Normally, Gryphon senior wrestler Chandler Phillips would wake up Saturday morning still fuming over losing a wrestling match the previous evening. Phillips has been a fierce competitor on the mat since his first match six years ago at Edwards Middle.
Rocky Mount teacher and Gryphon wrestling and baseball supporter P.R. Ford tagged Chandler early in his freshman wrestling season as "Pitbull" because of his relentless and fierce competitive style.
Phillips had lost his second match at the State Tournament on a controversial call by the referee on the mat. He was pretty steamy when he came back into the stands to sit with his parents and former Gryphon teammates Francisco Alfaro and Guy Williamson, according to his dad.
"As usual, Chandler didn't complain about the call, but he was pretty mad. His windpipe was pretty sore and he was coughing for 20 minutes from the kid choking him," said the elder Phillips.
When Chandler arrived at the Coliseum Saturday morning, his dad expected to see him still in a sour mood. But that wasn't the case. He donned a home made T-shirt with RM Rock-N-Roll Express on the front, his and teammate J.K. Williamson's names on the back (made by yours truly) then made his way down to the mat Williamson would be wrestling on.
When returning to the seats directly behind his parents after the Williamson match, Chandler told the story of his swimming adventure the night before.
He and Janicento went down to the Hotel's indoor pool to take a dip and relax a little on Friday evening. Other than three young children, they had the pool to themselves.
One of the children, a boy of around 5 or 6 years old, went underwater near where Chandler was at in the 5 foot end of the pool. Chandler said the kids could swim pretty good, so he didn't think anything of it. Until the boy popped up gasping for breath, barely able to get a "help" out of his mouth before he went back under.
The boy pushed off the bottom of the pool and popped up again, this time flailing in the water before quickly going down again. Chandler realized that this boy was in trouble and went under to get him.
Chander pulled the boy to the top of the water and brought him over to the side of the pool, all while the parents were in a conversation with themselves, never seeing what was going on.
That Saturday morning, while telling the story to his parents, Chandler's lost wrestling match from the night before never came up. With a look of satisfaction on his face, he told his mom and dad, "You know, I saved some little kid's life last night in the pool. That's a pretty good feeling. I feel really good."
After suffering a heartbreaking loss in Friday night's match that ended his high school wrestling career, he made no mention of it Saturday morning.
He made no mention during his telling of the story that he got no thank you from the parents of the boy.
Just the satisfaction that he was in the right place at the right time to give help to someone who desperately needed it.
Much more satisfying than winning a wrestling match.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Wrestling season closes for Gryphon Duo
The Rock and Roll Express, Janicento Williamson and Chandler Phillips, pulled back into Rocky Mount for the last time late Saturday night. The long season ended in disappointment for the two Gryphon wrestlers this weekend at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Philllips dropped his first two matches on Friday night and was eliminated much earlier than he anticipated. In his first match, he was defeated by Lucas Dutch from Northwest Cabarrus, who came into the Championships with a 49-2 record. Dutch went on to place second.
On a controversial call by one referee with less than a minute in his second match, Philllips was slapped with a technical violation that gave James Farthing of Orange a single point victory. Phillips was called for pulling a finger as he tried to remove Farthing's hand from his throat. The ref could see the single finger, but must not have seen the choke hold of the remaining hand. Phillips could not score the takedown he needed in the final seconds and lost 8-7.
Williamson also fell in his first match on Friday, to Ryan Daining (35-3) of West Iredell. In order to survive to wrestle Saturday, he needed to win his second match.
Wrestling against Adam Purgason(22-8) of Rockingham County, Williamson won his first ever match at the state level. Easily handling Purgason with a decision victory, Williamson advanced to wrestle Saturday morning.
Williamson dropped his third match to eventual fourth place finisher Nick Shriner (48-9) of Orange.
Orange placed second in the NCHSAA 3-A Team State Tournament, and also knocked out the two Gryphons in the Individual.
The Rock and Roll Express has now been officially put to rest, as both wrestlers' seasons are over. Just as the Gryphon Six from last year went in separate directions at season's end, so will Phillips and Williamson.
Phillips looks to be attending either Appalachian State or UNC-Pembroke to take up studies in Criminology, where he says he may wrestle at either school. Williamson will return next year as a Gryphon wrestler for his junior year.
Williamson finishes the season with a 30-12 record, while Phillips rests at 33-6.
At a combined 63-18, the duo Coach Thomas dubbed The Rock-N-Roll Express rolled hard, fast and long this year for the Gryphons.
Philllips dropped his first two matches on Friday night and was eliminated much earlier than he anticipated. In his first match, he was defeated by Lucas Dutch from Northwest Cabarrus, who came into the Championships with a 49-2 record. Dutch went on to place second.
On a controversial call by one referee with less than a minute in his second match, Philllips was slapped with a technical violation that gave James Farthing of Orange a single point victory. Phillips was called for pulling a finger as he tried to remove Farthing's hand from his throat. The ref could see the single finger, but must not have seen the choke hold of the remaining hand. Phillips could not score the takedown he needed in the final seconds and lost 8-7.
Williamson also fell in his first match on Friday, to Ryan Daining (35-3) of West Iredell. In order to survive to wrestle Saturday, he needed to win his second match.
Wrestling against Adam Purgason(22-8) of Rockingham County, Williamson won his first ever match at the state level. Easily handling Purgason with a decision victory, Williamson advanced to wrestle Saturday morning.
Williamson dropped his third match to eventual fourth place finisher Nick Shriner (48-9) of Orange.
Orange placed second in the NCHSAA 3-A Team State Tournament, and also knocked out the two Gryphons in the Individual.
The Rock and Roll Express has now been officially put to rest, as both wrestlers' seasons are over. Just as the Gryphon Six from last year went in separate directions at season's end, so will Phillips and Williamson.
Phillips looks to be attending either Appalachian State or UNC-Pembroke to take up studies in Criminology, where he says he may wrestle at either school. Williamson will return next year as a Gryphon wrestler for his junior year.
Williamson finishes the season with a 30-12 record, while Phillips rests at 33-6.
At a combined 63-18, the duo Coach Thomas dubbed The Rock-N-Roll Express rolled hard, fast and long this year for the Gryphons.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Big East heading West
Rocky Mount wrestlers Chandler Phillips and Janicento Williamson are headed West. As in Greensboro. As in the NCHSAA Individual Wrestling Championships. They will join ten other Big East 3-A wrestlers at the event. The Big East Conference will send a total of 12 wrestlers to the Championships, including eleven from Nash County.
Northern Nash qualified five wrestlers, while Rocky Mount, Southern Nash and Nash Central qualified two each. Wilson Fike added another qualifier.
Looking over the qualifiers by team across the state and across each of the four divisions, there was an amazing fact that stood out above all others. Parkland High School qualified all 14 of their wrestlers for the state tournament. Parkland has been a 3-A power for years, winning several team state championships. They moved up to 4-A this year and unseated Cary as team state champions.
Speaking of Cary, they qualified 11 wrestlers, to match 3-A Union Pines. Croatan qualified 13 and Trinity 12 in the 2-A ranks. Orange, 3-A team state runners-up, qualified 10.
Out of the 3-A East, where the Gryphons are located, Havelock and South Brunswick each qualified 9 wrestlers.
Here are the Big East Conference State Qualifiers by team:
Rocky Mount: Chandler Phillips, Janicento Williamson
Southern Nash: Buddy Tom, Steven Murray
Nash Central: Josh Taylor, Jacob Robinson
Wilson Fike: John Messer
Northern Nash: Tavis Richardson, Kris Horton, Bryan Sweet, Denzel Perry, Joe Young
Northern Nash qualified five wrestlers, while Rocky Mount, Southern Nash and Nash Central qualified two each. Wilson Fike added another qualifier.
Looking over the qualifiers by team across the state and across each of the four divisions, there was an amazing fact that stood out above all others. Parkland High School qualified all 14 of their wrestlers for the state tournament. Parkland has been a 3-A power for years, winning several team state championships. They moved up to 4-A this year and unseated Cary as team state champions.
Speaking of Cary, they qualified 11 wrestlers, to match 3-A Union Pines. Croatan qualified 13 and Trinity 12 in the 2-A ranks. Orange, 3-A team state runners-up, qualified 10.
Out of the 3-A East, where the Gryphons are located, Havelock and South Brunswick each qualified 9 wrestlers.
Here are the Big East Conference State Qualifiers by team:
Rocky Mount: Chandler Phillips, Janicento Williamson
Southern Nash: Buddy Tom, Steven Murray
Nash Central: Josh Taylor, Jacob Robinson
Wilson Fike: John Messer
Northern Nash: Tavis Richardson, Kris Horton, Bryan Sweet, Denzel Perry, Joe Young
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Sights from the 3A Eastern Regional
All photo credits - Nick Phillips
Wrestlers, parents and other spectators packed the gym at South Central High School, host school.
Rocky Mount freshman Mason Holt attempts to keep his opponent down in 103-lb action.
Rocky Mount High School teacher P.R. Ford and wrestling mother Georgia Phillips look on in Chandler Phillips' 135-lb match-up.
Gryphon senior Chandler Phillips works to flip his opponent in his 135-lb weight class Friday night.
Rocky Mount coaches Elbert Thomas and J.J. Jones look on as Elliot Whitehead wrestles on Saturday.
Gryphon Alex Knight works to get free from his opponent in Saturday's action.
Jeffrey Henderson attempts to pin his South Central opponent on Saturday in the Consolation bracket.
Gryphon sophomore J.K. Williamson listens to instruction from Coach Jones during a brief break in his 189-lb match-up.
Chandler Phillips in action against his opponent from Southern Nash. Phillips' 2-1 victory sent him to the State Tournament for the 2nd straight year.
State Qualifiers Williamson (left) and Phillips stand with Coach thomas as they await their final matches of the tournament.
Wrestlers, parents and other spectators packed the gym at South Central High School, host school.
Rocky Mount freshman Mason Holt attempts to keep his opponent down in 103-lb action.
Rocky Mount High School teacher P.R. Ford and wrestling mother Georgia Phillips look on in Chandler Phillips' 135-lb match-up.
Gryphon senior Chandler Phillips works to flip his opponent in his 135-lb weight class Friday night.
Rocky Mount coaches Elbert Thomas and J.J. Jones look on as Elliot Whitehead wrestles on Saturday.
Gryphon Alex Knight works to get free from his opponent in Saturday's action.
Jeffrey Henderson attempts to pin his South Central opponent on Saturday in the Consolation bracket.
Gryphon sophomore J.K. Williamson listens to instruction from Coach Jones during a brief break in his 189-lb match-up.
Chandler Phillips in action against his opponent from Southern Nash. Phillips' 2-1 victory sent him to the State Tournament for the 2nd straight year.
State Qualifiers Williamson (left) and Phillips stand with Coach thomas as they await their final matches of the tournament.
Rock and Roll Express headed to Greensboro
Phillips and Williamson punch second-straight ticket to the Big Show
Coach Elbert Thomas joined Head Coach Jermaine Jones as an assistant for the Gryphon wrestling team last fall. Sometime late in the season, he dubbed teammates Chandler Phillips and Janicento Williamson the "Rock and Roll Express".
The Rock and Roll Express will be pulling out of Rocky Mount and heading to Greensboro for the NCSAA State Individual Tournament next weekend. Williamson placed third, while Phillips took fourth at the Regional at South Central Saturday evening. They are among the top 16 wrestlers in the state in their wight classes.
The eight other Gryphons who competed at the Regional had a front row seat to witness just how tough it can be to advance to the state tournament. One by one, eventually all being eliminated in the two-day event.
The first two rounds of the championship bracket were contested on Friday. Only Phillips, Williamson and Mason Holt advanced to wrestle in the Quarterfinals. Holding lower seeds, seven Gryphons fell in the first round and would have to wait until Saturday morning to wrestle in consolations.
After Friday night's championship bracket Quarters, only Phillips and Williamson were left. They were one win away from qualifying for the state tournament. The eight remaining Gryphons would need to work from the Consolation bracket.
Nick Westcott, Elliot Whitehead, Justin Atkinson and Jemor Parker were eliminated after the Consolation Pre-Quarterfinal round on Saturday morning. That's not to say there wasn't some good wrestling going on.
Westcott went the distance in his first match, only to fall by close 5-3 decision to an eventual state qualifier in the 125 division.
Whitehead lost by a 10-6 decision in his second match, narrowly missing a chance to advance into the next round.
There were several Gryphons who tasted victory at the Regional level for the first time on Saturday. Alexander Knight, Jeffrey Henderson and Nathan Barbour each won in the Pre-Quarters of consolations, before falling the Quarterfinal round.
On Saturday, Holt took a decisive 16-5 decision win in the Cons Quarterfinal round over the #8 seed from Hertford County. In the Pre- Semifinal, he was ousted by an eventual state qualifier.
Both Phillips and Williamson fell in their first attempt to qualify, each dropping decisions in the championship Semifinal round. Phillips by the eventual Regional Champion, and Williamson to the eventual runner-up. Each would have a win-or-go-home match to qualify for the state tournament from the consolation bracket.
Phillips was up first in the consolation Semifinal round. With a two-point reversal early in the final period of a scoreless match, he had enough to get it done. Phillips qualified with a 2-1 decision victory.
Within 10 minutes, Williamson was on the mat for his shot. In a grueling match that mirrored the nail-bitter of Phillips' victory just minutes before, Williamson was down 1-0 going into the third period. With a two-point reversal of his own, Williamson also qualified with a 2-1 decision victory.
Teammates. Friends. And now, Two-Time State Qualifiers. The Rock and Roll Express is moving on.
Coach Elbert Thomas joined Head Coach Jermaine Jones as an assistant for the Gryphon wrestling team last fall. Sometime late in the season, he dubbed teammates Chandler Phillips and Janicento Williamson the "Rock and Roll Express".
The Rock and Roll Express will be pulling out of Rocky Mount and heading to Greensboro for the NCSAA State Individual Tournament next weekend. Williamson placed third, while Phillips took fourth at the Regional at South Central Saturday evening. They are among the top 16 wrestlers in the state in their wight classes.
The eight other Gryphons who competed at the Regional had a front row seat to witness just how tough it can be to advance to the state tournament. One by one, eventually all being eliminated in the two-day event.
The first two rounds of the championship bracket were contested on Friday. Only Phillips, Williamson and Mason Holt advanced to wrestle in the Quarterfinals. Holding lower seeds, seven Gryphons fell in the first round and would have to wait until Saturday morning to wrestle in consolations.
After Friday night's championship bracket Quarters, only Phillips and Williamson were left. They were one win away from qualifying for the state tournament. The eight remaining Gryphons would need to work from the Consolation bracket.
Nick Westcott, Elliot Whitehead, Justin Atkinson and Jemor Parker were eliminated after the Consolation Pre-Quarterfinal round on Saturday morning. That's not to say there wasn't some good wrestling going on.
Westcott went the distance in his first match, only to fall by close 5-3 decision to an eventual state qualifier in the 125 division.
Whitehead lost by a 10-6 decision in his second match, narrowly missing a chance to advance into the next round.
There were several Gryphons who tasted victory at the Regional level for the first time on Saturday. Alexander Knight, Jeffrey Henderson and Nathan Barbour each won in the Pre-Quarters of consolations, before falling the Quarterfinal round.
On Saturday, Holt took a decisive 16-5 decision win in the Cons Quarterfinal round over the #8 seed from Hertford County. In the Pre- Semifinal, he was ousted by an eventual state qualifier.
Both Phillips and Williamson fell in their first attempt to qualify, each dropping decisions in the championship Semifinal round. Phillips by the eventual Regional Champion, and Williamson to the eventual runner-up. Each would have a win-or-go-home match to qualify for the state tournament from the consolation bracket.
Phillips was up first in the consolation Semifinal round. With a two-point reversal early in the final period of a scoreless match, he had enough to get it done. Phillips qualified with a 2-1 decision victory.
Within 10 minutes, Williamson was on the mat for his shot. In a grueling match that mirrored the nail-bitter of Phillips' victory just minutes before, Williamson was down 1-0 going into the third period. With a two-point reversal of his own, Williamson also qualified with a 2-1 decision victory.
Teammates. Friends. And now, Two-Time State Qualifiers. The Rock and Roll Express is moving on.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Gryphon Wrestlers Head to NCHSAA Individual Regionals
Ten Rocky Mount Gryphons have qualified for the NCHSAA Individual Regionals. The two day event will start Friday at Winterville's South Central High School. To qualify, individual wrestlers must fall in the top 16 in their weight class, by winning percentage, from the 23 teams comprising the Region. There is also a ten match minimum that must first be met.
The first two Championship rounds and the first round of consolations will be contested on Friday evening. The second two Championship rounds and the remaining consolation rounds will be completed Saturday.
The top four wrestlers in each weight class will go on to wrestle the following weekend in Greensboro at the NCHSAA Individual State Tournament. The Gryphons sent six wrestlers to states last year.
Following are the ten Gryphons headed to regionals, along with their records. (Information on individual seedings is not available at this time):
103 - Mason Holt 24-9
125 - Nicholas Westcott 13-18
130 - Alexander Knight 17-17
135 - Chandler Phillips 31-2
140 - Elliot Whitehead 9-11
160 - Justin Atkinson 8-12
171 - Janicento Williamson 26-9
189 - Jeffrey Henderson 5-8
215 - Nathan Barbour 9-11
285 - Jamor Parker 5-10
The first two Championship rounds and the first round of consolations will be contested on Friday evening. The second two Championship rounds and the remaining consolation rounds will be completed Saturday.
The top four wrestlers in each weight class will go on to wrestle the following weekend in Greensboro at the NCHSAA Individual State Tournament. The Gryphons sent six wrestlers to states last year.
Following are the ten Gryphons headed to regionals, along with their records. (Information on individual seedings is not available at this time):
103 - Mason Holt 24-9
125 - Nicholas Westcott 13-18
130 - Alexander Knight 17-17
135 - Chandler Phillips 31-2
140 - Elliot Whitehead 9-11
160 - Justin Atkinson 8-12
171 - Janicento Williamson 26-9
189 - Jeffrey Henderson 5-8
215 - Nathan Barbour 9-11
285 - Jamor Parker 5-10
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Braves fall 25-12 in ‘Battle of the Titans’
By Nick Phillips
Asst. Sports Editor
Feb. 11, 2010
(Photo by Nick Phillips)
UNCP redshirt-freshman Mike Williams battles Newberry’s Mike Rodgers in the 157-pound weight class. Williams won the matchup by a 4-1 decision.
Anytime there is a matchup of teams ranked first and second, it’s bound to be a good contest.
Asst. Sports Editor
Feb. 11, 2010
(Photo by Nick Phillips)
UNCP redshirt-freshman Mike Williams battles Newberry’s Mike Rodgers in the 157-pound weight class. Williams won the matchup by a 4-1 decision.
Anytime there is a matchup of teams ranked first and second, it’s bound to be a good contest.
Second-ranked UNCP’s Feb. 2 matchup against No. 1-ranked Newberry College did not disappoint. A great night of wrestling, highlighted by several marquee matchups, did not end up on the Braves’ side, however, as Newberry posted a 25-12 victory.
One constant throughout the contest was the energy from the huge crowd. Whenever numbers one and two face off, in any sport, they draw a crowd, and this matchup was no different.
“I appreciated the crowd that we had. It was something we’ve probably never had, at least in a while,” senior J.J. Davis said. “They came to see number one and number two compete, and we enjoyed it. We enjoyed it in the matches, the ooooh’s and ahhh’s, and the whole team was just excited about coming out and seeing the crowd. That got us pumped up even more.”
Throughout the contest, several individual matches had one or both wrestlers ranked in the regional rankings. Both teams also sported nationally ranked wrestlers, with the Braves’ Davis ranked fifth in the country.
The Braves jumped out to an early lead with No. 4-ranked Brandon Bradley’s 8-2 decision win over third ranked Blake Ridenour in the 149-pound matchup, followed by fourth-ranked Mike Williams’ 4-1 decision win in the 157-pound contest.
Newberry got on the scoreboard with a 4- 1 decision victory over senior Rashaad Saunders in the 165-pound match.
Number one-ranked J.J. Davis earned a hard fought, 6-4 overtime win over secondranked Curtis Chenoweth in their 174- pound match before Newberry scored victories in the next three matches.
Weakley’s upset
UNCP junior Russell Weakley, ranked second in the region, upset Matt Oliver in the 125-pound matchup with a 6-1 victory. Oliver holds the top spot in the region and the number seven spot nationally.
The loss snapped UNCP’s five match winning streak, and finished off the Braves home portion of the schedule.
“This year we have been very good at taking things and leaving them behind. We don’t get too high off our wins and we don’t get too low off our losses. All in all, we can take some positives out of this loss,” Davis said.
Super Regional payback
Although they didn’t come out on top in this match, several Braves’ wrestlers have the possibility of facing off against their Newberry foes down the road in the regional tournaments.
“We’ll have guys coming in and watching video to see how they can improve to make those one or two point matches a win, or something that when it comes down to the end, it’s a winnable match,” Davis said. “It meant a lot for those guys to be able to measure themselves against someone who was ranked.”
The Braves finish out the dual match season on Feb. 12 at Limestone, before traveling to Johnstown, Pa., to compete in the NCAA East Regional on Feb. 26 and 27.
Placing high enough there will send the wrestlers to the NCAA Division II National Championships held in Omaha, Neb.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Falcons Rout Gryphon Wrestlers in 1st Round
Another short-handed run into the State Play-offs is not what the Gryphon wrestling team had in mind. But that's exactly what they got when they gave up four matches to forfeit and fell in the first round of the NCHSAA Team tournament against C.B. Aycock, 48-19.
On the mat, the Gryphons held their own. In the 10 matches that were contested, Aycock only held a slight advantage, 24-19.
Alexander Knight lost at 135 by decision in a close match, 9-7, in the opening bout.
In the 140 match, Chandler Phillips took a major decision by way of an 8-0 score, and the Gryphons held their only lead of the evening, 4-3.
The Gryphons were defeated by decision in both the 145 and 152 pound matches, but were only down 9-4 after the first four matches. Elliot Whitehead lost 10-5, while Deandre Harris was bested 7-4.
The first of Rocky Mount's forfeits was at 160, and the Gryphs were down 4-15.
Janicento Williamson took the 171 pound match by default, as injury kept the Falcon wrestler from continuing during the third period. The Gryphons closed the gap on the scoreboard to 15-10.
Jeffrey Henderson lost by pin at 189 to put the Falcons up 21-10.
Nathan Barbour got three points back for Rocky Mount with a 10-6 win at 215. Aycock answered in the heavyweight match, as Jemor Parker was out-pointed 2-1.
Mason Holt took the 103 match for the Gryphons with a first period pin to get the Gryphons back within reach at 19-24.
That's all Rocky Mount could muster for the night, as they gave up the next three matches; 112, 119 and 125 to forfeit.
Nick Wescott was pinned in the final match at 130 for the final score.
The Gryphon final dual record is 13-11 as the team portion of the season is complete.
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Also wrestling at Aycock High was Conference foe Nash Central. The Bulldogs were buried by Havelock High 61-12. Havelock defeated Aycock in the second round match, 72-3.
Northern Nash, wrestling at South Central High, won their first round match against Erwin Triton.
Northern bested South Central in the second round and advanced to Thursday's round against Havelock. Winner will face the winner of Union Pines/Orange match immediately following.
On the mat, the Gryphons held their own. In the 10 matches that were contested, Aycock only held a slight advantage, 24-19.
Alexander Knight lost at 135 by decision in a close match, 9-7, in the opening bout.
In the 140 match, Chandler Phillips took a major decision by way of an 8-0 score, and the Gryphons held their only lead of the evening, 4-3.
The Gryphons were defeated by decision in both the 145 and 152 pound matches, but were only down 9-4 after the first four matches. Elliot Whitehead lost 10-5, while Deandre Harris was bested 7-4.
The first of Rocky Mount's forfeits was at 160, and the Gryphs were down 4-15.
Janicento Williamson took the 171 pound match by default, as injury kept the Falcon wrestler from continuing during the third period. The Gryphons closed the gap on the scoreboard to 15-10.
Jeffrey Henderson lost by pin at 189 to put the Falcons up 21-10.
Nathan Barbour got three points back for Rocky Mount with a 10-6 win at 215. Aycock answered in the heavyweight match, as Jemor Parker was out-pointed 2-1.
Mason Holt took the 103 match for the Gryphons with a first period pin to get the Gryphons back within reach at 19-24.
That's all Rocky Mount could muster for the night, as they gave up the next three matches; 112, 119 and 125 to forfeit.
Nick Wescott was pinned in the final match at 130 for the final score.
The Gryphon final dual record is 13-11 as the team portion of the season is complete.
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Also wrestling at Aycock High was Conference foe Nash Central. The Bulldogs were buried by Havelock High 61-12. Havelock defeated Aycock in the second round match, 72-3.
Northern Nash, wrestling at South Central High, won their first round match against Erwin Triton.
