Takedown Report

High School News

Road trips wrap up West wrestling matches for 2022

• By Brian Slattery Sports Editor
• Dec 29, 2022

West Brunswick’s wrestling team finished 2022 with road trips to a dual meet, a tournament and a Mideastern Conference meet, capping the year by traveling to Hampstead to take on MEC 4A foe Topsail High School on Tuesday, Dec. 20. … story at Newsargus.com/brunswick_beacon/sports/road-trips-wrap-up-west-wrestling-matches-for-2022

High School Sports Year in Review: Title appearances abound

From buzzer-beaters to walk-offs, to thrilling victories and heartbreaking losses, the 2022 calendar year saw plenty of storybook performances from area high school teams and athletes. All three seasons saw at least one team or individual competing for a state title in their respective sports. In the end, two area teams and two individual athletes finished their seasons with the ultimate high, an NCHSAA title. Here is a closer look at the top-10 storylines and games from the past year: … story at Reflector.com/sports/high_schools/high-school-sports-year-in-review-title-appearances-abound

Prep Spotlight: D.H. Conley’s Devlen Morris

Devlen Morris is the lone senior on the D.H. Conley wrestling team this winter.

Following in the footsteps of a historic senior class last season, Morris is looking to lead the Vikings to continued success on the mat.

Morris spoke with Reflector prep sports writer following a Big Carolina 3A/4A Conference dual earlier this season about his role as a senior leader, his background in the sport and his goals for the future.

Q: I know the team had a large senior class last season, and now you’re the lone senior on the roster. What is that like?

A: It’s alright because I’ve got all my boys from last year and they all have my back. Next year they’ll just be better off because they won’t have as many people leaving as we did last year.

Q: Has it put any extra pressure on you individually as the only senior?

A: Nah not really. We’ve got such a good team, it just all works out for us at the end.

Q: How long have you been wrestling?

A: Since sixth grade.

Q: Why did you get into the sport?

A: North Pitt’s wrestling coach, he went to my middle school and he told me I should try to join wrestling. I tried it out, and I really liked it, so I stuck with it.

Q: What is your favorite thing about wrestling? … story at Reflector.com/sports/high_schools/prep-spotlight-d-h-conleys-devlen-morris

High School Wrestling: Depleted Panthers go 2-1 at quad

BETHEL — North Pitt came into the 2022-23 wrestling season knowing it would face some challenges as a young team, with no seniors and only two juniors on the roster.

Those obstacles have gotten even larger for the Panthers, as they came into Tuesday evening’s home quad match with more than half of their lineup unavailable due to injuries and illness.

Despite the shortcomings, North Pitt was still able to go 2-1 on the night, securing wins over North Lenoir and Eastern Plains 2A Conference foe SouthWest Edgecombe, before dropping a decision to Northeastern.

“Early on I thought we did really well,” North Pitt head coach Chris Young said. “I wasn’t expecting much, just because of sickness and injury.

“The guys who were here fought pretty hard, and I was really impressed with how hard they fought.”

The hosts started things off with a matchup with fellow EPC squad SouthWest Edgecombe, as just six weights were contested in the match.

North Pitt won four of those six matches, all via pins on its way to a 54-30 victory.

After the first three weights all saw forfeit victories, the Panthers held a 12-6 edge heading into the first contested bout at 113 pounds. … story at Reflector.com/sports/high_schools/high-school-wrestling-depleted-panthers-go-2-1-at-quad

Conley Wrestling rolls at Bunn for their last event in 2022

Conley finished 3rd out of 21 teams on Thursday 12/22/22 @ Bunns Wildcat Innovational.  The Vikings had 6 athletes place in the top 3. 

106 – Andrew Bullard – 3rd

113 – Colton McClung – 3rd

126 – Chris Bonner – 2nd 

182 – Caleb Bess – 2nd

195 – Jamie Jinks – 3rd

220 – Dontae Staton – 3rd 

Conley will be back on the mat on Thursday 1/5/23 at Manteo to wrestle Pasquotank, First Flight, and Manteo.

How Andre Adams’ rise as Laney wrestling coach embodies sport’s sacrifice, dedication

Entering his sixth season as the wrestling coach at Laney High School, Andre Adams still has the fire for the sport that captivated him as a teenager. 

Adams joined Laney in 2012 as an assistant before taking over the program in 2017. Curating the area’s most dominant wrestling program, the Maryland native has led his team to consecutive NCHSAA Class 4A individual-tournament state titles and ended a 29-year drought by winning the dual-team championship in February. 

But before he found success as a coach, an initial failure on the mat in high school sparked an undying flame within Adams.

LANEY WINSLaney wrestling wins state dual-team title after wild finish

STATE CHAMPState champion, All-American wrestler Devon Bell is ready to shine at Campbell … story at Starnewsonline.com/story/sports/2022/12/27/nc-high-school-wrestling-laney-coach-andre-adams

January 4, 2023 - Posted by The TakeDown Report | Uncategorized