Pirates nip Panthers, again, for tournament title

KENLY -- The strength and stability of athletic programs lies in the growth of its individuals.

The wrestling teams at Corinth Holders and North Johnston have epitomized that statement throughout the 2011-2012 season, and continued to do so Saturday afternoon in the Northern Carolina 2A Conference tournament at North Johnston.

The Pirates, in only their second season of existence, duplicated their perfect run through the regular dual meet season in the conference tournament.

Having made waves a year ago, the Pirates, under coach Jimmy McNamara, improved to 29-6 overall by sweeping all five of their matches, wrapping up their day with a 42-34 victory over North Johnston.

“It feels great,” McNamara said. “We are on track for where we want to be because we have nothing but great things ahead in the future.

“The greatest thing is watching the growth of each individual. That means the world to me because it shows me we’re constantly improving as a team.”

Corinth Holders, which does not have a senior on its roster, claimed eight individual weight class champions, including 285-pounder Sam Berman, who shared his honor with North's Kenny Jones and Bunn's Markel Dawson.

Individual tournament champions were crowned based on the best record over their respective five bouts.

Also picking up championships for the Pirates were Dustin Brennan (106 lbs.); Cameron Brewer (126); Matt Duncan (145); David Pearson (160); Demetris Smith (170) William Floyd (195) and Elijah Harris (220).

North secured six individual champions, including Jones. They were: Creech (120); Matt Evans (132); Eric Joyner (138): Napier (152) and Hunter Stephenson (182).

Louisburg's Braulio Rayo (106), in addition to Dawson. were the lone non-Johnston County champions.

Corinth Holders roared to a 4-0 mark to set up their meeting with the Panthers, whom they had nipped by two points in a tri meet only three days earlier. The Pirates beat Roanoke Rapids (55-22), Louisburg (65-9), Bunn (70-5) and Franklinton (71-6). The Panthers entered the decisive meet with the Pirates having downed Bunn 49-24, Roanoke Rapids 36-30 and Louisburg 60-12.

Corinth opened with an 8-1 victory at 145 by Duncan over Daniel Reyes.

Napier then stepped on the mat and gave North its first points with an 8-0 win over Charlie Gray, which left Napier frustrated he couldn't manage a pin, while Gray and McNamara realized the outcome was huge, since it netted the Panthers only four team points.

“This is the fourth time I've met him (Napier)," Gray said. "And he hasn't pinned me yet. I was trying to keep the decision to a minor one, to keep the score as low as I could and stay off my back.”

Gray knew that a fall could have been disastrous to the Pirates, even though it was the second match of the meet. “It (meet) could have come down to one point," Gray said. "If I had been pinned, so I had to be ready and strong.”

McNamara agreed the outcome was pivotal.

“Charlie did a great job staying off his back," McNamara said. "He was fending off every attempt by James to pin him. If Charlie does that, we knew we stood a good chance to win."

A forfeit, followed by a pin by Smith at 170 lifted Corinth Holders in to a 15-4 lead, and North never came closer than five after that.

The Pirates followed Stephenson's pin at 182 that pulled North within 15-10 with a forfeit win by Floyd and another pivotal, narrow win at 220.

North's Afrain Reynoso and Corinth's Harris locked up in a tight battle, with no score through the first two periods. Harris managed an escape 46 into the period, eight seconds after being warned for stalling.

Leading 1-0, Harris locked up with Reynoso, but neither wrestler could manage enough separation to attempt a takedown. With six seconds left, Harris was penalized for staling, raising the ire of the Pirates and their fans, as the point tied the match at 1-1.

Reynoso attempted a throw with time ticking down, but slipped, and Harris took him to the mat for the wining score as the Pirates increased their lead to 24-10.

Harris knew his win was big for the team.

“When the ref gave the one point for stalling, I thought the match was going into overtime," Harris said. “I knew I had to go for it. I felt Efrain going for the headlock, but I popped my head out and took him down.”

Pins and forfeits were exchanged from that point on, leaving the Pirates with the conference championship.

North, saddled by a lack of wrestlers throughout the season, still earned the conference's second post-season dual meet playoff berth. The Panthers (17-24) dressed 11 wrestlers for the day.

While saddled with limited numbers, the Panthers, who have finished in the top seven of several tournaments this season.

“I’m proud of the guys,” said North coach Josh Langholtz. “We have four forfeits and it’s hard to compete against a full team like that. We’re just looking forward to the postseason, getting a few wins there and qualifying a few guys to the state tournament.”

North’s James Napier, a 152-pound senior who is unbeaten and ranked No. 1 in the state, was named the conference’s wrestler of the year.

In addition, junior 120-pounder Dyllan Creech swept all five of his dual meet bouts, picking up his 100th career victory with a tournament-ending win.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Creech said. “And I worked by butt off to get it. It’s something that doesn’t happen for every wrestler. To just be able to do that as a junior makes it special.”