Northern bested South Central in the second round and advanced to Thursday's round against Havelock. Winner will face the winner of Union Pines/Orange match immediately following.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Wrestling Gryphons draw C.B. Aycock in First Round of Team Playoffs
Coach Jermaine Jones will take his Gryphon wrestling team to Pikeville to face homestanding C.B. Aycock Tuesday night in the first round of the NCHSAA State Team tournament. Aycock is the first seed out of the Eastern Carolina Conference, while Rocky Mount is the Big East #2 seed.
Coastal Conference #1 seed Havelock will face Big East Wild Card selection Nash Central in the other first round match at Aycock High. The winners of the two matches will face each other in the second round contest.
The Gryphons fell to the Falcons on Jan. 16 at the Thomas Cowles Duals, 48-25. Rocky Mount was without John Earl, Adam McRea and Jemor Parker for that match, while Nick Wescott retired early because of injury. If the Gryphs can send out a full squad this time around, the results could send them into Round Two for the first time under Jones.
At Currituck High School, Big East Champions and #1 Seed Northern Nash will go against Eastern Carolina #2 Triton in the first round. If they can get into the second round, they will face the winner of the Currituck vs. South Central match.
Coastal Conference #1 seed Havelock will face Big East Wild Card selection Nash Central in the other first round match at Aycock High. The winners of the two matches will face each other in the second round contest.
The Gryphons fell to the Falcons on Jan. 16 at the Thomas Cowles Duals, 48-25. Rocky Mount was without John Earl, Adam McRea and Jemor Parker for that match, while Nick Wescott retired early because of injury. If the Gryphs can send out a full squad this time around, the results could send them into Round Two for the first time under Jones.
At Currituck High School, Big East Champions and #1 Seed Northern Nash will go against Eastern Carolina #2 Triton in the first round. If they can get into the second round, they will face the winner of the Currituck vs. South Central match.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Phillips wins 4th Conference Crown
Six Gryphons Place at Individual Tournament
Chandler Phillips took home the 140-pound Big East Individual Conference Tournament title Saturday at Norhern Nash High School. It was his fourth consecutive conference championship.
Phillips added the 140 title to his 112 title as a freshman, 125 title as a sophomore and last year's 135 title.
Along the way, Phillips bumped his record to 30-2 heading into the Individual Regional at South Central High School in Winterville on Friday & Saturday, Feb. 19 & 20. He took his first two matches by way of pin before winning the championship match 4-0.
Alexander Knight took home runner-up honors in the 135-pound division after advancing the the title match with a pin over his Wilson Fike opponent.
Diandre Harris advanced to the title match with an exciting sudden-victory overtime decision over his Nash Central opponent, 10-8, before finishing second at 152 pounds.
Janicento Williamson also took the runner-up spot after defeating the Southern Nash 189 wrestler.
At the 160 pound spot, Justin Atkinson finished in the third position by defeating his Wilson Hunt rival by way of pin.
At 171pounds, Jefferey Henderson also took home third place honors, defeating his opponent from NAsh Central.
Overall, the Gryphons were 11-17 for matches on the day.
Rocky Mount will travel to an to be determined site on Tuesday for the first two rounds of the NCHSAA State Team tournament.
As soon as that information is available, it will be posted.
The NCHSAA Individual Regional will be in two weeks at South Central High. There are probably six or seven who are pretty safe, with several on the bubble.
As soon as the information comes in on who has qualified, it will also be posted.
(photo - Nick Phillips)
Chandler Phillips in action earlier this season. Phillips won four Conference titles in four different weight classes.
Chandler Phillips took home the 140-pound Big East Individual Conference Tournament title Saturday at Norhern Nash High School. It was his fourth consecutive conference championship.
Phillips added the 140 title to his 112 title as a freshman, 125 title as a sophomore and last year's 135 title.
Along the way, Phillips bumped his record to 30-2 heading into the Individual Regional at South Central High School in Winterville on Friday & Saturday, Feb. 19 & 20. He took his first two matches by way of pin before winning the championship match 4-0.
Alexander Knight took home runner-up honors in the 135-pound division after advancing the the title match with a pin over his Wilson Fike opponent.
Diandre Harris advanced to the title match with an exciting sudden-victory overtime decision over his Nash Central opponent, 10-8, before finishing second at 152 pounds.
Janicento Williamson also took the runner-up spot after defeating the Southern Nash 189 wrestler.
At the 160 pound spot, Justin Atkinson finished in the third position by defeating his Wilson Hunt rival by way of pin.
At 171pounds, Jefferey Henderson also took home third place honors, defeating his opponent from NAsh Central.
Overall, the Gryphons were 11-17 for matches on the day.
Rocky Mount will travel to an to be determined site on Tuesday for the first two rounds of the NCHSAA State Team tournament.
As soon as that information is available, it will be posted.
The NCHSAA Individual Regional will be in two weeks at South Central High. There are probably six or seven who are pretty safe, with several on the bubble.
As soon as the information comes in on who has qualified, it will also be posted.
(photo - Nick Phillips)
Chandler Phillips in action earlier this season. Phillips won four Conference titles in four different weight classes.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Gryphon Wrestlers Stats Update
Thought it would be appropriate to update the Gryphon Wrestling Team Stats on the Eve of the Conference Individual Tournament. There should be a ton of great individual matches on Saturday at Northern Nash High. Remember, last year's NEW-6 Conference sent 15 wrestlers to the State Individual Tournament. Several of those wrestlers are back this year.
Team Dual Record: 13-7 (2nd in Conference; Qualified for State Team Tournament)
Team Points: 1167-787
Individual Won-Lost: 211-147
Decisions: 25-27
Major Dec: 11-5
Tech Falls: 2-4
Pins: 113-109
Individual Wins:
Chandler Phillips 27
Janicento Williamson 24
Mason Holt 23
John Earl 17
Alexander Knight 16
Wins by Decision:
Janicento Williamson 7
Alexander Knight 5
John Earl 5
Chandler Phillips 2
Adam McRae 2
Wins by Major Decision:
Chandler Phillips 4
Alexander Knight 2
5 others tied at 1
Wins by Tech Fall:
Alexander Knight 1
Damien Smith 1
Wins by Pin:
Chandler Phillips 15
Janicento Williamson 15
Mason Holt 15
John Earl 9
Nathan Barbour 5
Adam McRae 5
Sidorayan Petway 5
Justin Atkinson 5
Top 10 Individual Point Leaders:
Chandler Phillips 148-12
Mason Holt 133-33
Janicento Williamson 121-41
John Earl 85-3
Alexander Knight 73-73
Adam McRae 70-39
Sidorayan Petway 63-48
Nicholas Wescott 61-62
Elliot Whitehead 54-27
Nathan Barbour 48-39
Team Dual Record: 13-7 (2nd in Conference; Qualified for State Team Tournament)
Team Points: 1167-787
Individual Won-Lost: 211-147
Decisions: 25-27
Major Dec: 11-5
Tech Falls: 2-4
Pins: 113-109
Individual Wins:
Chandler Phillips 27
Janicento Williamson 24
Mason Holt 23
John Earl 17
Alexander Knight 16
Wins by Decision:
Janicento Williamson 7
Alexander Knight 5
John Earl 5
Chandler Phillips 2
Adam McRae 2
Wins by Major Decision:
Chandler Phillips 4
Alexander Knight 2
5 others tied at 1
Wins by Tech Fall:
Alexander Knight 1
Damien Smith 1
Wins by Pin:
Chandler Phillips 15
Janicento Williamson 15
Mason Holt 15
John Earl 9
Nathan Barbour 5
Adam McRae 5
Sidorayan Petway 5
Justin Atkinson 5
Top 10 Individual Point Leaders:
Chandler Phillips 148-12
Mason Holt 133-33
Janicento Williamson 121-41
John Earl 85-3
Alexander Knight 73-73
Adam McRae 70-39
Sidorayan Petway 63-48
Nicholas Wescott 61-62
Elliot Whitehead 54-27
Nathan Barbour 48-39
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Let's talk about Rankings
Sports fans feast on watching the rankings. Where is their team ranked, or where is the rival ranked? Is the next opponent ranked? Debate rages continually over the places teams are stacked in the ranks.
Sports talk radio dedicates hours a week just debating the latest rankings. Fans call in to talk trash about teams ranked higher than their team. Arguments for and against are ongoing. Everybody has an opinion & quite often they differ, depending on who you are and who you are rooting for.
College coaches seem to be uncomfortable being ranked #1. They have an uncanny way of making excuses why their team shouldn't be ranked above all others.
Fans, on the other end of the spectrum, will boast loudly if their favorite team is #1. While, if you're not a fan of that #1 team, you can come up with a dozen reasons why they shouldn't be.
Players, more times than not, are caught in the middle. I'm sure coaches are telling them don't let it go to your head, while their fans are saying they are unbeatable. It's no wonder why so many teams that make it to the top get knocked off. Kentucky basketball was the latest team to reach #1, only to get beat the same week. Kansas has taken over at the top of the college basketball heap. Will they get knocked off, or prove the pollsters right?
Have you ever noticed how no two polls are ever the same? College football has 3 of them through the season & they seldom agree. Preseason rankings rarely come close to the end of the season results. And throughout the season, the ranks are perpetually changing.
Take the Gryphon basketball team. They are ranked as the best team in the state at the 3-A level. That's in one poll. In another, they are #3. Wrestler Chandler Phillips is ranked as the #3 wrestler in the state at 140 pounds in one poll. In another, he is the #4 wrestler in the eastern half of the state at 135.
If you ever wondered how two sets of rankings can be so different, consider all the factors that go into "guessing" which team, or individual, is the best. Obviously, there is your record and who you beat. Then there are common opponents and a comparison on how teams faired against them. Then you can consider I beat team B by X and you beat team C by Y, but team B beat team C by Z. I'm not sure if the guys compiling the rankings even knew that I played my third string the entire 4th quarter, while you ran up the score with your starters until the last minute.
Anyway, if you've ever wondered how some of these rankings are compiled, and how a publication figures it all out, check out the January 11 posting by Will Wolfe at Retrorankings.com entitled "4A 135". They get so many complaints and questions about the posted rankings each week, he felt he should give an example of what they go through putting them together. Remember, these guys put together a list of the top 10 wrestlers each week. Top 10 wrestlers in each of the 14 weight classes in 1A, 2A 3A and 4A. That's a list of the best 560 wrestlers in the state of North Carolina. He explains what he goes through for only ONE of those weight classes.
Do you think that somewhere, some wrestler, his mom, his dad, his brother, his coach or his girlfriend doesn't think that there was a mistake made? That somebody was overlooked? Really?
I am sure the guys who put out high school basketball, baseball and football polls go through a similar process. The number of teams doesn't rival the number of individuals, for sure, but the process and results are similar. Not everyone agrees with the week's list.
The guys and gals that put together and publish these sorts of rankings, high school and collegiate, are always second guessed. We, as fans, love it and feast on it when our favorites are highly ranked. But rankings are in a constant state of change and there is a reason for that. Rankings are only a list of someone's predictions on how the final outcome will turn out. My prediction is not the same as your prediction.
No wonder nobody can agree on the polls that come out.
It's why they play the games, after all. It's why the unranked are allowed into a tournament. It's how somebody came up with the saying ". . .on any given day. . .". It's why Cinderella takes down Goliath.
To get back to the Gryphons, let's hope that this year's basketball team can live up to their current ranking. Let's see another Rocky Mount team run through the rest of the state to another team championship. Let's see if Phillips and JK Willilamson can pull off a repeat trip to the state individuals, add an upset or two while there, and come home with individual state titles.
It's getting close to tournament time. Go Gryphons.
Sports talk radio dedicates hours a week just debating the latest rankings. Fans call in to talk trash about teams ranked higher than their team. Arguments for and against are ongoing. Everybody has an opinion & quite often they differ, depending on who you are and who you are rooting for.
College coaches seem to be uncomfortable being ranked #1. They have an uncanny way of making excuses why their team shouldn't be ranked above all others.
Fans, on the other end of the spectrum, will boast loudly if their favorite team is #1. While, if you're not a fan of that #1 team, you can come up with a dozen reasons why they shouldn't be.
Players, more times than not, are caught in the middle. I'm sure coaches are telling them don't let it go to your head, while their fans are saying they are unbeatable. It's no wonder why so many teams that make it to the top get knocked off. Kentucky basketball was the latest team to reach #1, only to get beat the same week. Kansas has taken over at the top of the college basketball heap. Will they get knocked off, or prove the pollsters right?
Have you ever noticed how no two polls are ever the same? College football has 3 of them through the season & they seldom agree. Preseason rankings rarely come close to the end of the season results. And throughout the season, the ranks are perpetually changing.
Take the Gryphon basketball team. They are ranked as the best team in the state at the 3-A level. That's in one poll. In another, they are #3. Wrestler Chandler Phillips is ranked as the #3 wrestler in the state at 140 pounds in one poll. In another, he is the #4 wrestler in the eastern half of the state at 135.
If you ever wondered how two sets of rankings can be so different, consider all the factors that go into "guessing" which team, or individual, is the best. Obviously, there is your record and who you beat. Then there are common opponents and a comparison on how teams faired against them. Then you can consider I beat team B by X and you beat team C by Y, but team B beat team C by Z. I'm not sure if the guys compiling the rankings even knew that I played my third string the entire 4th quarter, while you ran up the score with your starters until the last minute.
Anyway, if you've ever wondered how some of these rankings are compiled, and how a publication figures it all out, check out the January 11 posting by Will Wolfe at Retrorankings.com entitled "4A 135". They get so many complaints and questions about the posted rankings each week, he felt he should give an example of what they go through putting them together. Remember, these guys put together a list of the top 10 wrestlers each week. Top 10 wrestlers in each of the 14 weight classes in 1A, 2A 3A and 4A. That's a list of the best 560 wrestlers in the state of North Carolina. He explains what he goes through for only ONE of those weight classes.
Do you think that somewhere, some wrestler, his mom, his dad, his brother, his coach or his girlfriend doesn't think that there was a mistake made? That somebody was overlooked? Really?
I am sure the guys who put out high school basketball, baseball and football polls go through a similar process. The number of teams doesn't rival the number of individuals, for sure, but the process and results are similar. Not everyone agrees with the week's list.
The guys and gals that put together and publish these sorts of rankings, high school and collegiate, are always second guessed. We, as fans, love it and feast on it when our favorites are highly ranked. But rankings are in a constant state of change and there is a reason for that. Rankings are only a list of someone's predictions on how the final outcome will turn out. My prediction is not the same as your prediction.
No wonder nobody can agree on the polls that come out.
It's why they play the games, after all. It's why the unranked are allowed into a tournament. It's how somebody came up with the saying ". . .on any given day. . .". It's why Cinderella takes down Goliath.
To get back to the Gryphons, let's hope that this year's basketball team can live up to their current ranking. Let's see another Rocky Mount team run through the rest of the state to another team championship. Let's see if Phillips and JK Willilamson can pull off a repeat trip to the state individuals, add an upset or two while there, and come home with individual state titles.
It's getting close to tournament time. Go Gryphons.
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