Takedown Report

Speight, Bancroft claim titles at USA Wrestling SE Regional

By Paul Durham paul@wilsontimes.com | 265-7808 | Twitter: @PDsports

His dream of winning a state championship eluded Joseph Speight at the North Carolina High School Athletic Association wrestling tournament in February, but the recent Fike High graduate found redemption last month in Wilmington. Wrestling with the Backyard Wrestling Club of Wilson, Speight captured the Junior Men’s Greco-Roman 182-pound title in the USA Wrestling Southeast Regional tournament May 25-26 at Wilmington Convention Center. It was the first meaningful tournament in which Speight had wrestled since finishing sixth in the same weight class at the NCHSAA 3-A tournament in Greensboro four months ago. “It felt good. It felt real good!” Speight said with a grin Sunday, June 9, at Fike’s wrestling banquet at Grace Baptist Church.

Speight pinned Christian Latta of Walhalla, South Carolina, in 2 minutes, 55 seconds in the quarterfinals before claiming a 12-0 technical fall over Jake Finken of Tampa, Florida, in the semifinals. In the championship match, Speight rolled to another tech fall, this time 10-0 over Tanner Melendrez of Mandeville, Louisiana. How was Speight able to seize a regional championship after not being on the mat every day for the last few months? Rest of the story and photos at http://www.wilsontimes.com/stories/speight-bancroft-claim-titles-at-usa-wrestling-se-regional,180356?

June 25, 2019 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized