Takedown Report

Wilson Fike Demons work to make Wickham’s dream come true

By Paul Durham paul@wilsontimes.com | 265-7808 | Twitter: @PDsports
This story was corrected from an earlier version to indicate that Fike High senior Saulo Rodriguez is making his second trip to the NCHSAA state tournament, not first.
Somewhere, Mike Wickham is smiling. The late Fike High wrestling coach would be elated that five Golden Demons qualified for the North Carolina High School Athletic Association 3-A tournament this coming weekend in Greensboro. In addition to junior Aaron Bancroft, who repeated as a champion Saturday at the NCHSAA 3-A East Regional tournament at Cleveland High, seniors Joseph Speight and Saulo Rodriguez, junior Jahmez Settles and sophomore Vincent Page will be going to Greensboro. Bancroft, one of the top wrestlers in the state at any classification, will be aiming for a state championship, which would be the first ever for a Fike wrestler. The son of Fike assistant coach George Bancroft, he might be the No. 1 seed in the 3-A 160-pound weight class in Greensboro. While Fike’s other four wrestlers may not reach the state final in their respective classifications, they have achieved a lot just by making it there.

“I’m so excited for these guys because Joseph, Jahmez, Vince and Saulo — they’re exceptional kids as far as their mannerisms,” said Fike head coach Bradley Watson. “I love who they are. I mean, kids are going to be kids but, at the same time, they’re just good-hearted kids. When I started coaching, I knew I would get connected to the kids but I didn’t know how much, how quickly. I’m just drawn in. I just love my guys and am excited to see them succeed that way.” Watson wrestled at Fike but before Wickham was the coach. However, when Wickham’s ongoing bout with cancer made it apparent that he wouldn’t be able to lead the team last season, he reached out to Watson, who embraced the role. Coupled with George Bancroft, whose passion for wrestling is unsurpassed, Watson has been able to continue the job that Wickham, who died on Jan. 1, 2018, started when he took over a dormant Fike program in 2011 and turned it into a perennial 3-A Big East Conference contender that annually produced state tournament qualifiers. Rest of the story and numerous pictures at the following links
http://www.wilsontimes.com/stories/demons-work-to-make-wickhams-dream-come-true,160792?

April 21, 2019 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized