Takedown Report

Saravia, Campbell made adjustments for state titles, All-Area wrestling honors

Saravia, Campbell made adjustments for state titles, All-Area wrestling honors
By Tim Hower
StarNews Staff
Published: Thursday, March 31, 2016 at 12:30 a.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at 6:37 p.m.
Every high school wrestler enters the season with the same goal, but only a few actually experience the thrill of standing atop the podium at the state championships. Laney’s Kevin Saravia and West Brunswick’s Harrison Campbell both suffered midseason losses that ultimately helped pave the way for a state title. Their accomplishments made it impossible to choose a single StarNews All-Area wrestler of the year.
Tough tourney refocused Saravia
Kevin Saravia just chalked it up to a bad day. It ended up being a blessing in disguise.
Everything was going great as the calendar turned to 2016. Saravia had avenged his only loss of the season to win the 113-pound division at the WRAL Invitational and, after a pair of convincing victories, the Laney junior was into the semifinals at the Holy Angels Tournament in Charlotte.
That’s when things fell apart.
Saravia was pinned by Davie’s Hunter Smith before dropping his next two matches in the consolation bracket. The sixth-place finish was a disappointing way to start the new year.
“I got beat by two guys who I had beaten by tech fall before,” Saravia said. “It just wasn’t my day.”
Luckily for Saravia, his coach understood the ebbs and flows of a season.
“We just tried to keep things in perspective,” said Laney coach Dan Willis. “Every kid is going to have one — if not two — downsides to their season where they’re not wrestling their best or whatever it may be. He was pretty upset, pretty devastated to lose three matches in the same weekend.
“I just told him it was good it happened then rather than at the state tournament. Some kids will listen to you, but for some it goes in one ear and out the other. Kevin is very coachable.” Rest of the story at http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20160331/PREPS/160339957

June 15, 2016 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized