26-team Sarah Wilkes Invitational. The Rumble triumph didn’t feel the same as the conquering of Sarah Wilkes just because there were not as many mean opponents.
“We wrestled pretty good, but it wasn’t like the Sarah Wilkes tournament or anything like that,” coach Buddy Lowery said. “It wasn’t as good as what we wanted. We still made mistakes here and there. That’s why you’ve got to practice.
“We’re beat up. We’ve got black eyes and the whole nine yards. It’s wear and tear.”
Smith (113 weight class), Gillis (120), Strickland (152), Hunter (182), J. Olmedo (220) and A. Olmedo (285) soared to first place in their respective weight classes. J. Olmedo was named most outstanding wrestler in the upper weights.
One of the most exciting matches: A. Olmedo dug a 5-0 hole against Central Davidson’s Gavin Hailey. Then he staged a furious rally before winding up with a pin.
“(Hailey) put Anthony on his back,” Allen said. “Anthony fought off his back. He got on top in the second period, hit a 90 half with a rake and stuck the kid. The whole gym went crazy. He was pumped about it. I couldn’t believe how the gym went crazy. I guess they all got on his side because he fought off his back so hard.”
Taking second with 2-1 showings were Sigmon (132), Allen (138) and Carter (195). Trader (126) and McCune (170) had 3-1 days on the way to third. Shore (106) went 2-2 for third. Myers (145) was only 1-2, but “he was half-sick,” Lowery said.
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Gillis, Trader, Sigmon, Allen, McCune, Hunter and J. Olmedo had pins to lead an 81-0 onslaught over visiting Parkland on Jan. 26.
It was the final regular-season match in the old Davie gym, and it was senior night for Smith, Trader, Sigmon, Allen, Isaac Arcos, McCune and Carter.
Myers won by decision. The Mustangs gave forfeits to Shore, smith, Strickland, Wise, Carter and A. Olmedo.
West won the regular-season title at 6-0. Davie went 5-1, the only loss 28-22 at West in December. Davie crushed the other CPC rivals by a combined 300-20.
The win improved the War Eagles to 30-1, marking the eighth 30-win season in Lowery’s career. It’s the most wins for Davie in seven years.
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Davie’s momentum cooled in the CPC Tournament at Tabor on Jan. 28. West scored 238 points to claim first. Davie had 199. It was reminiscent of last year’s tournament, when West outscored Davie 271-228.
Seniors Allen (138), McCune (170) and Carter (195) and sophomore J. Olmedo (220) flexed their muscles and won conference championships as individuals. It was the second CPC titles for McCune, who captured the same weight class two years ago as a sophomore, and J. Olmedo, who won it at 220 last year as a freshman. Allen and Carter became first-time champions.
It was an otherwise unremarkable day for Davie. Smith, who was a heavy favorite at 113, and Sigmon were scratched from the lineup as they failed to make weight. Wise forfeited in the finals to nurse his ailing shoulder.
Records before the CPC Tournament: Smith 41-3, Carter 41-5, Gillis 39-9, Allen 39-10, Trader 38-9, McCune 38-9, Sigmon 35-7, A. Olmedo 35-2, Wise 33-10, J. Olmedo 32-1, Shore 31-14, Myers 22-13, Strickland 21-4 and Hunter 13-2.