Rocky Mount wrestlers go 2-2 at North Pitt Duals

Fresh off the season's first individual tournament last weekend, the Gryphon wrestling team collided head to head with four different teams last Tuesday night at North Pitt High School. Rocky Mount came back home with a hard fought 2-2 team record against some very stiff competition.

The Gryphons took the win against West Brunswick in the evening's first match. After starting out with a decision loss in the 135 pound weight class, the team rolled off six consecutive wins, including four by pins, and cruised to an easy victory.

Rocky Mount went up against a traditionally strong Currituck squad in the second match. The team's youth was on display, as the inexperienced Gryphons were easily out pointed. Chandler Phillips and Chase Brewer both won by pin, but the team could only muster two other individual victories in a lopsided match.

The Gryphons got back on their feet in the third match against North Johnston High. Things didn't look good from the start, as it appeared the Currituck defeat in the previous match may have shaken the team's confidence. Digging themselves a 0-15 hole after the first three matches, the Gryphs reeled off five consecutive wins by pin and another by forfeit to streak out to a 36-15 lead. The team cruised from there to a 15 point victory.

South Central would be the final match of the night for the Gryphons and again, the more experienced team came out on top. SC was in control after the first nine matches, and RMHS was down 15-36. But the Gryphons didn't give up, battling back with two consecutive wins by decision and a win by forfeit to pull back to within striking distance, 28-36 with two matches to go.

The Gryphons would need a pin and at least a major decision in the final two matches to beat the Falcons. Phillips pulled the Gryphs to within four, 32-36 with an eye-popping 37-seconds pin in the 145 pound bout to set up the final match showdown for the win. But it was not to be on this night, as the Gryphs were pinned and sent to a 10 point defeat.

Phillips and Mason Holt paced the Gryphons with 4-0 records on the day. Phillips recorded all four victories by pin, while Holt posted two.

Brewer also recorded all of his wins by pin, going 3-1 in his matches. J.K. Willliamson recorded a pin on his way to a 3-1 tally.

Five other Gryphons posted 2-2 records.

Rocky Mount will travel to take on North Johnston on Wednesday, Dec. 2 at 7:00. That match will help prepare them for the season's second big tournament, as they compete in the Pierce-Davis Individual on Saturday, Dec 5.