CLAYTON -- The Durham Jordan wrestlers earned a close win over Millbrook, but were unable to get past defending Eastern 4A champion New Bern in the opening two rounds of the N.C. High School Athletic Association dual-team wrestling on Tuesday night.
Jordan (23-9) edged Millbrook 34-28 when the Falcons’ Javon Thompson held off Jonathan Woodbury in the 195-pound class.
New Bern, which defeated Clayton 57-20 in the first round, trailed Jordan 15-12 midway through the second-round match. The Falcons got no further and New Bern finished with a 45-15 victory.
“We knew the matchups that we had to have, starting at 145,” said Jordan coach Philip Davanzo. “Where they were bad we were even worst and that’s disappointing.”
Robbie Tomasic (113), Donovan Heath (120) and Terrance Moore (132) had wins for Jordan against New Bern.
The Falcons won eight of the 14 individual weight class matches against Millbrook, which finished 18-6.
“We had a few guys starting tonight who wouldn’t normally be out there,” said Millbrook coach Scott Saby. “But it (was) an exciting match, though, against a great Jordan program.”
Millbrook’s Dillon Dawkins (182) notched a clutch pin for the Wildcats in the next to last match to give them an opportunity to win in the final match. Thompson then took the 10-4 win to give the title to New Bern. Thompson led 5-4 with a minute left in the third period.
Clayton finished its season 11-8. Seniors Luke Ludke (132), Jarel Orr (144), Jaquan Etheridge (152) and Russell Thrasher (170) won their matches against New Bern.
