Gryphons Sweep Conference Duals

Coach Jermaine Jones finally put an (almost) full line up on the mat Saturday, as Rocky Mount hosted the season's first NEW 6 Conference duel meet. The Gryphons won all 5 of their matches, putting them in the driver's seat for a second consecutive conference title.

Nash Central took 4 out of 5, while Northern Nash won 3 and Southern Nash took 2. Fike outlasted Southwest Edgecombe for their only victory.

Francisco Alfero, J K Williamson, Dedrick Silver and Daryl Cross each won 5 matches. Ahmir Scott, Chandler Phillips, Johnny Stewart and Guy Williamson notched 4 each. Justin Atkinson won 3, while Demonte Hill and Kinston Peters both won 2 matches. Grant Wilson also added a win for the Gryphons, as they recorded 23 pins on the day.

ROCKY MOUNT 57 - FIKE 15

The Gryphons made a statement in their first match of the day. Rocky Mount grapplers had 7 pins in what amounted to little more than a warm up for the long day ahead.

ROCKY MOUNT 45 - NORTHERN NASH 32

The Knights came to RMHS with a confident swagger. After all, they were unbeaten as a team (7-0) and had won the team side of the Pierce-Davis the weekend before. That tournament had included most of the NEW 6 teams (the Gryphons finished 7th) so naturally, Northern came in looking for a sweep of the conference.

Not so fast. The Gryphons wrestled their way to a dominating 45-20 lead. Jones decided to conserve some energy and forfeit the 215 and Heavyweight matches, making the final score appear closer than it actually was.

ROCKY MOUNT 36 - NASH CENTRAL 27

These two teams split their two regular season conference matches last year. Both were close, hard fought battles going down to the wire. Nobody expected things to be much different this year. Starting with a double forfeit at 103, a series of decision wins and losses, and pins for both teams, this match was what amounts to a dead heat after the first 9 matches.

Jones did what good coaches must do in strategic positions; pull the right strings and push the right buttons at the right time. Jones decided to forfeit the 171 pound match and bump up his remaining three wrestlers, putting the outcome of the match in the hands of three seniors.

Dedrick Silver (tech fall), Daryl Cross (pin) and Guy Williamson (tech fall) carried the Gryphons to victory by winning those last three matches.

ROCKY MOUNT 62 - SOUTHWEST EDGECOMBE 18

This was a good draw for the Gryphons at a good time. It gave them a 'breather' match after the hard fought NC win, and before an anticipated tough last match against Southern Nash. SWE won only one match on the mat. The Gryphs forfeited the first and last match, but in between they won 6 matches by pin.

ROCKY MOUNT 44 - SOUTHERN NASH 30

Firebird coach Eddie Coble juggled his line up, much the way Jones did for the Gryphons against Nash Central, trying to avoid a couple of wrestlers and take advantage of what he thought were better match ups for his team. Southern did not put a wrestler out to challenge Francisco Alfero or Chandler Phillips, hoping to take advantage of Rocky Mount's middleweights.

Not so fast. Johnny Stewart (9-6 dec.), Justin Atkinson (9-5 dec.) and J.K Williamson (11-1 dec.) each won and squashed any Firebird hopes of an upset. The Gryphons cruised out to a commanding 38-12 lead with only 4 matches remaining to seal the day's sweep of conference foes.

All six teams will meet again in January. Rocky Mount will have a big target on their backs. I'm thinking that's just the way Jones and his squad wanted it to be.