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By Brian Pitts
Enterprise Record

Davie’s wrestling team was without Lane Hill (145), Collin Bailey (152) and Jack Jarvis (170) – a trio that has combined for an 86-8 record this season – in the Phillip Reed Rumble at Glenn on Jan. 15. But that didn’t stop the War Eagles from winning the tournament – and winning it with room to spare.
The War Eagles, led by senior Sam Collins and sophomores Hunter Testa and Brysen Godbey, scored 146 points to beat 10 opponents. Ragsdale had 124, Central Davidson 105, Grimsley 92.5, North Davidson 86, Glenn 61, East Forsyth 40, Walkertown 36, Wheatmore 36, North Forsyth 30 and Reagan 28.
Collins (138), Testa (182) and Godbey (220) flexed their muscles as they combined for six pins in as many tries while claiming their respective weight classes.
Collins is an easy guy to root for because he’s had bad luck for most of his career. He missed his entire sophomore year with an injury. After going 11-9 as a junior, he missed 16 matches between Dec. 10-22 with a sickness. He started the season with a modest 5-5 record, but he’s been on a tear since, winning 11 of 13.
“He just hasn’t been on the mat as much as he could have been,” coach Perry Long said. “He missed a whole year because he had knee surgery. Then he was out (part of) his junior year. He missed almost two years. He’s wrestling a lot better now. He’s just getting back in a groove.”
The other first-place finishers just added to their eye-catching sophomore profiles. Testa, who was sidelined for four matches in December, is 19-2 for the season, while Godbey is 29-4.
“Testa is good on his feet and it’s hard to hold him down,” Long said. “If he’s down by one and he’s on bottom, he’s going to at least get an escape and a lot of times he’s going to get two (points).
“Testa has made Godbey better, and Godbey makes Testa better because he’s heavy. When Testa wrestles those heavier kids, it doesn’t bother him. Godbey takes what people give him and wins with it. His improvement from last year to this year is big.”
Senior Isaac Webb went 2-1 to finish second at 160. Sophomore Reid Nail went 2-1 at 126. Freshman Hunter Potts went 2-2 at 106. Junior Lawson Hire (120), senior Vance Visser (195) and freshman Ryder Strickland (285) all went 1-1.
Notes
• The state dual team playoffs will begin Jan. 29, with the quarterfinals/semifinals set for Feb. 1 and the final on Feb. 5. Davie will wrestle Saturday, but as of last week Long did not know whether it would be at home or at one of the other three schools. “I think it will be Piedmont, Hough, Southeast Guilford and us,” he said. “I think we’ll have Piedmont in the first round. I don’t think they’ll send us, Hough and Southeast Guilford to Piedmont. I don’t see that happening. I think Piedmont will come this way. I would love to host it.”
• Hill is No. 1 in wins with a 31-3 record. Bailey is 30-2, Jarvis 25-3, Webb 22-6, Hire 19-9, Collins 16-7 and Visser 13-11.