Uwharrie Charter Academy wins state 1-A title
GREENSBORO — Uwharrie Charter Academy wrestling coach Chris Waddell had done everything a coach can do in the sport in his 18-year coaching career, except win a dual team state championship — until Saturday. UCA defeated Robbinsville in a tight 36-32 match to win the NCHSAA 1-A state title on Saturday at the Greensboro Coliseum Fieldhouse. “It’s great — to me this is the pinnacle of wrestling,” said Waddell, who also led Southwestern Randolph to a state runner-up finish in 2012. “We won an individual state championship last year, but for a team to do it, you’ve got to be solid across the board.” “This feels great; it means a lot,” Isaiah Martin said. “We wanted it and we got it.” With the win, UCA finishes a perfect dual meet season at 41-0. Most of the Eagles’ matches have not been close, but Waddell said the team was still prepared when the situation arose in the state championship match. Rest of the story, details and video at https://www.courier-tribune.com/sports/20190202/uca-wins-state-1-a-title
NW Guilford holds off Laney in final bout to claim 4A wrestling title
By Kyle Morton, HighSchoolOT.com reporter
GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Northwest Guilford Vikings captured the 4A N.C. High School Athletic Association dual wrestling championship on Saturday in Greensboro as they defeated the Laney Buccaneers by a 33-27 score. Despite falling short in the end, Laney got off to a good start. Rest of the story, details and video at https://www.highschoolot.com/nw-guilford-holds-off-laney-in-final-bout-to-claim-4a-wrestling-title/18165227/
West Lincoln repeats as 2A wrestling champions, downs Croatan
By Cassie Pacanovsky, HighSchoolOT.com reporter
GREENSBORO, N.C. — West Lincoln won its second straight 2A Dual Team Wrestling state championship on Saturday with a dominant 60-14 win over Croatan. The Rebels defeated Croatan last year by a similar margin. Croatan jumped out to the early 3-0 lead with Luke Walker’s 7-2 decision over Chade Norman in opening 120-pound weight class. Rest of the story and video at https://www.highschoolot.com/west-lincoln-repeats-as-2a-wrestling-champions-downs-croatan/18165257/
Cape Fear falls to St. Stephens in 3A wrestling championship
By Kyle Morton, HighSchoolOT.com producer
GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Cape Fear Colts came up short in their quest for their first dual wrestling championship since 1984 on Saturday in Greensboro as they fell short at the hands of the St. Stephens Indians for the 3A state championship. While Cape Fear failed to make history, St. Stephens made some of their own, as it captured its first state championship of any kind since 1964. The match was a back-and-forth affair, as both teams held leads at different points. Tariq Shuford got things started off at the 120-pound classification with a win via tech fall to get St. Stephens an early 5-0 lead. Rest of the story and video at https://www.highschoolot.com/cape-fear-falls-to-st-stephens-in-3a-wrestling-championship/18165541/
Taylor Venz Named Big Ten Wrestler of the Week
Lincoln, Neb. – Taylor Venz, a redshirt sophomore for the Huskers wrestling team, was honored as the Big Ten Wrestler of the Week today, the conference announced. The Farmington, Minnesota, native is coming off of his most impressive win of the season against Illinois’ Emery Parker on Sunday. Coming into the match, Parker was ranked as the consensus No. 2 184-pounder in the country.
Venz, who came in as the fifth-ranked wrestler in the nation according to the InterMat and OpenMat rankings, led 5-2 in the third period of the match before getting Parker on his back and pinning him to seal the victory (5:33). The win was Venz’ fifth straight dual victory (three by bonus points) and he has yet to lose a match in 2019. His last loss came on Dec. 16, 2018 against N.C. State’s #3 Nick Reenan. Venz is now 15-3 (10-2 in duals) on the season. Rest of the season at http://www.huskers.com//ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&ATCLID=211788350&mc_cid=768866e9ed&mc_eid=2ef7cbca4b
TDR blog
After 20 seasons of publicizing wrestling The TakeDown Report’s (TDR) focus has changed to the collecting of college coaching records from North America since 1903. We will continue to recognize and reward successful wrestlers in eastern North Carolina (east of Raleigh & Fayetteville), assist with schools in starting or re-starting a team and this blog. Join us on our FaceBook Page – “The TakeDown Report” for photos and news. Please send results, stories, links and news to pass along. E-mail us at takedownreport@gmail.com
Martin Fleming, Editor
Takedown Report
Takedown Report 