Takedown Report

Tamaris Lane named the Lee Carroll Award Winner

            The top ranked returning heavyweight wrestler, in North Carolina in the 3A division, Tamaris Lane of Nash Central High School was presented the Lee Carroll Award as the top underclassman in northeastern North Carolina last season. The TakeDown Report Editor, Martin Fleming presented the award to Lane at halftime of the junior varsity football game with Southern Nash.  The home crowd enthusiastically cheered on the popular varsity football player who excels at wrestling.   

At last year’s state championships Lane lost his first match. He was caught and lost his footing and pinned with two seconds left in the first period.  Tamaris did not let this setback discourage him as he won 5 consecutive matches in the consolation bracket to place 3^rd. He pinned his 1^st round opponent in a rematch.  When asked Tamaris pondered and realized that “my toughest opponent was that Enka guy, (Jordan Ownbey) who I beat by one in the last match for 3rd.” 

The medal match was his 85^th win in high school so far.  The previous year he was one match win short of qualifying for the state tournament.  That was a big step up from his first varsity season when he wrestled without a win.  That rough first year did not discourage him as he learned and it built character.  Since then Lane has been named on the TDR Top 12 rankings which recognize the Top 12 wrestlers in each weight in eastern North Carolina and are displayed on distinctive TDR shirts.  Lane credits his previous coaches, Lee Culpepper of Nash Central and Greco-Roman coach George Bancroft for his leaps in improvement.  A significant milestone was marked with a 6^th place finish in a USA Wrestling Nationals in Akron, Ohio in April of 2010.

Greco-Roman wrestling is one of the Olympic styles and it emphasizes above the waist moves and throws.  Yet he shared that his favorite move is the double leg takedown which is much more common with lighter weight wrestlers. With a beaming smile and friendly demeanor Tamaris explained that he likes wrestling “as I get to beat people up without getting in trouble”  He started wrestling in 8^th grade when he switched from basketball tryouts and saw wrestling as a better chance to be involved in a sport.

Yet for now, this top ranked wrestler’s focus is football as the Nash Central Bulldogs will host a 1^st round playoff game this weekend and desire to go deep in the playoffs.  Lane starts on both sides of the line ‘working in the trenches.’  His preference is for blocking on offense as he chuckled “I get to knock people down!”

Lee Carroll started wrestling his sophomore year when Tarboro High School restarted the sport in 1992 with Butch Sadler as his coach.  Lee won 112 matches in just 3 years with the Vikings.  Lee was state runner-up his junior year before becoming a record setting undefeated state champion in 1995 with a (50-0) record.  Lee went on to start four years at North Carolina State qualifying for the Nationals 3 times.  Lee is an adjunct professor teaching engineering graphics at N.C. State and has his own interactive design agency, Forged Media, in Raleigh.  

            The TakeDown Report, an on-line publication that promotes amateur wrestling in eastern North Carolina, sponsors the Award.  Fleming noted, “It encourages the young men from the teams in the area to realize the hard work, determination and discipline it takes to be a top notch wrestler,” he added.  The TakeDown Report is in its 15^th year of publication in North Carolina reporting wrestling results and encouraging media coverage of the sport.  Contact the TDR by e-mail at tdr@tarboronc.com or call (252) 883-3311.   

November 5, 2011 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment