Takedown Report

Bears take team title at Swiss Bear Classic

The Swiss Bear Classic may be just an early season wrestling tournament but every year, the host Bears sure set out to win it. New Bern did that Saturday by taking first place with a cumulative score of 169 points, just edging out Croatan’s 161.5. Topsail was third with 140.5 points, Dixon took fourth with 126.5 and Wake Forest came in fifth at 110. Sam Barnett was the Bears’ lone champion of the event at 113 pounds as he won the title match via pinfall. Pamlico County heavyweight Javon Armstrong, a former state champ, also won his weight class with a 10-3 victory in the finale. In addition to Barnett, Paul Denoia, Grant Gupton and Jackson Bird all finished second in their respective weight classes. Eh Neysoe Jaw, Riley Dean, Wyatt Stevens, Jaidon Bennett and Marcus Grist all also finished in the top four for the Bears. West Craven and Havelock were also competing at the event as Jon Ward and Jeremiah Cannon both took third place for the Eagles and Xavier McCullough was second for the Rams.
“At this point in the season, we try to focus on just getting a little better every time we get a chance to compete, to get ready for February,” New Bern head coach Bo Lansche said. “With it being our tournament, of course the guys always want to bring this one home.” Lansche was excited two years ago about many of the kids starting for him now when they were freshmen about the potential the team could have. Now that most of the team are juniors and seniors, wins are piling up. Ward had a landmark win early in the tournament as he won his 100th career match for West Craven. Havelock’s Brooke Hermel, Cody Rutherford and Isaiah Verspoor were all top-four finishers for the Rams. “I think the highlight of the day for us was Xavier (McCullough) getting a win over Jon (Ward) but then when we get a good win like that, we can’t turn around not wrestle well after it,” Havelock head coach Chase Holleman said.
Rest of the story with top four individual placers at each weight class at https://www.newbernsj.com/sports/20191207/bears-take-team-title-at-swiss-bear-classic

December 8, 2019 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized