Takedown Report

Carroll receives Roy Heverly Award, becomes first West wrestler to earn honor named for Patriot great

West Carteret’s River Carroll holds The Takedown Report’s Roy Heverly Award. Others in the photo are, left to right, The Takedown Report’s Martin Fleming, West Carteret coach Kevin Smith and Carroll’s father, Sean. (J.J. Smith photo)

MOREHEAD CITY — The presentation of the Roy Heverly Award during the West Carteret and Northside-Jacksonville football game Monday night seemed entirely appropriate and ironic.
The Takedown Report’s Martin Fleming presented the honor named for the former Patriot standout to a West wrestler for the first time in its 19-year history.
River Carroll, however, has yet to wrestle in a West uniform after transferring from Swansboro.
“Oh, wow, that’s crazy,” Carroll responded when learning he was the first Patriot wrestler to receive the honor. “I didn’t know about that. That is super cool. Mr. Fleming told me he was a West Carteret wrestler.” Carroll is only the fourth county wrestler to receive the award, joining East Carteret’s Beau Studebaker (2017), Croatan’s Ryan Blackwell (2009) and Croatan’s Jake O’Laker (2006).
The Takedown Report gives the Roy Heverly Award to the top underclassman scholastic wrestler in eastern North Carolina. Heverly was one of the best wrestlers in state history in his time at West. “These awards recognize the most successful wrestlers in the area each year,” Fleming said. “It encourages the young men from the teams in the eastern part of the state with another opportunity for others to realize the hard work, determination and discipline it takes to be a top wrestler.”
Carroll won the 3A 160-pound class state title last season as a junior after defeating North Iredell senior Chandler Jordan 5-0 in the final. Carroll finished the season 60-1, while Jordan ended 47-3. “I definitely worked hard for it,” Carroll said. “I had good coaches. My dad helped me out a lot. We would be wrestling till 10 o’clock at night.”
Heverly is the wrestler all other county wrestlers have been judged by for the past 42 years. He went undefeated during the 1979-1980 season on his way to becoming the first freshman in North Carolina history to win a state championship. He finished third and second over the next two seasons, losing to the same wrestler each time, Grimsley’s David Schneiderman. Heverly responded with another undefeated season as a senior for his second state title. Those state championships are even more impressive considering there was only one state champion crowned in each weight class, unlike today when state titles are given to individuals in each weight class in four classifications (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A).
Heverly was named N.C. Wrestler of the Year and a High School All-American during his time at West and finished his career with one of the best records in state history at 110-2-1. … rest of story at https://www.carolinacoastonline.com/news_times/sports/article_77c9a9ec-9708-11eb-9cc4-7f8293ade0bb.html

And Carroll commits to wrestling at Virginia Military Institute with dual purpose in mind

MOREHEAD CITY — River Carroll has wanted to do something in the medical field since he was in kindergarten and wanted to go into the military since he was in the eighth grade. And so, the West Carteret senior plans on combining the two by choosing the Virginia Military Institute to continue his wrestling career. He hopes to eventually become a medical officer in the Army or Navy. “My dad is in the military, my mom’s side of the family is in the military, so with that background, it is familiar to me,” he said. “I definitely want to serve my country.”
Carroll’s father is a major in the U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune. Carroll attended Swansboro for the past three years before transferring to West before his senior year. He brings an impressive résumé with him to the Patriots. He won the 3A 160-pound class state title last season as a junior after defeating North Iredell senior Chandler Jordan 5-0 in the final. Carroll finished the season 60-1, while Jordan ended 47-3.
“He’s the first transfer we’ve had like this,” West coach Kevin Smith said of Carroll’s talents. “It’s unusual for us, but we’re obviously very pleased about it.” He’s compiled a 129-18 record in his three-year varsity career. The road to a state championship and a commitment to a Division I college has been a long one. He started wrestling when he was 8, and when it was difficult to find competitive youth wrestling in the area, his family drove him to Wilmington three days a week for four years to participate with the Port City Pirates. “I love it,” Carroll said. “Wrestling is a lifestyle. It’s not just a sport. You have to love it, and I absolutely love it.”
Carroll will be joined by a familiar face at VMI in the form of fellow Port City Pirates teammate Conner Johnson of Laney High School. Johnson committed to the Keydets after finishing third in the state last season. Division I college wresting has been known to make mincemeat of many a state champion, but Carroll reported he isn’t too concerned about the level of commitment required to compete at that level. “I will be prepared,” he said. “I know Division I wrestling is a whole other game, but I will be able to adapt.” Smith also believes that with Carroll’s talent and work ethic, his transition to the next level should be a smooth one. “College sports at any level is no joke, but wrestling in particular is a very demanding lifestyle,” he said. “It requires a big commitment if you want to succeed, and Division I even more so. When the vast majority of your peers are kicking back and enjoying college life, you’re in an exceptionally structured environment. I think with his background, his lifestyle, it will not be a stretch for him at all. I think he will excel.”
Carroll, who recently received the Roy Heverly Award as the top underclassman scholastic wrestler in eastern North Carolina has excelled since he stepped on a mat at the high school varsity level. He’s won three conference championships, and ironically enough, beating West wrestlers each time to accomplish that feat. He got past Bryce Lien in a 15-13 sudden victory match as a freshman, before defeating Clayton Wilson in each of the past two seasons, first by pin and then by technical fall. … rest of story at https://www.carolinacoastonline.com/news_times/sports/article_02845e50-99df-11eb-8cbf-5f29817b4438.html

April 16, 2021 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment

NORTH CAROLINA & SOUTH CAROLINA USA WRESTLING PARTNER TO HOST JOINT STATE EVENTS IN CHARLOTTE, N.C., MAY 1-2

By North Carolina & South Carolina USA Wrestling partner to host joint state events in Charlotte, N.C., May 1-2 | April 07, 2021, 5:37 p.m. (ET)The USA Wrestling state associations from North and South Carolina are coming together this spring to bring wrestling back to the Carolinas. Through the adversity of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two associations have found a path to restart wrestling by working together.

Both states are offering local freestyle, Greco-Roman, and folkstyle events in April, and they will come together May 1-2 to host a first-of-its-kind championship event in Charlotte, NC.

Day one of the event (May 1) will be both state’s Freestyle and Greco-Roman State Championships. Age group participants from both states will compete separately, while U23 and Senior/Masters divisions will have one combined division.

Day two of the event (May 2) will be the Carolinas Open Championship, This folkstyle event is open to wrestlers of all ages from anywhere in the United State. It will serve as North Carolina’s folkstyle state championships, so the highest finishing North Carolina wrestler in each age/weight division will be recognized as the state champion.

There will be men’s and women’s divisions for all ages, as well as Triple Crown awards for wrestlers who win all three styles.

For event information or to register visit North Carolina USA Wrestling website. 

April 16, 2021 Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized | Leave a comment