Takedown Report

Angel Najar wins Stokes Award press release

Angel Najar wins Stokes Award as top wrestler in Northeastern North Carolina 

The TakeDown Report presented the 22^nd Annual Michael Stokes Award to State Champion Angel Najar of North Pitt High School, as the Top Senior Wrestler in Northern Eastern North Carolina in 2015.  Najar defeated all of his opponents in his weight class (160) and the one above.  His only loss this season was when he moved up to 182 early in the season to seek out tougher competition in order to improve.
Angel is also the all-time leader in wins in Pitt County with over 200 victories. He placed 2^nd in the state as a sophomore, 3^rd as a junior and 6^th his freshmen season.   Coach Randy Meisenhelder beamed while noting that “… he was Tiger Classic, Conference and Regional Champion this year. Angel has been great to work with and a good role model for our younger wrestlers”  Coach also praised Angel as “a great example of hard work paying off.”  Angel has signed on to wrestle at Appalachian State this fall.  Najar is also the top 160 pounder in all of eastern North Carolina and received a wooden plaque engraved with his name.
Stokes remembered his last time at North Pitt when he presented the Award to Angel’s older brother, Xavier Najar four years ago. Stokes shared that “…while he thanked us for the award he emphasized to us that we should keep an eye out for his younger brother who would be even better.  At the time we just thought he was being modest and kind to his brother but after seeing Angel’s career we have to note that Xavier gave us an honest evaluation and prediction.”
Michael Stokes wrestled the 1981-1984 seasons at Tarboro High School and with a (96 – 4) career record.  He was North Carolina’s 2nd 3-time State Champion when there was only one individual champion at a weight in the state. He wrestled for N.C. State and won ACC wrestling titles in 1988 and 1989 and was named the ACC Most Valuable Wrestler both years.  His record of 68 wins 8 losses and 3 ties (.879) is the best career winning percentage at NC State.  He finished second at the NCAA Nationals at 126lbs in 1989 to Kendall Cross, the eventual Olympic Gold medalist. Stokes co-captained the Wolfpack in 1989 and one of the ACC’s all time 50 greatest wrestlers as recognized during the conference’s 50th anniversary celebration.  Stokes credits wrestling as “providing me with a mental toughness that enables me to remove boundaries that stand in my way.  Wrestling has given me the sheer determination to believe that I can conquer anything that I set my mind to do.”
Previous Stokes Award wrestlers include Reggie Huff of Southern Nash (2014), David Guevara of Tarboro (2013), Alexander Knight and Jaciento Williamson of Rocky Mount (2012), Xavier Najar of North Pitt (2011), Joe Young of Northern Nash (2010), Corey Smith of Tarboro (2009), Jasmine Cooper of Nash Central (2008), Eric Wischhusen, (2007), Roylando Lucas (2001) and Ira Bing (2000) of Southern Nash, John Brewer (2006) of Wilson Fike, Anthony Taylor (2005) of Rocky Mount, Sammi Hadi (2004) and Ryan Huffman (1997) of SouthWest Edgecombe, Charles Washington (2003) of Northern Nash, Quadric Eason (2002), Mike Christopher (1999 & 1998), Tony Mercer (1996) and Lee Carroll (1994 & 1995) of Tarboro.
The TDR promotes amateur wrestling in eastern North Carolina and sponsors this award.  “The awards are to recognize great wrestlers from before and the current ones for their efforts,” Editor Martin Fleming noted.  The TakeDown Report has promoted scholastic wrestling for 18 years in North Carolina and encourages coverage of the sport.  Contact the TDR at martinkfleming@gmail.com or https://takedownreport.wordpress.com/ or ‘The TakeDown Report’ on FaceBook.

June 3, 2015 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized